Frequently Asked Questions

All 15 and 16-year-old drivers are required to take a SC State-certified driver's education course, which includes 8 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with a SC-certified driving instructor. The 15 and 16-year-old students must also have their permit for 6 months, and log 40 hours of behind-the-wheel practice time with a licensed driver who is 21 years or older.

Please Note:

• If you are 17 or older, you are not required to complete the 8-hour classroom portion of driver's ed.
• If you are 18 or older, you only need to hold your beginner's permit for 30 days before you're eligible to take the road test.

Students who do not cancel at least 24 hours before a scheduled service will be charged a non-refundable $50 fee.

That depends on your availability, our schedule, and how quickly you want to finish. If you are ready to complete driver's ed quickly, we may be able to finish in a short time.  For guaranteed fast completion, we offer a Fast Track option (for an additional fee) that ensures the entire course is completed within 7 days of finishing the 8-hour classroom portion.

If a student has limited driving experience, we would prefer to spread out his/her lessons so they can practice what they have learned with a parent.

All behind-the-wheel lessons begin and end at Safe Man Driving School.
If you'd like to be picked up and dropped off at a different location, a $20 fee applies.

Note:

• The location must be within a 10-mile radius of the driving school.
• You can choose the pickup and drop-off locations when scheduling.

Every person is different, and not all of us have the same needs. However, according to our experience, most kids between 15 and 20 years old will be ready to continue driving with their parents after completing 6 hours of behind-the-wheel lessons.

They will not be ready to drive alone safely with just a few hours of driving, but most of the time, they will be ready to continue practicing with a family member in a safe manner.

Reminder: SCDMV requires that any minor taking the driving test has driven a minimum of 40 hours, of which 10 hours must be at night with an adult over the age of 21.

After taking your DMV Road Test with Safe Man Driving School, you will be issued paperwork upon passing. Then, you will take that paperwork to the DMV to have your picture taken, undergo the eye test, and receive your new license.

Please note: Students under 17 years of age are required to submit their PDLA form to the DMV. Once you complete your 6 hours of behind-the-wheel lessons, you will be given this form to sign.

While we do our best to prepare students, we cannot guarantee that every student will pass the road test or obtain their license after completing our driver's ed. We understand the importance of this milestone, and we are here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Yes, if you're having trouble passing the permit test at the DMV, contact us at Safe Man Driving School to schedule an appointment.

We can help you study and are authorized to administer the permit test on your behalf.

Our classes are scheduled weekly on Saturdays from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Students will be provided with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Lunch break is from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Students may remain at the driving school or be picked up for lunch; there are many restaurants within a 10-minute walking distance from the driving school.

For students under 17, the state requires you to complete:

• An 8-hour classroom instruction course
• At least 6 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a certified instructor
• A minimum of 40 hours of driving practice with a licensed parent or guardian before taking the road test

For students 17 and older:

• The classroom course is not required by law, but many students ages 17-19 choose to take it to gain valuable driving knowledge.

Students must register in advance for all classroom sessions. If you're having trouble signing up online, please don't hesitate to call the driving school. 

Please remember to bring:

• Your beginner's permit
• An open mind, ready to learn, participate, and engage with others

We'll provide:

• Snacks and drinks
• Paper and pens

Important:
You're welcome to bring your phone and headphones, but please keep them put away during instructional time.

No, you do not need a permit to attend the 8-hour instruction class. We do offer permit tests to anyone interested at the end of each class for a fee. ​You will need to have your permit before you can drive during the behind-the-wheel section of our course.