South Carolina Insurance & Collisions practice test

Key South Carolina facts: Insurance & Collisions

• Drivers must carry a valid license, the vehicle registration and a valid insurance card, or they may be fined. Section 1, The Driver's License, Commercial Driver's Licenses, p. 1-3 (PDF p. 7)
• When you apply for or renew a license and own a vehicle, you must certify that it is insured by an automobile liability policy. Do I need insurance?
• The insurance company must be licensed to do business in South Carolina. Do I need insurance?
• SCDMV verifies coverage electronically; if a policy cannot be verified, the license and registration may be suspended and the owner may pay up to $400 to drive again. Verifying your Insurance
• If you are ticketed for not showing proof of insurance, you must provide proof within 30 days to avoid a license suspension. Proof of Insurance Inside your Vehicle

Sample Insurance & Collisions questions

Besides your driver's license, what must you have with you when you drive in South Carolina?

• The owner's manual for the vehicle
• The registration and a valid insurance card
• Your birth certificate and passport
• The vehicle title and the bill of sale

Show the answer

The registration and a valid insurance card

Drivers must carry a valid license, the registration and a valid insurance card, or they can be fined.

Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 1, The Driver's License, Commercial Driver's Licenses, p. 1-3 (PDF p. 7)

Which insurance company can provide the coverage your car needs in South Carolina?

• Any company in any country
• Only a company based in your county
• One licensed to do business in SC
• No insurance company is needed

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One licensed to do business in SC

Your liability insurer must be licensed to do business in this state.

Source: SCDMV, Insurance Requirements, Do I need insurance?; South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 1, The Driver's License, Taking the Skills Test, p. 1-12 (PDF p. 16)

If SCDMV cannot verify your insurance and suspends you, up to how much may the owner pay to drive again?

• $100
• $5,000
• $400
• $25

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$400

An unverified policy can lead to suspension of the license and registration, with fees of up to $400.

Source: SCDMV, Insurance Requirements, Verifying your Insurance

You are ticketed for not showing proof of insurance. How long do you have to provide proof?

• 5 days
• 30 days
• One year
• 24 hours

Show the answer

30 days

Providing proof of insurance within 30 days may let you avoid a license suspension.

Source: SCDMV, Insurance Requirements, Proof of Insurance Inside your Vehicle

Your insurer tells SCDMV your policy was cancelled. How long do you have to get coverage verified?

• 5 calendar days
• 20 business days
• 6 calendar months
• 2 business days

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20 business days

Without electronic verification within 20 business days, your driving privilege, plate and registration are suspended.

Source: SCDMV, Facts About Driving Uninsured, Driving Without Insurance

You want to cancel the insurance on a car you no longer drive. What should you do first?

• Sell the tires
• Turn in the license plate
• Remove the registration sticker only
• Nothing, just cancel

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Turn in the license plate

Return the plate and registration to an SCDMV branch before cancelling the policy; doing so avoids a penalty.

Source: SCDMV, Facts About Driving Uninsured, What should I do to protect myself?; South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 1, The Driver's License, Moving from South Carolina, p. 1-14 (PDF p. 18)

You are found guilty of driving an uninsured car that you do not own. How long is your license suspended?

• Six months
• 30 days
• 7 days
• Three years

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30 days

The suspension is 30 days, with a $100 reinstatement fee.

Source: SCDMV, Facts About Driving Uninsured, I received a ticket for not having insurance. What do I do?

You own a car and are renewing your license. What must you state about the car?

• The date it was last serviced
• That it has liability insurance
• Its current odometer mileage
• The name of its last mechanic

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That it has liability insurance

Vehicle owners must certify insurance coverage when they apply for or renew a license.

Source: SCDMV, Insurance Requirements, Do I need insurance?

Why should you add emergency contact information to your SCDMV record?

• To get your next license renewal at no charge
• To skip the vision test at your next renewal
• So officers can find your contacts after a crash
• To get a lower rate on your car insurance

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So officers can find your contacts after a crash

Officers can see it after a collision or medical emergency and may share it with medical staff.

Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual, Section 9, Emergency Situations and Avoiding Collisions, Emergency Contact Information, p. 9-6 (PDF p. 109)

You are found guilty of driving your own uninsured car. What fee must be paid before the suspension ends?

• A $25 late fee
• No fee, only a class
• A $100 fee only
• A $700 uninsured motorist fee

Show the answer

A $700 uninsured motorist fee

The license and registration stay suspended until the $700 fee is paid, and an SR-22 must be filed for three years.

Source: SCDMV, Facts About Driving Uninsured, I received a ticket for not having insurance. What do I do?

Take this topic's test

More South Carolina practice

• Full practice testAll topics, as in the knowledge test
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• Alcohol & DrugsBlood alcohol limits, DUI rules and medication29 questions, 15 on South Carolina rules
• EmergenciesBreakdowns, emergency vehicles and railroad crossings31 questions, 14 on South Carolina rules
• License RulesPermits, restrictions for new drivers and points31 questions, 31 on South Carolina rules
• Phones & DistractionPhone rules and other distractions18 questions, 11 on South Carolina rules

About these questions

We wrote these practice questions from the facts in the South Carolina Driver's Manual (Edition linked from SCDMV's Beginner's Permit page; no revision date is printed (the cover page of the 06/2024 edition is gone) and the file was last modified 2026-04-01 (server date), read 2026-11-09. Compared with the 06/2024 edition it adds the South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act (pp. 3-4 to 3-5), a 30-day permit holding period for applicants 18 or older (p. 1-5) and shorter route-restricted license lists; the rest of the text is the same, with some pages shifted. Pages are cited as printed (section-page, e.g. 1-4) with the PDF page. Where the manual gives no value, the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 56, Chapter 5 (scstatehouse.gov, read 2026-11-09) and SCDMV web pages are the source. edition) and from official sources on road signs. Every answer links to its source, so you can check it and read more.

DMV Decoded is an independent guide, not a government agency. This practice test is not connected to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV), and your actual test will have different questions. Study the handbook, and check the agency's website for current rules.