South Dakota · Handbook chapter 1 · 4 min read

How South Dakota's graduated licensing works: the instruction permit at 14, the restricted minor's permit, the operator's license at 16, the knowledge and vision tests, fees, documents and renewals.

Why this chapter matters

South Dakota lets teens start driving earlier than most states, at 14, but the steps, waiting periods and hour limits are strict. The permit test often asks about them, and getting them wrong can cost you your permit.

The three stages for drivers under 18

Instruction permit

• Pass the vision and knowledge tests. A certificate from a state-approved driver education course waives the knowledge test for one year after you complete it.
• The supervising adult must be a parent or guardian, or another adult with a valid license and at least one year of driving experience, sitting beside you.
• Hold the permit for 275 days, or 180 days if you passed an approved driver education course (a score of 80 percent or better on both the written and driving parts).
• Complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night and 10 hours in bad weather. A parent signs the Supervised Driving Affidavit when you upgrade.

Restricted minor's permit

• You must have met the instruction permit conditions, passed the driving test and had no traffic convictions for six months.
• Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. a parent or guardian must sit beside you, unless you are taking the most direct route to or from school or a school event, church or a church event, work, or farm work.
• For the first 6 months, no passengers except immediate family or household members. After that, one passenger from outside the family or household.
• Hold it for at least 6 months. At 18 it automatically becomes an operator's license.

Operator's license

You must be 16, have held the restricted permit for 6 months and have no traffic convictions in the past 6 months. The license is valid for 5 years.

The tests

• Vision: for a license without restrictions you need 20/40 or better with both eyes and no worse than 20/50 in either eye.
• Knowledge: rules of the road and safe-driving practices. DPS says you need 80 percent or higher. It does not publish the number of questions.
• Driving test: you provide a street-legal (licensed) vehicle; no passengers or pets are allowed.
• All testing visits need an appointment.
• Fail a test and you may not retest before the next working day. Each fee covers 3 attempts within 6 months. Anyone caught cheating waits two weeks.

Fees and documents

Each permit and license costs $38. Bring a certified birth certificate or other identity document, proof of your Social Security number such as your card, and two documents proving your South Dakota address that are less than a year old. Photocopies are not accepted.

Keeping your license current

• Always carry your license when driving.
• Renew up to 180 days before it expires. If it has been expired for more than 30 days, you must take the knowledge test again.
• New residents with a valid out-of-state license must apply within 90 days.
• A license issued to someone under 21 with five years or less to go before their 21st birthday expires 30 days after the 21st birthday.