Free South Dakota Practice Permit Tests 2025

South Dakota’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing Program (GCL) requires teen drivers complete the following stages to receive their unrestricted driver’s license:

• Instruction Permit – 14 years old
• Restricted Minor’s Permit – Must hold instruction permit for 90 days with driver’s ed or 180 days without
• Operator’s Driver’s License – 16 years old

• Proof of identity
• Proof of Social Security Number
• Proof of residency
• $28 for fee

Here is a list of documents that are accepted as proof of identify, Social Security Number and residency.

You should file your application at a local driver license office.

Visit https://dps.sd.gov/contact/locations for office locations and contact information.

No, driver’s ed is not required in South Dakota. However, taking driver’s ed does offer advantages. You can get your driver’s license faster and you’ll be allowed to bypass certain driver’s license tests.

Teen drivers new to South Dakota have 90 days to transfer their out-of-state license to a SD license. If you have an out-of-state permit, call the SD DPS at (800) 952-3696 to find out how which South Dakota permit you are eligible to receive.

The written test covers rules of the road and safe driving practices. Questions are taken from the South Dakota Driver’s Manual. Here are examples of content from the manual that you could be tested on:

• Under the South Dakota point system any driver who accumulates 15 points in any 12 consecutive months, or 22 points in any 24 consecutive months, is subject to a driver’s license suspension
• Shared center lanes are reserved for making left turns (or U-turns when they are permitted) but can be used by vehicles traveling in both directions

The South Dakota test is multiple choice.

Questions on the test have not been written to “trick” you but rather to ensure you have the knowledge necessary to drive safely in South Dakota. If you study the driver’s manual sufficiently you should not find any of the questions to be “tricky.”

There are 25 questions on the test and you must answer at least 20 of them correctly to pass.

Number 1 – you should study the South Dakota Driver’s Manual thoroughly. Be sure to read it multiple times and to study each section of the guide so that you build a solid foundation of knowledge concerning driving in South Dakota. Number 2 – to test your driving knowledge and identify any subjects that you need to study more, take practice tests online.

You can get a free copy of the manual here at this website.

Study the driver’s manual as much as possible. Be sure to pay close attention to measurements, distances, lengths, speed limits and other numerical information. Also, be sure to study road signs so that you immediately know their meaning upon sight, safe driving tips and drinking and driving rules and effects. To get a better idea of the type of questions you will face on the test, take a practice test.

Assuming that you have been studying your driver’s manual regularly, the night before the test you should plan on doing a light review of the manual and taking a practice test online. You should then be sure to get plenty of rest so that you are at your best the next day.

Contact your local driver license office to see if appointments are accepted. If they are, it is recommended that you make one to avoid a possible long wait. The best time to visit a Driver Exam Station is mid-month, mid-week, or mid-morning. The busiest times are before and after a holiday weekend, Tuesdays, and Friday afternoons.

You will take the test at a local driver license office.

• Proof of identity
• Proof of Social Security Number
• Proof of residency
• $28 for fee

Here is a list of documents that are accepted as proof of identify, Social Security Number and residency.

You should be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Yes, you will need to pay a fee of $28.

The test has 25 questions covering rules of the road, road signs and safe driving tips. All questions come from content in the South Dakota Driver’s Manual. However, you cannot refer to the manual or any notes when taking the test. It is NOT an open book test. To familiarize yourself with the test format, take a practice test.

You will receive your Instruction Permit which is valid for one year. With an instruction permit you are allowed to drive from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a supervising driver who is at least 18 years old, has a minimum of one year of driving experience and who is seated next to you.

You can retake the test.

You have three attempts to pass with each test fee that you pay.

You can drive from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a supervising driver who is at least 18 years old, has a minimum of one year of driving experience and who is seated next to you.

You must hold your instruction permit for at least 180 days and you cannot have any traffic violations within the previous six months to apply for a Restricted Minor Permit.

Yes, as long as you are accompanied by a licensed driver age 18 or older with at least one year of driving experience, you can drive on any South Dakota public road or street.

Experts recommend that you also practice driving at night to get used to the different conditions.

Yes, you must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 18 years old and has a minimum of one year of driving experience.

To replace a lost or stolen permit, visit a local driver license office with proper identification.

There is no substitute for actual behind the wheel driving practice. The more comfortable you become driving in traffic and completing common vehicle maneuvers, such as parking, stopping and backing up, the better you will do on the test. So be sure to practice, practice, practice.

Yes, you should practice stopping and starting smoothly; parking, including parallel parking and parking on a grade; obeying traffic signs and signals; turning around with a three-point turn; turning at intersections; and more.

Talk to friends who have taken the test and then practice the maneuvers that they say are on the test. You should also practice using good safe driving techniques when in traffic, such as signaling, following at a safe distance, checking mirrors, obeying signs and signals and more.

You can schedule a drive test appointment online or by contacting your local driver license office.

You will take the test at a local driver license office. If you passed driver’s ed with a score of 80% or better, you can have the road test waived.

• Proof of identity, Social Security Number and residency – here are acceptable documents
• A well-maintained vehicle
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance

A licensed parent or legal guardian should bring you so that they can give their permission for you to get your permit or license.

You will be asked to display driving competency by performing various vehicle maneuvers, such as parking, stopping and backing, and by driving in traffic. When driving in traffic you will need to use safe driving methods, such as following at a safe distance, signaling when turning and checking mirrors when changing lanes.

Reasons new drivers fail the test range from not being able to perform a maneuver, such as parallel park; not listening to the examiner; causing an accident; running off the road; and getting stopped for a moving violation.

• Driving with hands in incorrect position on wheel
• Turning or changing lanes without signaling
• Running a red light
• Performing a rolling stop
• Not completing a maneuver as directed by the examiner

You will be allowed to retake the test. You may not retest before the next working day.

You are allowed 3 opportunities to test for each fee paid within a 6-month period. After 3 failures in a 6-month period, the fee will need to be repaid.

You will receive your Minor’s Permit.

• You can drive unsupervised from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a parent or guardian’s permission

• You can drive between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when supervised by a parent or guardian

Recognizing that car accidents can have great financial consequences, South Dakota requires all drivers to carry at least the following minimum insurance coverage:

• $25,000 for bodily injury liability insurance per person
• $50,000 total bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Your South Dakota Driver’s License is valid for five years and expires on your birthday. The SD Department of Public Safety will send you a renewal notice with instructions before the expiration date. You can renew up to 180 days before the expiration date.

You can replace a lost or stolen license by visiting a local driver license office with proper identification. There is a $15 replacement fee.

You can renew your license online or in person at a driver license office.

Yes, you must take a vision test each time you renew your license. If renewing online, you will need to present a recent vision statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses while taking the vision test, you will be required to wear them whenever driving. If you do not pass the vision test, you must present a statement from an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist certifying that you possess the visual ability to drive safely before continuing the examination process.