Photo: Adam Moss, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In South Dakota you can get an instruction permit at 14, drive alone on a Restricted Minor’s Permit at about 14 and a half to 14 and three quarters, and get a full operator’s license at 16. This guide is for South Dakota teens and parents: it lays out each stage, the tests, the fees and the rules, and links to the detailed post on each step.
Key facts (South Dakota, as of November 2026)
- Instruction permit from age 14, after vision and knowledge tests (the knowledge test is waived with an approved driver’s ed certificate).
- Hold the permit 275 days, or 180 days if you passed an approved driver education course.
- 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 in inclement weather and 10 after dark, before the Restricted Minor’s Permit.
- Restricted Minor’s Permit: drive alone 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with parent permission; no non-family passengers for the first 6 months.
- Operator’s license at 16 after at least 6 months on the restricted permit and 6 months with no traffic convictions.
- Fee: $38 each for the instruction permit, restricted permit and driver license (SDCL 32-12-16 and the DPS fee page).
- Knowledge test and drive test pass mark: 80%.
The South Dakota teen license stages at a glance
| Stage | Earliest age | How long | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instruction permit | 14 | 275 days (180 with driver’s ed) | Licensed adult with 1+ year of experience seated beside you; no wireless devices |
| Restricted Minor’s Permit | 14, after the permit stage | At least 6 months; converts to an operator’s license at 18 | Alone 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; passenger limits; no wireless devices |
| Operator’s license | 16 | Valid 5 years | No teen restrictions |
Every application by an under-18 needs a parent or guardian’s consent, given in person at the exam station or on the notarized Parental Consent Form.
Step 1: Get a South Dakota instruction permit at 14
- Book an appointment. All visits that need a test must be scheduled, online through the DPS Driver Licensing site or by calling (605) 773-6883.
- Bring a certified birth certificate (not a hospital certificate), your original Social Security card and two pieces of mail proving your South Dakota address. The mail can be in your parent’s name.
- Pass the vision test and the knowledge test, or show an approved driver’s ed certificate dated within the last year to skip the knowledge test.
- Pay $38.
Test details, study tips and the waiver: South Dakota instruction permit test at 14. How the test compares with other states: US permit tests by state.
Step 2: Log 50 hours of supervised practice
For permits issued after July 1, 2020, you must drive at least 50 hours with a supervisor before upgrading: 10 hours in inclement weather and at least 10 hours at night. Your supervisor must hold a valid license, be over 18 and have at least a year of driving experience, and sit beside you. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. state law requires the person beside you to be your parent or guardian (SDCL 32-12-11).
A parent or guardian signs the Supervised Driving Affidavit at the upgrade. Use the free DPS log to track minutes: South Dakota 50 hour practice log. Other states’ hour rules: supervised driving hours by state.
Step 3: Upgrade to a Restricted Minor’s Permit
You can book the upgrade on day 276 of your permit, or day 181 if you passed approved driver’s ed. You need:
- the 50 hours and the signed affidavit
- no traffic convictions in the last 6 months
- parent or guardian consent
- a pass on the drive test, unless you passed an approved driver education class within the last year
- your instruction permit, driver’s ed certificate if you have one, two address documents and the $38 fee
What happens on the drive test and how the waiver works: South Dakota drive test and when driver’s ed waives it.
What can you do on a South Dakota restricted permit?
- Drive alone from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with your parent or guardian’s permission.
- From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., drive only with a parent or legal guardian beside you, unless you are taking the most direct route to or from school or a school event, church or a church event, or work, or are driving unregistered ag machinery or doing farm work.
- First 6 months: no passengers except immediate family or household members. After that: no more than one non-family passenger under 18.
- No wireless communication devices at all while driving.
Exceptions, vehicle limits and penalties: South Dakota restricted minor’s permit rules. National comparison: GDL laws by state.
Step 4: Get your unrestricted operator’s license at 16
- Be at least 16.
- Have held the Restricted Minor’s Permit for at least 6 months.
- Have no traffic convictions in the 6 months before you apply.
- Have a parent or guardian’s consent.
- Pay $38 (DPS prorates the fee if you are 17 or older).
If your restricted permit is federally compliant (REAL ID) you can upgrade online or by mail instead of visiting. The eyesight test is waived for these upgrades (SDCL 32-12-12.3). Online card payments carry a processing fee. If you never upgrade, the restricted permit converts to an operator’s license at 18. REAL ID documents: REAL ID and your first driver’s license.
How a South Dakota teen can lose a permit
Permits are probationary. If you are under 16, a first traffic conviction or a first breach of permit rules means a 30-day suspension. A second one, or any felony or Class 1 misdemeanor, means 180 days or until your 16th birthday, whichever is longer. A parent who signed for you can also ask DPS to cancel your permit or license while you are under 18.
What the South Dakota Driver License Manual covers
The knowledge test comes from the South Dakota Driver License Manual, available in English and Spanish from DPS. DPS does not offer sample tests. The manual’s sections, with our related guides:
| Manual section | Topics | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| The Driver’s License | Requirements, permits, tests, renewal, loss of privileges, insurance, point system | How license points work |
| Be in Shape to Drive | Vision, fatigue, distractions, alcohol and drugs | Zero tolerance under 21, implied consent, drugged driving |
| Before You Drive | Vehicle checks, seat and mirrors, seatbelts, child passenger laws | Seat belt and car seat laws |
| Rules of the Road | Right-of-way, signals, signs, pavement markings | Traffic signals, road signs, road lines, four-way stops |
| General Driving | Turns, roundabouts, intersections, school buses, parking, interstates, traffic stops | Roundabouts, school buses, parking, merging onto a freeway |
| Safe Driving Tips | Visual search, speed, stopping distance, space cushion | Speed limits |
| Emergencies and Crashes | Avoiding crashes, breakdowns, what to do after a crash | After a car accident |
| Sharing the Road | Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles, trucks, emergency and slow vehicles | Trucks, bikes and motorcycles, pedestrians, move over laws |
| Special Situations | Night driving, work zones, winter driving, rural roads | Snow, fog and rain |
South Dakota rules worth knowing before the test
- Move over: stop completely for a stopped emergency vehicle showing red lights before passing it. For stopped vehicles with amber, yellow or blue lights, move to the far lane at least 300 feet before on multi-lane roads, or on two-lane roads slow to at least 20 mph under the limit (SDCL 32-31-6.1).
- Phones: texting, reading texts and social networking while driving are banned for everyone. Permit holders may not use any wireless device.
- Seatbelts: everyone under 18 must buckle up in front and back seats. Drivers and front-seat passengers of any age must too.
- Bicycles: leave at least 3 feet when passing where the limit is 35 mph or less, and 6 feet above 35 mph (SDCL 32-26-26.1).
- Signal: at least 100 feet before an intersection.
- Right on red: allowed after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it.
- Rural and winter hazards: the manual covers gravel roads, narrow and single-lane bridges, and deer, which are most active at dusk and dawn and most often hit in October and November. At a narrow or single-lane bridge, take turns: the first driver to reach it usually goes first.
- School buses: stop for a bus with red lights flashing or its stop arm out, from either direction, unless a physical barrier separates the roadway. Go on slowly only once the lights stop and the arm is in.
- Snowplows: on roads posted 35 mph or more, stay at least 200 feet behind a plow showing red or amber lights.
- Following distance: the manual asks for at least 4 seconds, more in bad weather, plus at least one extra second at night.
- Work zones: slow down even when no workers are present; speeding fines in a work zone may be doubled.
- Child seats: a child under 5 must ride in a child restraint, unless the child weighs at least 40 pounds and wears a seatbelt (SDCL 32-37-1). Every passenger under 18 must be belted in any seat.
- Crashes: stop at any crash you are involved in, and call police if anyone is hurt or killed. If you hit an unattended vehicle and can’t find the owner, leave a note with your details and contact the nearest law enforcement agency.
- Insurance: owners must carry proof of financial responsibility in the vehicle. Driving without it is a Class 2 misdemeanor with a license suspension of 30 days to a year and 3 years of SR22 filing.
Common questions
Can you drive alone at 14 in South Dakota?
Not at 14 exactly. You need to hold the instruction permit 275 days (180 with driver’s ed) and pass the restricted permit requirements first. The earliest solo driving is about 14 and a half with driver’s ed.
Is driver’s ed required in South Dakota?
No. An approved course is optional, but it cuts the permit period to 180 days and can waive the knowledge test and the drive test if you use the certificate within a year.
How much does a South Dakota permit cost?
$38 as of November 2026, the same as the restricted permit and the operator’s license. Older copies of the manual list $28, which is out of date.
How does the South Dakota point system work?
Reaching 15 points in 12 months, or 22 in 24 months, can bring a suspension: 60 days the first time, 6 months the second and a year after that. DWI carries 10 points (and a mandatory revocation), reckless driving 8, eluding and drag racing 6, failing to yield, improper passing and wrong-side driving 4, a stop sign or light violation 3, and other moving violations 2. The manual says speeding, parking and equipment violations carry no points, but a teen’s permit suspension rules still apply to any traffic conviction.
What happens if a South Dakota driver is caught drinking and driving?
Under 21, a BAC of 0.02% or more is a Class 2 misdemeanor with a fine and a 30-day loss of license. At 0.08% or more, a first DWI is a Class 1 misdemeanor with a minimum 30-day license loss, and refusing a test can cost you your license for a year.
Do I have to be a South Dakota resident?
Yes. You need a physical South Dakota address, proved with two documents less than a year old. Full-time travelers have a separate process.
Does my parent have to come with me?
Under-18 applicants must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or bring the notarized Parental Consent Form.
I am moving to South Dakota with a license. How long do I have?
90 days after you establish residency (30 days for a CDL). If your out-of-state license is valid, no tests are needed unless you hold a hazardous materials endorsement; you surrender the old license and bring the usual documents. Register any vehicle you bring in within 90 days too.
I am moving to South Dakota with a permit. What happens?
Contact DPS about your situation. Out-of-state driver’s ed can be approved through the Out-of-State Driver Education form. More: transferring your license to another state and driving on a permit in another state.
Starting from scratch on how US licensing works? See how to get a driver’s license in the US.
Sources
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “Driver Licensing Information for Teen Drivers and Parents” (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “South Dakota Teen Driver Graduated Licensing” flyer, effective 7/1/2025 (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “South Dakota Driver License Manual” (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “South Dakota Driver Licensing Information” (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “Driver License/ID Card Fees” (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “South Dakota Driver License Testing Information” (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “Upgrade South Dakota Restricted Minor’s Driving Permit” (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Legislature, “Codified Laws 32-12-11, 32-12-12, 32-12-12.3, 32-12-12.5, 32-12-15 and 32-12-16” (sdlegislature.gov)