Photo: Adam Moss, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
South Dakota teens on an instruction permit must log at least 50 hours of supervised driving before upgrading to a Restricted Minor’s Permit, and 10 of those hours must be in inclement weather and another 10 after dark. This checklist covers who can supervise, how to fill in the free DPS log, the affidavit your parent signs, and a plan to fit the weather hours into a South Dakota year.
The South Dakota 50-hour rule in one table
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total supervised hours | At least 50 |
| Inclement weather | 10 hours |
| Night (after dark) | At least 10 hours |
| Who it applies to | Drivers under 18 with an instruction permit issued after July 1, 2020 |
| When it must be done | Before you apply for the Restricted Minor’s Permit |
| Proof | Parent or guardian signs the Affidavit of Completion of Required Supervised Driving |
The log and the affidavit treat the weather and night hours as separate: 10 of each. The remaining 30 can be any driving. Source: SDCL 32-12-11 and the DPS Supervised Driving Log.
Who can supervise a South Dakota permit driver?
- A parent or legal guardian, or a licensed driver over 18 with at least one year of driving experience.
- They must sit in the seat beside you.
- Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., state law requires that person to be your parent or guardian (SDCL 32-12-11). Plan your night hours for the early evening if another adult is supervising.
Even though other adults can supervise, only a parent or legal guardian can sign the affidavit.
How to fill in the DPS Supervised Driving Log
The official form (Rev. 04-22-21) is a one-page table. For each drive record:
- the date
- minutes in inclement weather
- minutes at night
- minutes in daytime
- skills practiced
The form records minutes, not hours, so convert at the end: you need at least 3,000 minutes in total, including 600 in inclement weather and 600 at night. Print more copies as you fill them. DPS calls the log a tool to record your hours. The signed affidavit is the document it asks for at the upgrade.
Tips for an honest, useful log
- Fill it in straight after each drive while the minutes are accurate.
- Count a drive in one column only. If it was dark and snowing, decide which total you still need and record it there.
- Use the “skills practiced” column to spot gaps before the drive test, for example no parking practice yet.
What counts as inclement weather in South Dakota?
Neither the statute nor the DPS forms define it. Rain, snow, sleet, fog and strong wind are the obvious conditions. If you are unsure whether a drive counts, ask DPS on (605) 773-6883. Whatever you count, practice the skills the manual stresses for winter:
- drive well below the posted limit on snow and ice, since limits are set for dry summer pavement
- increase following distance and brake gently
- never use cruise control on slippery roads
- be extra careful in the first storm of the season
More technique: how to drive in snow, fog and rain.
A plan for your 50 hours
Your permit lasts at least 275 days (180 with driver’s ed), so you have time. A simple split:
| Block | Hours | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet streets and parking lots | About 10 | Control, steering, smooth stops, parking |
| Town and city traffic | About 10 | Intersections, four-way stops, signals, pedestrians |
| Highways and rural roads | About 10 | Merging, passing, gravel, narrow bridges, deer |
| Night | 10 (required) | Headlight use, dusk and dawn deer watch |
| Inclement weather | 10 (required) | Rain, snow, reduced speed, longer gaps |
Only the night and weather rows are legal minimums. The others are a suggested mix. The manual notes deer are most active at dusk and dawn, and October and November have the most car and deer crashes, which makes autumn evenings useful practice. DPS also suggests parents commit to 100 hours of supervised instruction, about two hours a week for a year.
Signing the affidavit
- The parent or guardian certifies the 50 hours, including 10 in inclement weather and 10 after dark.
- It must be signed in front of a notary public or a South Dakota driver license examiner.
- If your parent comes with you to the upgrade, they can sign at the exam station. Otherwise get it notarized first, along with the Parental Consent Form.
Then book the upgrade: South Dakota drive test and when driver’s ed waives it.
Common questions
Do I need the 50 hours if I take driver’s ed in South Dakota?
Driver’s ed shortens the permit period and can waive the tests, but the DPS teen flyer’s only exception to the 50 hours is a permit issued before July 1, 2020. Plan to log them.
Can a grandparent or older sibling supervise?
Yes, if they are over 18, hold a valid license and have at least a year of driving experience. Only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., though, and only your parent or guardian can sign the affidavit.
Can night and weather hours overlap?
The forms list 10 inclement weather hours and “another” 10 night hours, so record them separately and make sure each total reaches 10 on its own.
Do I hand in the log?
DPS asks for the signed affidavit at the upgrade. Keep the log anyway as your record of the hours your parent is certifying.
My permit was issued before July 1, 2020. Do I need 50 hours?
No. The requirement applies to permits issued after that date.
How do other states compare?
See supervised driving hours by state.
Back to the roadmap: learning to drive in South Dakota. Permit basics: South Dakota instruction permit test at 14. What comes next: South Dakota restricted minor’s permit rules.
Sources
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “Supervised Driving Log” (Rev. 04-22-21) (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “Affidavit of Completion of Required Supervised Driving” (Rev. 04-22-2021) (sd.gov)
- 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 Legislature, “Codified Law 32-12-11” (sdlegislature.gov)