Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This free South Dakota permit practice test has 30 original questions written from the South Dakota Driver License Manual and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) teen driver rules. You need 80% to pass the real knowledge test, so aim for at least 24 of 30 here. The questions are unofficial practice, not DPS questions, and every answer is explained.
What to know before you start
- Pass mark on the real test: 80% (DPS).
- This set is not timed or sized to match the real test, so ask DPS how many questions it has.
- You can take the test from age 14, by appointment at a driver exam station. An approved driver education certificate from the last year can waive it.
- The only official practice material is the short quiz at the end of the manual. Use this set alongside it.
How the test day works, what to bring and the $38 fee: South Dakota instruction permit test at 14.
Road signs, signals and markings (questions 1 to 9)
1. A red sign with eight sides always means:
- A. Do not enter
- B. Slow down for a school zone
- C. Yield to traffic on the right
- D. Stop completely, then go when it is safe
Answer: D. Only STOP signs are octagons. Stop at the line, crosswalk or sign, then yield. Manual topic: regulatory signs.
2. A red and white triangle pointing down tells you to:
- A. Slow down and yield the right of way, stopping if needed
- B. Turn right only
- C. Stop and wait for a green light
- D. Merge without slowing
Answer: A. That is a YIELD sign. Let traffic and pedestrians with the right of way go first. Manual topic: regulatory signs.
3. Most warning signs in South Dakota are:
- A. Yellow diamonds with black symbols
- B. White rectangles with black letters
- C. Green rectangles
- D. Blue squares
Answer: A. Yellow diamonds warn of curves, crossings, animals and other hazards ahead. Manual topic: warning signs.
4. A round yellow sign with an X and two letters R means:
- A. Road repairs ahead
- B. Rest area ahead
- C. A railroad crossing is ahead
- D. Two roads cross ahead
Answer: C. The round advance sign warns you a railroad crossing is coming. The white X-shaped crossbuck marks the crossing itself. Manual topic: railroad signs.
5. A flashing yellow traffic light means:
- A. Slow down and proceed with caution
- B. The light is broken, so treat it as green
- C. Stop and wait for green
- D. Turn left only
Answer: A. A flashing yellow signal is a caution signal. You do not need to stop unless traffic requires it. Manual topic: traffic signals.
6. A steady yellow arrow over your turn lane means:
- A. Speed up to finish the turn
- B. The protection of the green arrow is ending; prepare to stop
- C. Turning is banned
- D. You now have a protected turn
Answer: B. The manual says a yellow arrow means the green arrow’s protection is ending. Stop if you can do so safely. Manual topic: traffic signals.
7. You reach a steady red light and want to turn right. No sign forbids it. You must:
- A. Sound your horn and turn
- B. Stop completely, check for pedestrians and traffic, then turn when safe
- C. Turn without stopping if the way is clear
- D. Wait for the light to turn green
Answer: B. South Dakota allows right on red after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it. Yield to pedestrians first. Manual topic: turns.
8. A yellow dashed center line on your side of the road means:
- A. You are on a one-way road
- B. Passing is never allowed
- C. The lane is for turning only
- D. Passing is allowed from your side when it is safe
Answer: D. Broken yellow lines on your side allow passing when the road ahead is clear. A solid line on your side means no passing. Manual topic: pavement markings.
9. A sign shows a minimum speed. What does that mean?
- A. It applies only at night
- B. It applies only to trucks
- C. It is a suggestion only
- D. You must drive at least that fast in normal conditions, or use another road
Answer: D. The manual says you must travel at least the minimum so you are not a hazard. If it is too fast for you, take another road. Manual topic: speed signs.
Right of way, turns and intersections (questions 10 to 14)
10. You and another driver arrive at a four-way stop at the same time. The other car is on your right. Who goes first?
- A. The car on your right
- B. You do, because you are on the left
- C. Whoever signals first
- D. Whoever is turning
Answer: A. When drivers arrive together, yield to the driver on your right. Manual topic: right of way.
11. How far before a turn must you signal in South Dakota?
- A. Only when other cars are present
- B. At least 50 feet
- C. At least 100 feet
- D. At least 25 feet
Answer: C. Signal at least 100 feet before the intersection. At higher speeds, 4 to 5 seconds of signal is better. Manual topic: signaling.
12. You are entering a road from a private driveway. You must:
- A. Yield only to trucks
- B. Yield to traffic already on the road
- C. Expect traffic to stop for you
- D. Honk and pull out
Answer: B. Drivers entering from a driveway or private road yield to traffic on the highway. Manual topic: right of way.
13. You are on an entrance ramp joining an interstate. Who has the right of way?
- A. You do
- B. Drivers already on the interstate
- C. Whoever is faster
- D. Trucks only
Answer: B. Traffic already on a limited access or interstate highway has the right of way over ramp traffic. Match speed and merge into a gap. Manual topic: right of way.
14. Which way does traffic flow in a roundabout?
- A. Either way
- B. It depends on the time of day
- C. Clockwise
- D. Counterclockwise
Answer: D. Roundabouts keep traffic moving one way, counterclockwise. Yield to traffic already in the circle. Manual topic: roundabouts.
Speed, space and passing (questions 15 to 17)
15. What minimum following distance does the South Dakota manual recommend?
- A. 2 seconds
- B. 8 seconds
- C. 1 second
- D. 4 seconds
Answer: D. Keep at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle ahead, and more in bad conditions. Manual topic: following distance.
16. When must you dim your high beams for an oncoming vehicle?
- A. Within 100 feet
- B. Within 1,000 feet
- C. Only on interstates
- D. Within 500 feet
Answer: D. Dim high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and use low beams when closer than 500 feet behind another vehicle. Manual topic: night driving.
17. You want to pass a bicycle on a road with a 30 mph limit. How much space must you leave?
- A. At least 3 feet
- B. At least 1 foot
- C. No set amount
- D. At least 6 feet
Answer: A. South Dakota requires at least 3 feet at 35 mph or less, and at least 6 feet above 35 mph. Manual topic: sharing the road with bicycles.
Sharing the road: buses, emergency vehicles and trains (questions 18 to 20)
18. A school bus ahead has its red lights flashing and stop arm out. The road has no physical barrier between you and the bus. You must:
- A. Pass slowly on the left
- B. Stop only if you are behind the bus
- C. Stop, and wait until the lights stop and the arm is folded back
- D. Slow to 20 mph
Answer: C. You must stop for a school bus with red lights flashing or stop arm out unless the roadway is separated by a physical barrier. Then go slowly and watch for children. Manual topic: school buses.
19. On a two-lane highway you see a stopped highway patrol car with flashing lights on the shoulder. You must:
- A. Keep your speed
- B. Slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit and proceed with caution
- C. Stop behind it
- D. Flash your lights
Answer: B. On two-lane roads, slow to at least 20 mph under the limit (or 5 mph when the limit is 20 or less), starting 300 feet before the vehicle. Manual topic: move over law.
20. On an interstate with two lanes in your direction, you see a stopped tow truck with amber lights. You should:
- A. Stop on the shoulder
- B. Use the horn
- C. Stay in your lane at full speed
- D. Move to the lane farthest from it at least 300 feet before it, if safe
Answer: D. South Dakota’s move over law covers vehicles with amber, yellow or blue warning lights too. Change lanes away from the vehicle when you can. Manual topic: move over law.
Alcohol, drugs and implied consent (questions 21 to 23)
21. A South Dakota driver aged 19 is stopped with a BAC of 0.03%. What applies?
- A. Only a fine if there was a crash
- B. A warning only
- C. Nothing, because it is under 0.08%
- D. South Dakota’s zero tolerance rule for under-21 drivers, which can cost the license
Answer: D. For drivers under 21, a BAC of 0.02% or more breaks the zero tolerance law. Manual topic: alcohol and the law.
22. What can happen if you refuse a BAC test when lawfully asked by an officer in South Dakota?
- A. You get a parking ticket
- B. You can lose your license for one year
- C. You must retake the permit test
- D. Nothing
Answer: B. Under implied consent you agreed to testing by driving on a public highway. Refusal can cost your license for a year. Manual topic: implied consent.
23. Which statement about alcohol and vision is true, according to the manual?
- A. Alcohol only affects vision above 0.08%
- B. Vision is affected from 0.02% BAC
- C. Coffee restores normal vision
- D. Alcohol improves night vision
Answer: B. The manual says vision is affected at 0.02% BAC for all drivers, including color distinction and distance judgment. Manual topic: alcohol effects.
South Dakota permit, restricted permit and phone rules (questions 24 to 29)
24. On a South Dakota instruction permit, who must sit beside you?
- A. Anyone aged 16 or older
- B. A parent or guardian, or another adult with a valid license and at least one year of driving experience
- C. No one, after 30 days
- D. Only a driving instructor
Answer: B. DPS says the supervising adult must be a parent or guardian or another licensed adult with at least a year of experience, seated beside you. Topic: instruction permit.
25. Without driver’s ed, how long must you hold an instruction permit before the drive test?
- A. 90 days
- B. One year
- C. 275 days
- D. 180 days
Answer: C. The permit must be held 275 days without driver education, or 180 days after an approved course. Topic: instruction permit.
26. How many supervised hours must you log before upgrading to a restricted minor’s permit?
- A. 30 hours, 5 at night
- B. 40 hours, 10 at night
- C. No hours are required
- D. 50 hours, including 10 at night and 10 in inclement weather
Answer: D. DPS requires at least 50 hours of parent or guardian supervised driving, with 10 at night and 10 in bad weather. Topic: supervised driving.
27. Can a South Dakota instruction permit holder use a phone hands-free while driving?
- A. Only on rural roads
- B. Only for music
- C. Yes, hands-free is fine
- D. No. Permit holders may not use any wireless communication device while driving
Answer: D. Instruction and restricted permit holders may not use any type of wireless communication device while driving. Texting is banned for all drivers. Topic: distracted driving.
28. On a restricted minor’s permit, when may you drive alone without a parent or guardian beside you?
- A. Any time
- B. Only on weekends
- C. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with parent or guardian permission
- D. Only to school
Answer: C. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. a parent or guardian must sit beside you, except on the most direct route to or from school, church, work or farm work. Topic: restricted permit.
29. For the first 6 months on a restricted minor’s permit, who may ride with you?
- A. One friend
- B. Up to three friends
- C. Anyone over 14
- D. No passengers outside your immediate family or household
Answer: D. For the first 6 months, no passengers outside immediate family or household. After that, only one. Topic: restricted permit.
Emergencies and adverse conditions (question 30)
30. Your car breaks down and you must stop beside the road at night. What should you do?
- A. Stay in the lane with the engine running
- B. Pull as far off the road as you can and turn on your 4-way emergency flashers
- C. Leave only the parking lights on
- D. Walk away and leave the lights off
Answer: B. Get off the roadway if possible and turn on the 4-way emergency flashers. The manual also warns never to drive with only parking lights on. Manual topic: emergencies.
Score your South Dakota practice test
| Score out of 30 | What it means |
|---|---|
| 27 to 30 | Ready to book. Review any you missed. |
| 24 to 26 | At the 80% standard. Reread the manual sections behind each miss. |
| Under 24 | Below 80%. Go back to signs, right of way and the permit rules first. |
The questions you missed point to the manual chapter to reread. Permit and passenger rules catch out a lot of learners, so see South Dakota restricted minor’s permit rules and the 50 hour practice log.
Common questions
Are these the real South Dakota DPS test questions?
No. They are original, unofficial practice questions based on the South Dakota Driver License Manual and DPS teen driver rules.
How many questions are on the South Dakota permit test?
The pass mark is 80%. Call DPS on (605) 773-6883 if you want to ask before your appointment.
Can I skip the knowledge test?
Yes, if you passed an approved driver education course within the last year. The certificate waives the test.
What happens if I fail?
You can retest from the next working day. The $38 fee covers up to three attempts within 6 months.
Is the South Dakota test only about signs?
No. It covers traffic laws, road signs and safe driving practices from the manual, so expect questions on permit rules, alcohol and right of way too.
Where are practice tests for other states?
See US permit practice tests by state. For the full route from permit to license, see learning to drive in South Dakota.
Sources
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “Driver Licensing Information for Teen Drivers and Parents” (KB0043735) (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “South Dakota Driver License Manual” (sd.gov)
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “Driver License Testing” (KB0043731) (sd.gov)