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Free South Dakota DMV practice tests

Free South Dakota driver's license practice questions from the official driver handbook, with every answer explained.

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  • 80% to passThe real exam's passing score
  • Every answer explainedSee why each option is right or wrong

Driver's license tests

6 tests, 150 questions

South Dakota written test facts

Facts checked against official sources.

You need 80% to pass the written test. South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program handles driver licensing in South Dakota. The minimum age for a permit is 14. Our practice questions come from the South Dakota Driver License Manual. We checked these facts against official sources on September 25, 2026.

Agency
South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program
Minimum age for a permit
At least 14 years old
Passing score
80%
Official handbook
South Dakota Driver License Manual

Sources

Checked on September 25, 2026

Report an error on this page

How to get a South Dakota driver's license

This is the graduated licensing route South Dakota's Department of Public Safety describes for teens, based on the Driver License Manual and the department's GDL pamphlet (effective July 1, 2025). Check sd.gov/dps for appointments and current fees before you go.

  1. Get an instruction permit at 14

    Book an appointment, bring your documents and a parent's consent, pass the vision and knowledge tests, and pay the fee. A recent driver education certificate waives the knowledge test.

  2. Practice for 275 days

    Or 180 days after passing driver education. Log 50 hours with a licensed adult beside you, including 10 in bad weather and 10 after dark, with no phone use and no traffic convictions.

  3. Move up to a Restricted Minor's Permit

    Pass the drive test, which is waived if you passed approved driver education within the last year. Drive alone from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and carry only family for the first six months.

  4. Get an operator's license at 16

    After six months on the restricted permit with a clean record for the last six months, apply with a parent's consent. At 18 the restricted permit converts on its own.

Based on:South Dakota Driver License Manual (South Dakota Department of Public Safety, PDF of June 2026)Graduated Driver Licensing pamphlet (South Dakota Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, 2025)

Checked on September 25, 2026

See current fees

Frequently asked questions

How old do you have to be for a learner's permit in South Dakota?

14. You pass a vision test and the knowledge test, and a parent or guardian gives consent, in person at the exam station or on a notarized form. The knowledge test is waived if you bring a certificate showing you passed an approved driver education course within the last year.

What score do you need on the South Dakota permit test?

80% or higher. The Department of Public Safety doesn't publish how many questions the test has. If you fail, you can retest on a later working day, and one application fee covers three attempts within six months.

What are the rules for an instruction permit?

Drive only with a parent, guardian or licensed adult with at least a year of driving experience in the seat beside you, and don't use a phone or any other wireless device. Teens log 50 hours of supervised driving, 10 in bad weather and 10 after dark, and hold the permit for 275 days, or 180 days after passing driver education with 80% or better.

What can I do with a Restricted Minor's Permit?

Drive alone from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a parent's permission. After 10 p.m. a parent or guardian must sit beside you, unless you're taking the most direct route to or from school, church, work or farm work. For the first six months you can carry only family or household members; after that, one passenger under 18 from outside your family.

When can I get a full South Dakota driver's license?

At 16, after at least six months on the Restricted Minor's Permit with no traffic convictions in the last six months. If you're still on the restricted permit at 18, it turns into an operator's license on its own.

Where can I get the South Dakota driver's manual?

The Department of Public Safety posts the Driver License Manual as a free download on its Driving Manuals page at sd.gov/dps, and paper copies are available at exam stations. The department doesn't offer pre-tests or sample tests, so the practice tests here are original questions written from the manual.