DMV South Dakota · Fees, age, and practice test
South Dakota Permit Test: Cost, Age, and DMV Facts
Start the free South Dakota practice testSourced procedural facts for South Dakota DMV, plus a free 202-question practice test with real sign images and audio.
How much does the South Dakota permit test cost?
$38 instruction permit fee; the official fee table does not separately list a knowledge test fee.
- Learner permit / application fee: Instruction Permit: $38 (effective 7/1/2025)
- Knowledge (written) test fee: $38 instruction permit fee; the official fee table does not separately list a knowledge test fee.
- Initial driver license fee: Driver License: $38
Source: South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver Licensing Program · Fee source checked 2026-10-05. Our 202-question South Dakota practice test is free and separate from these DMV fees.
Your 3-stage South Dakota study path
- Stage 1: Study the sheets. Read the South Dakota cheat sheet for signs, numbers, and must-know rules.
- Stage 2: Drill topics. Run the free South Dakota practice test with instant explanations until weak topics turn green.
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South Dakota verified practice bank · 202 questions rev 2026-10-12-ca500
Quick facts
Minimum permit age
14 years old
Knowledge test fee
$38 instruction permit fee; the official fee table does not separately list a knowledge test fee.
Permit fee
Instruction Permit: $38 (effective 7/1/2025)
Initial license fee
Driver License: $38
Passing score
Pass a knowledge test with a score of 80% or higher
Retake fee
Three opportunities to test for each fee paid within a six-month period; re-test no sooner than the next working day
Supervised driving before road test
50 hours of adult-supervised driving on the Instruction Permit, including 10 hours in inclement weather and 10 hours after dark, before the Restricted Minor's Permit
Documents to bring
Certified birth certificate and Social Security card, two pieces of mail proving residential address, parent/guardian consent (in person or notarized form)
Find an office / appointment
Walk in to any driver exam station or use the online Schedule, Change or Cancel Appointment tool; DPS recommends checking the scheduling calendar well in advance since some exam stations book several weeks out.
REAL ID status
South Dakota licenses are issued as REAL ID compliant cards; new drivers and new residents provide one identity document, one Social Security document, and two proofs of South Dakota address.
Motorcycle license
Instruction permit requires a vision test and written knowledge test, is valid one year, and limits riding to 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. accompanied by a licensed motorcycle operator; the license requires a vision test, a knowledge test with a score of 80% or higher, and a motorcycle driving test.
Commercial license (CDL)
Drivers must be at least 21 years of age to obtain a CDL for interstate commerce; applicants 18 to 20 years of age may be granted a CDL for intrastate commerce only.
Official source: South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver Licensing Program
Things like renewing registration, REAL ID, or a change of address are outside what this page covers -- go straight to the official South Dakota Driver Licensing Program site.
How much is the South Dakota permit test?
South Dakota knowledge test fee: $38 instruction permit fee; the official fee table does not separately list a knowledge test fee. (official source). Permit fee: Instruction Permit: $38 (effective 7/1/2025) (official source).
South Dakota DMV fees at a glance
| Fee | Official figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test fee | $38 instruction permit fee; the official fee table does not separately list a knowledge test fee. | source |
| Permit fee | Instruction Permit: $38 (effective 7/1/2025) | source |
| Initial license fee | Driver License: $38 | source |
| Retake fee | Three opportunities to test for each fee paid within a six-month period; re-test no sooner than the next working day | source |
Studying for it? Take the free South Dakota DMV practice test (202 questions, instant explanations, no signup).
What a South Dakota driver license covers
Initial license fee: Driver License: $38 (official source)
REAL ID status: South Dakota licenses are issued as REAL ID compliant cards; new drivers and new residents provide one identity document, one Social Security document, and two proofs of South Dakota address. (official source)
The gold star marks a REAL ID compliant card. Many states hand you a paper interim license the day you pass and mail the physical card later; the interim paper generally works for driving but not for TSA airport ID. Check the official South Dakota DMV site for exact card timelines.
Getting a license in South Dakota
Getting your first permit
In South Dakota, the minimum permit age is 14 years old. When you apply for a permit or license, bring: certified birth certificate and Social Security card, two pieces of mail proving residential address, parent/guardian consent (in person or notarized form). Walk in to any driver exam station or use the online Schedule, Change or Cancel Appointment tool; DPS recommends checking the scheduling calendar well in advance since some exam stations book several weeks out.
Fees, retakes, and practice hours
$38 instruction permit fee; the official fee table does not separately list a knowledge test fee. Before the road test, the state requires 50 hours of adult-supervised driving on the Instruction Permit, including 10 hours in inclement weather and 10 hours after dark, before the Restricted Minor's Permit.
REAL ID, motorcycle, and CDL
South Dakota licenses are issued as REAL ID compliant cards; new drivers and new residents provide one identity document, one Social Security document, and two proofs of South Dakota address. For a motorcycle license: instruction permit requires a vision test and written knowledge test, is valid one year, and limits riding to 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. accompanied by a licensed motorcycle operator; the license requires a vision test, a knowledge test with a score of 80% or higher, and a motorcycle driving test. For a commercial license (CDL): drivers must be at least 21 years of age to obtain a CDL for interstate commerce; applicants 18 to 20 years of age may be granted a CDL for intrastate commerce only.
The South Dakota bank has 202 questions across 8 topics
Test day: what to bring and where to go: a printable South Dakota checklist of the documents for the permit test, plus the official office finder and appointment links.
Study the handbook, chapter by chapter: 18 free lessons that boil the South Dakota driver manual down to the rules and exact numbers on the test, each quoted with its page.
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