Printable SD Permit Practice Test

1. After a crash involving an unattended parked vehicle, what must you do if you cannot find the owner?

1. Drive away if the damage appears minor
2. Leave identifying and crash information where the owner can find it
3. Wait 24 hours before notifying anyone
4. Move the parked vehicle before leaving a note

2. In which months does the South Dakota manual say to be especially alert for deer?

1. October and November
2. June and July
3. January and February
4. March and April

3. A South Dakota Instruction Permit holder under 16 is convicted of a first traffic violation. How long is the suspension?

1. Seven days
2. Until age 18
3. A full year
4. Thirty days

4. How long does a new South Dakota resident have to register a vehicle brought in from another state?

1. Within 30 days
2. Within 60 days
3. Within one year
4. Within 90 days

5. You want to pass a slow-moving vehicle but are not sure there is enough space to complete the pass. What does the South Dakota manual advise?

1. Pass on the right before it reaches the next driveway
2. Honk steadily so the driver holds a straight path
3. Wait until you are sure there is enough space
4. Move beside it and check for a hand signal

6. Your vehicle has trouble and you must stop on a South Dakota highway. What should you try to do first?

1. Get your vehicle off the road and away from traffic if possible
2. Stop in the travel lane and wait for help
3. Turn off all lights so other drivers are not distracted
4. Stand near the center line to warn traffic

7. What color and shape are most South Dakota warning signs?

1. White with black, red, or green letters and square shaped
2. Blue with white lettering and square shaped
3. Green or brown with white lettering and rectangular shaped
4. Yellow with black lettering or symbols and diamond shaped

8. A South Dakota Instruction Permit holder was convicted of a traffic violation four months ago. What does that block?

1. Getting a Restricted Minor's Permit until six months pass without a conviction
2. Only night driving
3. Retaking the knowledge test
4. Nothing, as long as the fine is paid

9. A 19-year-old South Dakotan renews a license. When will a license issued to someone under 21 with five years or less until age 21 expire?

1. On the 21st birthday
2. 30 days after the 21st birthday
3. Five years from issue no matter what
4. On the 25th birthday

10. If your wheels leave the paved road surface, how should you return?

1. Steer sharply back onto the pavement at once
2. Slow gradually when safe, then turn back onto the pavement
3. Brake hard and stop in the travel lane
4. Accelerate until all wheels are on the shoulder

11. How should a driver respond to deer eyes reflecting beside the road?

1. Speed up before more deer reach the pavement
2. Swerve toward the shoulder to scare the deer away
3. Slow down, blow the horn, and be ready to stop
4. Dim all lights and coast past silently

12. What does a red arrow signal mean?

1. You may turn after yielding to pedestrians
2. The arrow direction has priority over other lanes
3. You may proceed if there is no oncoming traffic
4. You must stop and may not go in the arrow's direction

13. For a second DWI in South Dakota, what minimum license loss does the manual list?

1. At least 60 days
2. At least 30 days
3. At least one year
4. Until the driver turns 21

14. What maximum prison term does South Dakota list for a third DWI offense?

1. Six months
2. Life
3. Up to ten years
4. Up to two years

15. A dashed yellow line is on your side of a two-direction roadway. What does it mean?

1. Traffic in your direction may not cross it
2. Passing is prohibited for both directions
3. The lane is reserved for emergency vehicles
4. Passing is permitted on your side when safe

16. In a South Dakota funeral procession, which vehicle must obey traffic signs and signals?

1. Only the hearse
2. Only the first vehicle
3. Every third vehicle
4. Only vehicles without headlights on

17. Where should both hands usually be placed on the steering wheel for best control?

1. At the 2 and 10 o'clock positions
2. At the 3 and 9 o'clock positions
3. Together at the bottom of the wheel
4. One hand inside the rim and one on top

18. What does a red circle with a red slash over a symbol tell you?

1. The pictured action is recommended in heavy traffic
2. The pictured action is prohibited by that sign
3. The pictured action is allowed after a full stop
4. The sign gives route information for services

19. What penalties can follow a South Dakota conviction for failing to maintain proof of financial responsibility (insurance)?

1. A Class 2 misdemeanor plus a driver license suspension
2. A $25 fine only
3. A warning on the first offense
4. Loss of license until age 21

20. A new South Dakota resident holds a valid out-of-state regular (non-commercial) license. How long does the driver have to apply for a South Dakota license?

1. Within 30 days
2. Within 60 days
3. Within one year
4. Within 90 days

21. At a flashing red traffic light, what action is required?

1. Treat it like a yield sign and roll through if clear
2. Stop only when pedestrians are in a marked crosswalk
3. Proceed without stopping because cross traffic has yellow
4. Come to a complete stop, then go when safe

22. When passing horseback riders or animal-drawn vehicles, what should you avoid?

1. Avoid leaving extra space
2. Avoid slowing before you pass
3. Avoid using the horn or revving the engine
4. Avoid looking for driveway turns

23. Under South Dakota implied consent, what have you agreed to when you get a driver license?

1. Automatic guilt for any crash after drinking
2. A search of your vehicle at every traffic stop
3. A lawfully requested alcohol or drug content test when suspected of impaired driving
4. A yearly medical exam by law enforcement

24. What color are service signs that point to facilities such as rest areas, gas stations, or hospitals?

1. Blue with white letters or symbols
2. Orange with black construction symbols
3. Yellow with black hazard symbols
4. Brown with white route numbers

25. What should you do when rain, snow, ice, or fog makes the posted maximum speed unsafe?

1. Use the minimum speed sign as your target
2. Drive exactly the posted maximum to avoid surprising others
3. Reduce speed below the posted maximum
4. Speed up until visibility improves

26. Which debt can cost a South Dakota driver the license?

1. Any unpaid parking meter
2. A credit card balance over $500
3. Owing $1,000 or more to a South Dakota government agency
4. A $100 library fine

27. A South Dakota driver under 21 is convicted of a second Zero Tolerance offense (BAC 0.02% or more). What license loss applies?

1. A 180 day loss
2. A 30 day loss
3. A one year loss
4. Loss until age 21

28. What should a driver do during an enforcement stop to acknowledge the officer?

1. Open the driver door while moving
2. Flash high beams repeatedly
3. Turn on the right turn signal
4. Wave both hands out the window

29. What are shared center lanes reserved for?

1. Passing slow traffic in either direction
2. Driving straight during rush hour only
3. Stopping for loading and unloading passengers
4. Making left turns or permitted U-turns from either direction

30. How should you drive through a South Dakota work zone?

1. Ignore work signs after you pass the first barrel
2. Keep the normal limit because work areas are short
3. Follow closely so no vehicle enters your lane
4. Reduce speed, increase following distance, and watch for workers

31. A South Dakota driver under 21 has a BAC of 0.03%. Which statement matches the manual?

1. The driver is legal because BAC is below 0.08%
2. The driver may be arrested for alcohol impairment under the underage rule
3. The driver can only be cited for possession, not driving
4. The driver is legal if no crash occurred

32. At a crash scene with wrecked vehicles, what should be done about ignition and smoking?

1. Turn off ignitions and do not smoke around wrecked vehicles
2. Keep engines running so emergency lights stay bright
3. Smoke only if no flame is visible
4. Restart damaged vehicles to move debris faster

33. If a posted minimum speed is too fast for your vehicle or conditions, what does the South Dakota manual advise?

1. Ignore the minimum speed sign
2. Stay in the left lane with hazard flashers
3. Stop on the shoulder until traffic clears
4. Use another road

34. Who may supervise a South Dakota Instruction Permit holder under 18?

1. Only a licensed adult 25 or older
2. Only a certified driving instructor
3. Any licensed driver of any age
4. A parent, legal guardian, or other adult with a valid license and at least one year of driving experience

35. What does the South Dakota manual say about assuming you have the right-of-way at an intersection?

1. It always belongs to the vehicle that is moving faster
2. The driver on the larger road always has it
3. No one should assume they automatically have it; consider the situation and circumstances
4. A driver who signals first has it

36. How does South Dakota classify a third DWI offense in the manual?

1. Class 6 felony
2. Class 2 misdemeanor
3. Petty offense
4. Civil insurance violation

37. To cut South Dakota's required Instruction Permit holding time from 275 to 180 days, what driver education result is needed?

1. Attendance at any one-day safety class
2. Completing a course with a score of 80% or better on both written and driving portions
3. Passing the DMV knowledge test twice
4. 50 logged hours with a parent

38. Two vehicles approach an unsigned intersection at different times. Who should yield under South Dakota right-of-way guidance?

1. The driver who arrives first
2. The driver who arrives later
3. The driver on the wider road every time
4. The driver turning right from the cross street

39. When using ABS in an emergency stop, how should you press the brake pedal?

1. Press as hard as you can and keep pressure applied
2. Pump the brake pedal rapidly until the vibration stops
3. Brake lightly and steer only after the vehicle stops
4. Use the parking brake before touching the pedal

40. Why does the South Dakota manual say never to secure a child in the front passenger seat?

1. Children cannot see out of the front windshield
2. If the air bag deploys in a crash, the child could be severely injured
3. Front seat belts do not fit children
4. It is illegal for anyone under 21 to ride in front