Driving Tests

To earn your driver’s license, you must:

• Complete an application form (see Drive Test Documents section below for English and Spanish application forms). Electronic, digital, or stamped signatures are not allowed on the application form.
• Pay the application fee.
• Bring your required documents.
• Have a photo taken at a Driver Licensing location.
• Pass a vision test. If you wear glasses or contacts during the test, you’ll be required to wear them while driving. If you do not pass the test, you must present a statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist certifying that you possess the visual ability to drive safely before continuing the exam.
• Pass a knowledge test with a score of 80% or higher. This test will cover rules of the road and safe-driving practices. 
• Pass a driving test with a score of 80% or higher. During this test, you must demonstrate your ability to safely operate a vehicle and perform normal driving tasks.  

Read about the South Dakota graduated licensing system for information on teen driving requirements.

To learn to operate your motorcycle, you may apply for an instruction permit by completing the vision test and knowledge test. The permit is valid for one year and allows the driver to operate a motorcycle between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

To get a South Dakota Motorcycle License, you must:

• Complete an application form (see Drive Test Documents section below for English and Spanish application forms).  Electronic, digital, or stamped signatures are not allowed on the application form.
• Pay the application fee.
• Bring your required documents.
• Pass a vision test. If you wear glasses or contacts during the test, you’ll be required to wear them while driving. If you do not pass the test, you must present a statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist certifying that you possess the visual ability to drive safely before continuing the exam.
• Pass a knowledge test with a score of 80% or higher. This test will cover rules of the road and safe-driving practices. 
• Pass a motorcycle driving test. You will need to bring your own motorcycle for the driving test. During this test, you must demonstrate your ability to safely operate a motorcycle with normal driving tasks.  

Please wear appropriate safety gear for your test including a helmet, boots and leathers. The pavement must be dry to conduct a motorcycle driving test.

You can sign up for motorcycle safety classes to help you prepare for and pass your test. The South Dakota Safety Council offers classes from April through October and will also administer the license test as the final step of the course.

Learn more!  Download our motorcycle brochure here!

To qualify for your South Dakota CDL, you’ll need to have a qualifying South Dakota Driver’s License along with:

• A completed license application form (see Drive Test Documents section below for English and Spanish application forms). Electronic, digital, or stamped signatures are not allowed on the application form.
• Other required documents for a CDL, including a complete medical certificate form (if applicable).
• Pay the application fees. 
• A passing score an a written knowledge test.
• A passing score on applicable skills test(s) given at a third party testing site. Keep in mind that third party testers charge $90 plus tax for the drive test and you must drive on a CDL instruction permit for 14 days prior to taking the skill test. Drive tests must be scheduled at least two business days in advance.

If you have recent experience driving large trucks in the military, you may be eligible to obtain a CDL without a driving skills test by completing a military waiver.

If you fail any of the tests, you may not re-test before the next working day. You may wait longer if you want more time to study the manual or practice.  You are allowed three opportunities to test for each fee paid within a six-month period.

If a drive test applicant commits any of the following infractions, they must wait 30 days before another driving test will be administered:

• Car accident on driving test (unless the tester is not at fault)
• Poor car control
• Weaving in and out of lanes
• Failure to yield to a car or pedestrian
• Running a stop light or stop sign
• Excessive speeding
• Turning into an oncoming lane of traffic
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Any action that puts citizens’ or an examiner’s safety at risk

An operator license may be issued subject to certain restrictions. For example, a person who cannot see clearly with their right eye could be restricted to driving a vehicle with a left outside rearview mirror. Other restrictions could include:

• (A) Automatic transmission (formerly E)
• (B) Corrective lenses (formerly O)
• (C) Specially equipped vehicle (formerly Z)
• (F) Left outside rearview mirror
• (G) No night driving
• (I) No driving outside of town (formerly Q)
• (R) Restricted permit (6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.)
• (Y) 50-mile radius of residence (formerly X)

Those with a CDL may be subject to additional commercial driver's license restrictions.