Get your first driver's license in South Dakota

By · checked

How a first-time driver gets a South Dakota license: pass the vision and knowledge tests for an instruction permit, then a drive test at a driver exam station; teens go through a restricted minor's permit before the operator's license.

Your situation

How old are you?
Online or in person
No, tests are taken in person · Test visits need an appointmentKnowledge and drive tests are at a driver exam station and need an appointment, which you can book online. Later, an eligible restricted minor's permit can be upgraded to an operator's license online or by mail. The instruction permit after the vision and knowledge tests, then a drive test before upgrading to an operator license. Walk-ins are welcome for other services.
Cost
$38 instruction permit + $38 operator licenseEach fee allows three test attempts within six months. Card payments at exam stations carry a fee of $2.00 or 2.95%, whichever is greater.
You leave with
Instruction permit, then an operator license

Your plan

  1. Gather your documents

    • Show accepted documents
      • Driver License and ID Card Application
    • Show accepted documents (bring 1)
      • State-certified U.S. birth certificate
      • Valid U.S. passport or passport card
      • Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization
      • Permanent Resident Card
    • Show accepted documents (bring 1)
      • Social Security card
      • W-2
      • Form 1099
      • Pay stub showing your full number
    • Show accepted documents (bring 2)
      • Utility bill
      • Pay stub
      • Rent receipt
      • Phone bill
      • Bank statement
      • Mortgage document
      • Homeowner's insurance
      • Tax document

  2. Study the South Dakota Driver License Manual

    The manual covers what you need for the knowledge and road tests. The state does not provide practice tests.

    Driver manuals ↗

  3. Take a free practice test

    Before the knowledge test, try our South Dakota Permit Practice Test: 25 questions like the real exam, based on the official handbook, with every answer explained.

    Start the South Dakota practice test

  4. Get your instruction permit

    Pass the vision and knowledge tests at a driver exam station (by appointment). The permit is $38.

    Appointment information ↗

  5. Practice with a supervising adult

    Drive only with an adult who has a valid license and at least one year of driving experience seated beside you. No phones or other wireless devices while driving.

  6. Pass the drive test and get your operator license

    Schedule the drive test at a driver exam station and bring your own safe vehicle; no passengers or pets are allowed during the test. The operator license is $38.

    Appointment information ↗

Common reasons people get turned away

  • Any visit that needs a knowledge or drive test requires an appointment, and the Sioux Falls Express Station does not offer testing.
  • Photocopies and hospital-issued birth certificates are not accepted.
  • If you fail a test you cannot retest before the next working day; after 3 attempts in 6 months, the fee must be paid again.
  • Getting caught cheating means waiting at least two weeks before testing again.
  • You must bring your own street-legal vehicle, and the examiner may cancel a drive test for unsafe weather or road conditions.
  • A traffic conviction in the six months before applying blocks the restricted permit and the operator's license for teens.

Offices for permits, tests and first licenses

South Dakota says first-time applicants apply in person at a driver exam station (its manual says any exam station in the state), and any visit with a knowledge or drive test needs an appointment. The DPS station map marks county issue sites as not state exam stations, and the Sioux Falls Express Station does not offer testing. Agency source.

26 offices where you can apply for a permit or first licenseSee them on a map, search by county or show the ones open now

Largest cities with them: Sioux Falls (1)

26 more offices may be able to apply for a permit or first license, but neither the office's service list nor the agency says so. They show in the search below, labelled; call before you go.

Results show offices where you can apply for a permit or first license or may be able to, nearest first, each labelled.

Read more

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Sources · checked November 4, 2026

We wrote this plan ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMV Decoded is independent and not a government agency; we don't book appointments or take payments.