The South Dakota permit test is a written knowledge test you take at a driver exam station run by the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver Licensing Program, and you need a score of 80% or higher to pass. DPS does not publish how many questions are on the test. Practice-test sites commonly say 25, but that number is unofficial, so study every topic in the South Dakota Driver License Manual.
South Dakota is also one of the few states where you can get an instruction permit at 14. That means many people taking this test are young and taking their first test of any kind at a government office. The steps below keep it simple.
South Dakota permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Agency | South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS), Driver Licensing Program (dps.sd.gov) |
| Minimum age | 14 for the instruction permit, with a parent or guardian's consent |
| Questions | Not published by DPS. Third-party sites say 25, which is unofficial |
| Pass mark | 80% or higher |
| Where | In person at a driver exam station, by appointment |
| Online test | No online option is listed by DPS |
| Fee | $28 for the instruction permit. DPS does not list a separate test fee |
| Retakes | Not before the next working day. Three combined tries per application fee, within six months |
| Languages | The driver manual comes in English and Spanish. DPS does not say which languages the test is given in |
How many questions are on the South Dakota permit test?
DPS does not say how many questions are on the South Dakota permit test. Its driver licensing pages only say you must "pass a knowledge test with a score of 80% or higher" covering the rules of the road and safe driving practices. If the test has 25 questions, as practice sites report, 80% means 20 correct, so you could miss 5. Because the count is not official, ask the examiner if you want the exact number, and aim for every question on your practice tests.
What's on the test
The test comes from the South Dakota Driver License Manual. Expect questions on traffic laws, road signs and safe driving habits. People who already ride along with parents often do fine on everyday rules and then miss the exact numbers, so give those extra time.
- Road signs: shape, color and meaning. Many people skip signs when studying, and they show up on the test.
- Alcohol: 0.08 is the limit for adult drivers, and drivers under 21 can be arrested at 0.02.
- Following distance: the manual recommends at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle ahead.
- Move over: with two or more lanes in your direction, move away from a stopped vehicle with amber, yellow or blue lights. On a two-lane road, slow to 20 mph below the limit.
- Passing a bicycle: leave at least 3 feet when the limit is 35 mph or less, and at least 6 feet above that.
- Snowplows: on roads posted 35 mph or more, stay at least 200 feet behind a plow with its lights on.
Permit at age 14: what that means
South Dakota lets you apply for an instruction permit at 14, younger than most states. A parent or guardian must sign to give consent, either in person or on a notarized consent form. DPS's teen licensing guide also says the knowledge test is waived if you present a certificate showing you passed an approved driver education course within the last year. Ask DPS if that applies to you before you book.
After the permit, teens move to a restricted minor's permit. You must hold the instruction permit for 275 days, or 180 days if you complete an approved driver education course, and log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 at night and 10 in bad weather.
South Dakota sees a lot of deer crashes in fall, especially at dawn and dusk. When you practice, scan the road edges and slow down if you see eyes in your headlights.
How to study for the South Dakota permit test
- Read the South Dakota Driver License Manual in short sessions, one chapter a day.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Highlight every number (distances, ages, BAC limits, hours) and put them on one page.
- Take practice tests and say out loud why each wrong answer is wrong.
- Go back to your weakest chapter, then take one more full practice test the night before.
A 14-year-old does better with 20 minutes a day for two weeks than with one long night. Parents can help by asking one question at dinner and letting the teen explain the answer.
What to bring and how to book
Bring original documents, not photocopies. For a teen applying for an instruction permit, DPS lists:
- A certified birth certificate issued by the state or county where you were born. Hospital certificates are not accepted.
- Your Social Security card.
- Two pieces of mail showing your residential address. They can be in your name or your parent's. DPS says address documents must be less than one year old, and handwritten mail is not accepted.
- A completed application, which you can fill out before you arrive.
- A parent or legal guardian with you, since applicants under 18 need their consent.
- The $28 permit fee. Exam stations take cash, check, money order and cards (card payments add a small processing fee).
Testing appointments must be scheduled. Book through the online scheduling tool on dps.sd.gov or call Driver Licensing at 605-773-6883. Check the Required Documents page on dps.sd.gov before you go, since lists change.
Can you take the South Dakota permit test online?
No. DPS does not list an online knowledge test. Online services in South Dakota cover things like renewals and duplicates. Plan to take the permit test in person at a driver exam station.
What happens if you fail the South Dakota permit test?
You can try again, just not the same day. DPS says you may not retest before the next working day. Your application and fee cover up to three combined attempts, and if you do not pass after three tries, or you come back after six months, you pay the fee again. Use the time in between to study the topics you missed.
South Dakota permit test FAQ
How many questions are on the South Dakota permit test?
DPS does not publish the number. Practice sites commonly say 25, but that is unofficial. You need 80% or higher to pass.
How old do you have to be to get a permit in South Dakota?
14. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian's consent.
Can I take the South Dakota permit test online?
No online option is listed by DPS. The test is taken in person at a driver exam station, and you need an appointment.
How much does the South Dakota permit cost?
The instruction permit fee is $28. DPS does not list a separate knowledge test fee.
Is there a South Dakota permit test study guide?
The official study guide is the South Dakota Driver License Manual, free on dps.sd.gov in English and Spanish. Practice tests help you check what you remember.
