SOUTH DAKOTA DMV PRACTICE TEST

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All residents who operate a motor vehicle on any South Dakota street or highway must have an South Dakota driver’s license or learner's permit. To obtain an instruction permit, you must be at least 14 years of age and pass the vision and knowledge test. The South Dakota written test covers the contents of the South Dakota Driver's Manual, and includes questions on safe driving practices, road rules, road signs and signals. The SD DMV knowledge test consists of 25 questions, and you must score 80% or higher (at least 20 correct answers) to pass. Practice with this sample DMV test to get ready for the official South Dakota written test.
1. The traffic light is green and you want to drive straight through an intersection. If a car is already in the intersection and is making a turn, you must:
drive through the intersection. You have the right-of-way.
enter the intersection and then stop.
let that car complete its turn before you enter the intersection.
2. The first sign drivers see when approaching a highway-rail intersection is usually:
a speed limit sign.
an advance warning sign.
a crossbuck sign.
3. When drivers see a 'Wrong Way' sign:
they must not leave the pavement except in an emergency.
they must drive past this sign and reach the next intersection.
they are going the wrong way on an expressway exit ramp.
4. This sign warns drivers of:
narrow bridge sign
a narrow bridge ahead.
a low place in the road.
low clearance.
5. On what three factors does your blood alcohol content (BAC) depend?
Your weight. The type of beverage you drink. How fit you are.
Your height. How much alcohol you drink. The type of beverage you drink.
Your weight. How much alcohol you drink. How much time passes between drinks.
6. If you approach a flashing red traffic light, you should treat it the same as:
a warning sign.
a stop sign.
a yield sign.
7. This road sign means:
traffic signal ahead sign
Traffic signal ahead
Yield the right-of-way
Stop
8. Which signs have black letters on a white background?
Guide signs (horizontal rectangle)
Regulatory signs (vertical rectangle)
Warning signs (diamond)
9. As they approach the top of a hill, drivers should:
prepare to stop if needed.
keep a steady speed.
speed up slightly.
10. This sign means:
merging traffic sign
A road crosses the main highway ahead.
Drivers are coming to a point where another traffic lane joins the one they are on.
The divided highway on which drivers are traveling ends ahead.
 
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Frequently Asked Questions

You can obtain an instruction permit when you are at least 14 years old. If you are under 18, you can apply for a restricted permit after holding the permit for 275 days (or 180 days if you have completed a driver education course). To obtain a full operator’s license, you must be at least 16 years old and have held a restricted permit for at least 6 months.

To take your permit test in South Dakota, you can simply visit any South Dakota driver license exam station. However, scheduling an appointment online or calling 605-773-6883 can help minimize wait times. If you've completed an approved driver education course within the past year and can provide a certificate as proof, you may waive the DMV test.

Make sure you have these documents:
  • Proof of date of birth, identity, and lawful status in the US (Birth certificate, U.S. passport…). If your legal name differs, provide proof with a marriage certificate or a court order.
  • Proof of Social Security number.
  • Two proofs of residential address (such as utility or phone bill, mortgage document, or bank statement). If you are minor, a parent/guardian could provide these for you.
  • Completed License Application Form. For minors, a parent/guardian must sign the parent/guardian consent section in front of a driver examiner or in front of a notary public.


The DMV written test in South Dakota is offered in both English and Spanish. It is advisable to have a basic understanding of English since you will find road signs always in English when driving.

The DMV written test covers various topics, such as road signs, parallel parking, turning, passing a vehicle, yielding the right of way, etc. Studying the official South Dakota Driver’s Handbook is the first step to pass the exam because it contains all of this information. Once you've read it, you can take our free practice tests to test your preparation.

For new drivers in South Dakota, specific restrictions apply depending on the type of permit held.

With an instruction permit:
  • You must have an adult with a driver's license for at least one year, seated beside you.
  • The use of any wireless communication device while driving is prohibited.

With a restricted minor’s permit:
  • You may drive between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. with the authorization of a parent or legal guardian.
  • Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., you can drive only with a parent or legal guardian seated beside you or you can drive alone only for school/church events or work activities.
  • For the first 6 months, you cannot transport any passengers except siblings. After this period, you may only have one passenger who is not a family member.
  • The use of any wireless communication device while driving is prohibited.

The South Dakota instruction permit is valid for five years or until the expiration date of the documents authorizing your presence in the United States. Use this time to fulfill the necessary requirements before taking the road test.
In case you don't pass your DMV written test, you'll need to wait until the next working day before trying again. You have up to three attempts within a six-month period. However, if you fail three times within six months, you must pay a new fee to retake the exam.

SD DMV Permit Practice Test

Number of questions: 25
Correct answers to pass:20
Passing score:80%
Minimum age to apply: 14
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