The South Dakota road test
A plain-language guide, checked against the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (SD DPS): who the test is for, what to bring, how it is scored, and what a retake really costs.
The rule that decides your path
The South Dakota road test, also called the behind-the-wheel or driving skills test, is the final exam the SD DPS gives before it issues a driver's license. New drivers can take the South Dakota driving test at 16, after logging 50 hours of supervised driving.
South Dakota sets a specific pre-license education step every new driver has to clear. Drivers under 18 are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. On a permit you drive with an adult who has 1 year of experience beside you. Living in South Dakota more than 90 days requires a South Dakota license.
Below you'll find the full South Dakota road test requirements: who qualifies, what to bring, how examiners score the drive, and the retake rules if you don't pass the first time. On our Driving Index, South Dakota's written knowledge test ranks 31st-hardest of 51.
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Supervised hours before the South Dakota road test
These are hours you spend driving with a licensed adult, usually a parent, before you can take the test. Keep a log as you go, on paper or in an app, because the state can ask to see it. Practice in a mix of conditions, day and night, highways and quiet streets, rain and clear weather, and get the night hours in early, since those are the ones most people leave to the last minute.
What to bring to the South Dakota road test
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Documents
Your vehicle must have
Who comes with you. Drivers under 18 are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
If you fail the South Dakota road test
Here's how a retake works in South Dakota: Not before the next working day; automatic-fail infractions require a mandatory 30-day wait. 3 attempts per fee paid, within 6 months; you pay again after 3 failures ($38 application).
Beyond any fee, a retry usually means another day off work or school, another ride to the office, and another car to borrow, so failing costs far more than it looks on paper.
Passing on the first try is the cheapest way through. A first license runs $38.
How the South Dakota road test is scored
Pass or fail; a score of 80% or higher passes.
Mistakes that end the test right away
Do any of these and the examiner stops the drive, no matter how well the rest went.
- Being in a car accident during the test (unless you are not at fault)
- Poor control of the car
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Failing to yield to a car or pedestrian
- Running a red 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 the public's or the examiner's safety at risk
Before the road test
Pass the South Dakota written test on your first try
Nearby road-test guides.
Six more states, neighbours first, then the closest matches on test difficulty.
Test specifications, fees and laws change. This guide was last verified July 2026; always confirm current requirements with the SD DPS (www.sd.gov) before booking a test. DMV IQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with any state DMV, DPS, MVD, or BMV.
Spot an error? Email [email protected] and we'll get it corrected.
Sources for this guide (4 official SD DPS pages)
- Eligibility: https://www.sd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=d8e0b08e47bd0390a497127ba26d4348
- What to bring: https://www.sd.gov/dps?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0043703
- Test format: https://www.sd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=d8e0b08e47bd0390a497127ba26d4348
- Scoring: https://www.sd.gov/dps?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0043731
- Retakes: https://www.sd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=d8e0b08e47bd0390a497127ba26d4348
- Fees: https://www.sd.gov/dps?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0043708
- Handbook (REVISED 11/2024): https://www.sd.gov/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=d8e0b08e47bd0390a497127ba26d4348
Current as of 2026-07-16. Official South Dakota sources only; anything the state does not publish is left out rather than guessed.