Learn about the South Dakota requirements for obtaining your permit and license.
Instruction Permits
- You must be at least 14 years old.
- You and a guardian must visit a South Dakota licensing location with a required list of documents.
- You must pass the knowledge and vision tests. The knowledge test will be waived if you present a driver's ed certificate proving you passed an approved driver education course within the last year.
Restricted Permits
- You must have held an instruction permit for 180 days (with driver's ed) or 275 days (without driver's ed).
- You must have completed 50 hours of parent/guardian supervised driving (10 hours at night and 10 hours in inclement weather).
- If you have held a restricted permit for less than six months, you cannot have any passengers outside their immediate family or household in the car with you.
- If you have held a restricted permit for six months or more, you may have one passenger outside their immediate family or household in the car with you.
- If you are under 18, you must hold a restricted permit for six months before obtaining an operator license.
- You cannot drive after 10 PM unless you are driving for work, school, a school event, a church event, driving agricultural machinery, or doing farm-related work.
Operator License
- You must be 16 years of age.
- You must have held a restricted permit for a minimum of six months.
- You must have driven conviction-free for six months.
- Your parent or guardian must give their written approval.
