Free South Dakota DMV Permit Practice Test 2025

To obtain your South Dakota DMV driver’s permit, you must pass a vision screening and the written permit knowledge test. (If you’re under 18, you don’t have to pass the knowledge test if you completed an approved driver education course within the past year.) The knowledge test consists of 25 multiple-choice questions covering traffic laws, safe driving practices, driving under the influence, vehicle inspection, emergencies, and sharing the road, as outlined in the state’s South Dakota DMV 2025 Driver’s Manual. To pass, you must score at least 80% (20 out of 25 questions). If you fail the knowledge test, you must wait until the next business day and pay a retest fee for every three attempts. Our practice resources make sure that doesn’t happen.

Our free online South Dakota DMV Permit Practice Test is updated for November 2025. It mimics actual exam conditions and speeds the learning process by providing immediate feedback on any missed questions instead of at the end of the assessment.

The Instruction Permit is the first phase of South Dakota’s Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) program for drivers under 18. You can apply for this as early as age 14, but must drive accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 18 years old. After turning 16 and holding your instruction permit for 180 days, you can apply for a restricted minor’s permit. This permit allows you to drive alone, but only from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM (with some exceptions for school, work, or church events). You must also have completed an approved driver education course and have no traffic convictions for the past six months. You can apply for your full license at age 16, provided you’ve held the restricted minor’s permit for six months and have had no traffic convictions during this period. If you’re over 18, you must obtain an instruction permit and then pass the road test to upgrade to an unrestricted license.

Once you’re ready to apply for the permit, go to the DMV with proof of identity (birth certificate, passport), your Social Security card, two proofs of residence (utility bill, bank statement), and signed consent from a parent or guardian (in person) if you’re under 18. Submit the documents, pass a vision screening, pay the fee, and pass the official written test.