Written knowledge test
South Dakota Permit Practice Test
231 free questions written from the official handbook, each with an explanation and the page it comes from.
- From the official South Dakota handbook
- Every answer cites its page
- Checked November 4, 2026
The real test at a glance
- Where you take it
- in office (driver exam station, appointment required)source
- Minimum permit age
- 14source
- Permit fee
- 38.00source
- Test fee
- included in $38 application fee; fee covers three attempts in 6 monthssource
Checked against official sources on November 4, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program before your test.
About the real test
What to expect on test day
South Dakota's permit knowledge test is taken in office at a driver exam station, by appointment, and you need 80% to pass. You can get an instruction permit from age 14. The $38 application fee covers the permit and up to three test attempts in six months, and an approved driver education certificate from the last year waives the knowledge test. South Dakota does not publish the number of questions, so this site has no full mock exam for it.
Every question here is written from the official South Dakota Driver License Manual and shows the page it comes from. Practice by topic, then review the questions you missed.
Practice by topic
Pick a topic to start
Start with a topic you're unsure of. Mixed sets work better once you've seen each topic.
- Permits, licenses and the point systemLicense and permit types, required tests, restrictions, renewals, loss of driving privileges, instruction and restricted minor's permits and the point system.20 questions
- Alcohol, drugs and drivingAlcohol and drivers under 21, effects of alcohol and other drugs, penalties, and over-the-counter, prescription and illegal drugs.17 questions
- Safe driver habitsVision, hearing, fatigue, distractions, aggressive driving, emotions, seatbelts, air bags, child passenger safety and enforcement stops.19 questions
- Vehicle inspection and loadsInspecting your vehicle, tires and tread depth, windshield and windows, and securing a load.10 questions
- Pavement markings and lane controlsLane lines, crosswalks and stop lines, other lane controls and shared center lanes.11 questions
- Road signsWarning, railroad, work zone, regulatory, slow-moving vehicle, guide, route and service signs.36 questions
- Traffic signals and control devicesTraffic control devices, pedestrian hybrid beacons and traffic signals.12 questions
- Speed, stopping and space cushionControlling speed, speed management, stopping distance and following distance.17 questions
- Right-of-way, turns and intersectionsYielding, funeral processions, turning and turnabouts, U-turns, intersections, roundabouts and signaling.20 questions
- Interchanges, interstates, lane changes and passingCloverleaf and diverging diamond interchanges, interstate driving, changing lanes, adjusting to traffic and passing.17 questions
- Backing and parkingBacking up, no-parking zones, and perpendicular, angle and parallel parking.10 questions
- Hazards, emergencies and crashesVisual search, downhill driving, deer, night driving, emergencies, vehicle malfunctions, crashes and reporting, work zones, winter and rural driving.23 questions
- Sharing the roadSchool buses, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, large trucks and buses, emergency vehicles and slow-moving vehicles.19 questions
learned (right 3 times on different days) seen
Try a few
Sample South Dakota permit test questions
Open a question to see the answer, why, and the handbook page.
1.A car has ABS. In an emergency stop, what should you do with the brake pedal?
- ATap it lightly a few times
- BPump it up and down quickly
- CLet go once it starts to vibrate
- DPress hard and keep pressing
Show the answer
✓ D. Press hard and keep pressing
With ABS, press the brake as hard as you can and keep the pressure on; a vibrating pedal and clicking are normal.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (English) (REVISED 11/2024), page 57
2.You park facing uphill next to a curb. Which way should you turn your front wheels?
- AIt does not matter
- BStraight ahead
- CSharply to the left
- DSharply to the right
Show the answer
✓ C. Sharply to the left
Facing uphill with a curb, turn the wheels sharply left; with no curb or facing downhill, turn them sharply right.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (English) (REVISED 11/2024), page 43
3.You pass the same pole as the car ahead after counting "one thousand two." What should you do?
- AKeep your speed; that is enough
- BSlow down and count again
- CChange lanes right away
- DSpeed up to close the gap
Show the answer
✓ B. Slow down and count again
If you reach the point before counting to one thousand four, you are too close; reduce speed and count again.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (English) (REVISED 11/2024), page 51
4.A teen got a speeding ticket four months ago. Can they get a Restricted Minor's Permit today?
- ANo, they must now wait until they turn 18
- BYes, as long as a parent signs a consent form
- CNo, they need six months without a traffic conviction
- DYes, as long as the ticket's fine has been paid
Show the answer
✓ C. No, they need six months without a traffic conviction
To get a Restricted Minor's Permit you must not have been convicted of a traffic violation in the six months before applying.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (English) (REVISED 11/2024), page 8
5.A pedestrian with a white cane is crossing the street ahead. What must you do?
- AHonk so they know you're there
- BDrive slowly around them
- CFlash your headlights
- DCome to a complete stop
Show the answer
✓ D. Come to a complete stop
Always yield to visually impaired pedestrians; when someone with a guide dog or white cane is crossing, come to a complete stop.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (English) (REVISED 11/2024), page 61
6.Your car has air bags. Do you still need to wear your seatbelt?
- ANo, the air bags take the place of seatbelts
- BOnly when there are passengers in the car
- CYes, air bags miss side, rear and rollover crashes
- DOnly when you are driving on a highway
Show the answer
✓ C. Yes, air bags miss side, rear and rollover crashes
Wear seatbelts even with air bags, because air bags don't protect you in side or rear crashes or rollovers.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (English) (REVISED 11/2024), page 25
FAQ
Questions people ask
How many questions are on the South Dakota permit test?
The state doesn't publish the number of questions or the passing score on its official site, so check with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program before your test. Practice until you get at least 80% of new questions right.
Can I take the test online?
in office (driver exam station, appointment required). (Source: official South Dakota page, checked November 2, 2026.)
How old do I have to be to get a permit?
14. (Source: official South Dakota page, checked November 2, 2026.)
Are these the real test questions?
No. Nobody can legally offer the real questions. We write our own questions from the official South Dakota Driver License Manual (English), and each one shows the handbook page it's based on, so you learn the rules the real test is built from.