SD · Drivers education
South Dakota drivers ed guide
In South Dakota a teen can drive on an instruction permit at 14, and a school or community drivers ed course is optional but moves the next stage up from 275 days to 180 and can replace DPS tests. Adults license without any course. If you get a ticket, no state course dismisses it or takes points off, and the 55 and older insurance discount law has been gone since 2011.
Checked against South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing Program on 2026-10-23.
Your South Dakota Teen's Path From Permit to License
This page is for South Dakota parents and teens mapping out the years between 14 and 16. The one decision you face is whether to enroll in a school or community drivers ed program. You can skip it and still get every lic...
- Youngest age for an instruction permit14
- Minimum time on the permit, no course275 days
- Minimum time on the permit, approved course180 days
Licensing as an Adult in South Dakota
This page is for anyone 18 or older getting a first South Dakota license or moving one in from another state. The decision in front of you is whether to pay for lessons before you test. The state does not require any cou...
- Is a course required at 18+?No
- Tests for a first licenseVision, knowledge and drive
- Pass mark80% on the knowledge and drive tests
South Dakota Tickets, Points and Defensive Driving
This page is for South Dakota drivers holding a ticket and wondering whether a course can make it go away. The decision you face is really whether to pay or go to court, because no state program trades a course for a dis...
- Can a course dismiss a ticket by right?No
- Can a course take points off?No state provision found
- Point limit for suspension15 in 12 months or 22 in 24 months