South Dakota Road Test 2026: DPS Scoring and How to Pass

South Dakota's Department of Public Safety (DPS) road test costs $10, requires 70% to pass, and lasts approximately 20-25 minutes. South Dakota is notable for allowing 14-year-olds to obtain a learner's permit — one of the youngest minimum ages in the US.

Key Takeaways

• South Dakota DPS requires 70% to pass the road test
• Road test costs $10 per attempt
• South Dakota allows permits at age 14 — one of the youngest in the US
• First-attempt pass rate: approximately 61% statewide
• South Dakota's rural character means many tests include highway driving

South Dakota DPS Road Test Scoring

The South Dakota DPS uses a 100-point scale with 70 as the pass threshold.

Scored areas:

• Vehicle control
• Speed compliance
• Signal use
• Lane positioning
• Intersection navigation
• Observation and parking

Automatic fail conditions:

• Striking any vehicle, object, or person
• Running traffic controls
• Requiring examiner intervention

South Dakota Road Test Maneuvers and Routes

Standard South Dakota DPS maneuvers:

• Parallel parking
• Three-point turn
• Backing
• Left and right turns
• Lane changes

Sioux Falls (largest city): Most urban SD test environment, suburban routes.

Rapid City (Black Hills area): Mixed suburban/commercial with proximity to Badlands.

Rural South Dakota: Two-lane highway driving at 65+ mph, minimal traffic, wide sight distances. Many rural SD tests are among the simplest in the nation.

Practice South Dakota traffic rules on Wheelingo to prepare.

South Dakota Road Test Pass Rate

Based on driving school data:

• South Dakota statewide first-attempt pass rate: approximately 61%
• Sioux Falls metro: approximately 55% first attempt
• Rural South Dakota: approximately 67% first attempt

Top South Dakota Road Test Fails

1. Rolling stops — Most common error
2. Highway following distance — 65 mph zones require extended following distances
3. Parallel parking outside tolerance
4. Blind spot check omission
5. Signal timing violations

South Dakota GDL Requirements

• Obtain a permit at age 14 (youngest in the US for full driving permit)
• Hold permit for 6 months before road test
• Complete 6 hours of supervised driving (lowered requirement — one of the lowest nationally)

Frequently Asked Questions

What score do you need to pass the South Dakota road test? You need 70% or higher to pass the South Dakota DPS road test.

How much does the South Dakota road test cost? The South Dakota DPS road test costs $10 per attempt.

What is the minimum age for a driving permit in South Dakota? South Dakota allows learner's permits starting at age 14 — among the youngest minimum ages in the US.

How many supervised hours does South Dakota require? South Dakota requires only 6 hours of supervised driving — one of the lowest requirements nationally.

What is South Dakota's school zone speed limit? South Dakota school zones are 15 mph when children are present.

How long must you hold a South Dakota permit? South Dakota requires holding a learner's permit for at least 6 months before the road test.