South Dakota
Driving Practice Test

If you want to pass your South Dakota driving test on the first try, it’s wise to prepare by taking a free online South Dakota practice driving test. This site contains a number of free practice tests with questions similar to those you’ll see on both the South Dakota driving permit test as well as the driver’s license test. You’ll need to score 80 percent on the South Dakota written knowledge test to pass, so you’ll want to spend a significant amount of time working through the questions on these tests and becoming familiar with South Dakota’s road signs and driving laws. This site also contains practice tests for South Dakota commercial driver licensing (CDLs) and motorcycle tests, which are also both free. You will be presented with 25 questions and you must answer 20 questions correctly to pass. There is no time limit. You may not go back once you answer a question. Click the "Start Test" button below to begin. Good luck!

1 / 25

A driver under the age of 21 years cannot have a blood alcohol content of:

0.04 or more

0.06 or more

0.08 or more

0.02 or more

2 / 25

The ________ represent danger areas around trucks where collisions are more likely to occur.

no-zones

stop-zones

blind-zones

zero-zones

3 / 25

South Dakota motor vehicle law requires that __________ must wear seat belts if the driver is a holder of an intermediate driver's license.

the driver and front seat passengers

the driver and all passengers

the driver

the driver and back seat passengers

4 / 25

The most common cause for a car to skid is:

the vehicle was moving at an excessive speed

bad brake pads

bad road conditions

heavy load in the vehicle

5 / 25

Select the situation in which passing another vehicle on the left side of the roadway is not allowed.

when on roads without a center line

when on a one-way street

when the slower moving vehicle is in the right hand lane

when at a railroad crossing

6 / 25

The left-most lane on a road with 3 or more lanes is intended for:

semi trucks only

pulling over during an emergency

slow-driving vehicles

passing vehicles driving at a slower speed

7 / 25

When turning left from a two-way street onto a one-way street, you must:

do any of the above

swing wide to the left before turning

begin the turn with your left wheel as close as possible to the yellow dividing line

begin the turn with your right wheel as close as possible to the yellow dividing line

8 / 25

The best thing to do when encountering an aggressive driver is to:

make hand gestures

increase your speed to leave the other driver behind

not react with similar behavior and to back off

sound your horn

9 / 25

Select the situation in which it is necessary to use your headlights.

during a snow storm

while driving in the city

30 minutes after a sunrise

while on a country road

10 / 25

Select the appropriate reaction to a gate being down at a railroad crossing.

come to a stop no closer than 100 feet from the first rail

come to a stop no closer than 25 feet from the first rail

come to a stop no closer than 50 feet from the first rail

come to a stop no closer than 15 feet front the nearest rail

11 / 25

What does this sign indicate?

recommended speeds

the maximum and minimum legal speeds on this roadway

the speed zone a driver must avoid to maintain safety

police radar traps in the area

12 / 25

When a traffic signal is showing a steady yellow light:

you may proceed through the intersection, even if a stop can be made safely

you must slow down and be especially alert before entering the intersection

you must slow down and yield to all pedestrians and other traffic lawfully using the intersection

you must stop if you can do so safely and remain stopped until a green signal or a green arrow appears

13 / 25

You must yield and watch for_____when you reach a marked or unmarked crossing.

pedestrians

semi trucks

farming vehicles

large vehicles

14 / 25

To overcome highway hypnosis, drowsiness and fatigue, drivers must _________ to keep them awake while driving.

talk on a cell phone

do text messaging

take stimulants

exercise their eyes

15 / 25

Roads freeze more quickly when they are:

frequently used

shaded

flat

curvy

16 / 25

You should____when a police officer directs you to drive on the wrong side of the road.

perform a u-turn

follow the posted traffic signage

come to a stop until you can drive on the right side

follow the directions of the officer

17 / 25

The _______allows you to maintain a safe following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.

3-second rule

4-second rule

2-second rule

1-second rule

18 / 25

If your car starts to skid, what is the most common cause?

the overall weight of your car

poor road conditions

brake failure

you were driving too fast

19 / 25

When a pedestrian enters a crosswalk at an uncontrolled intersection, you should:

none of these answers are correct

change lane so you do not have to slow down

give the pedestrian the right-of-way

make the pedestrian aware that you are approaching

20 / 25

Use the ________technique to turn the steering wheels when making a turn.

single-hand

hand-over-hand

double-hand

hand-to-hand

21 / 25

You should_____when a pedestrian enters a crosswalk at an uncontrolled intersection.

none of the answers listed

sound your horn to make the pedestrian aware you are approaching

allow the pedestrian to have the right-of-way

change the lane you are in to go around the pedestrian

22 / 25

When you reach a marked or unmarked crossing, you must yield and watch for:

trucks

heavy vehicles

pedestrians

slow-moving vehicles

23 / 25

Select the situation in which you are not required to stop your vehicle.

when approaching a school bus that has stopped to unload children in the same lane

when traveling in the opposite direction on a highway divided by a median and a school bus has stopped to unload children

when traveling in the opposite direction on a highway without a median divide and a school bus has stopped to unload children

when approaching a school bus that is unloading children in the same lane on a highway with 4 or more lanes

24 / 25

Where is the most likely place you would encounter this sign?

when ascending a long steep grade such as traveling up a mountain

when descending a long steep grade such as traveling down a mountain

in an area where student drivers are practicing for their CDL

when in an area where theft of trucks is commonplace

25 / 25

When approaching a roundabout intersection, you must always:

yield to traffic in the circle and pedestrians in the crosswalks

enter from the left

move in the clockwise direction

activate your left turn signal to exit

Your score is

The average score is 85%

5/5 - (1 vote)

Drivers License

How To Get A STATE Drivers License

South Dakota as a graduated driver’s license system with three tiers. You start with a learner’s permit, then a minor’s restricted driver’s license, and finally a full license. To obtain your learner’s permit, you must be 14 years old and bring proof of your identity, social security number, and residence proof to your local DMV. An adult must accompany you and sign your application, and this person must be at least 18 years old and have been driving for one year. You must pass a vision test, along with a 25 question written test with an 80 percent or better.There are interpreters and an oral exam available upon request. You are allowed a total of three attempts to pass both the written and the skills test each time you submit an application and fees. If you fail, you must wait one day to retake them. You must hold this permit for one year and complete 50 hours of supervised driving time, 10 of which are at night. There is a $28 fee for this permit.To obtain your restricted minor’s license, you must be 15 years old and complete a driver’s education course and 50 hours of supervised, documented driving. You must also pass a driving exam, and pass a safe driving South Dakota DMV test, which is the written portion of the exam. The final step is paying a $15 fee. Once you turn 16, your license will automatically turn into an unrestricted license if you have followed these steps.If you recently moved into the state, you have 90 days to pay your $28 fee and take the vision exam to get your license switched over to a South Dakota driver's license.

Pass The Test

How To Pass the STATE Driver's License Test

The best way to pass any test is with proper preparation. The South Dakota permit test and driver’s license tests are no exception. If you want to pass, we suggest you keep the following tips in mind.

Get the essential organized beforehand. The night before your exam, or earlier, make sure you have all of your necessary documentation and fees. There’s no need stressing yourself out or being late because you’re looking for paperwork at the last minute.

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Study like crazy! Between the state driver’s manual and free South Dakota driving test questions like the ones on this site, you need to spend as much time as possible getting to know every single piece of information you can possibly obtain so you won’t be surprised on test day.
Get a good night’s sleep and make sure you eat before the test. You want to be at the top of your game to make sure your mind is clear and sharp on test day. That won’t happen if you’re sleepy or hungry.

Additional Information

Information on the South Dakota DPS (Department of Public Safety)

For information on South Dakota driver’s licenses and testing, you can find more information on the South Dakota Department of Public Safety website at https://dps.sd.gov/.

Phone: 605.773.6883

To find South Dakota Department of Public Safety locations, use the branch locator on our website: https://drivingtestsample.com/dmv-locations/south-dakota/

South Dakota Driving Test & Driver’s License Helpful Links

Please use the links below to learn more about helpful topics related to the South Dakota driver’s license test or other South Dakota driver’s license related topics.

Even More South Dakota Drivers Tests

We have put together ten additional tests to help you practice for your South Dakota Driver's License. Click below and get practicing!

South Dakota Driving Practice Test