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South Dakota · DPS study resources

South Dakota permit test prep.

Build your knowledge of South Dakota driving rules with 59 short lessons, 62 road-sign illustrations, and 686 study questions based on the course’s driver handbook edition.

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A winding country road with a red car and road signs
Study questions
686
Driving lessons
59
Signs & illustrations
62
Course units
10

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Practice

South Dakota practice test

See the 25-question simulation, the 20-correct passing threshold, sample questions, and source notes.

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Recognition

South Dakota road signs

Browse 62 signs and illustrations, with their meanings and the action to take.

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Reference

South Dakota driver handbook

Find the chapter list, source PDF, and companion lessons for the handbook in this course.

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A clear route through the handbook

The 59 lessons below follow 10 course units. Open a lesson to read its rules, examples, and source page references, or use the study app for its checkpoint quiz.

Unit 1 · 8 lessons

Your License

Documents, permits, testing, renewal, points and insurance

  1. Who can get a license
  2. Documents you must bring
  3. Testing, fees and license restrictions
  4. Permits and graduated licensing
  5. Motorcycle permits, IDs and duplicates
  6. Renewal and keeping your license
  7. Suspension, revocation and reinstatement
  8. Registration, insurance and points

Unit 2 · 5 lessons

Be in Shape to Drive

Vision, fatigue, distraction, alcohol, drugs and health

  1. Vision, hearing and fatigue
  2. Distractions and aggressive driving
  3. Alcohol and the law
  4. How alcohol and drugs impair you
  5. Emotions and health

Unit 3 · 6 lessons

Before You Drive

Vehicle checks, clear view, seats, belts, child safety and loads

  1. Inspecting and maintaining your vehicle
  2. Windows, tint and a clear view
  3. Adjusting your seat and mirrors
  4. Seatbelts and air bags
  5. Child passenger safety
  6. Securing loads and trip planning

Unit 4 · 2 lessons

Basic Driving

Starting, steering, stopping, speed and backing

  1. Starting, moving and steering
  2. Stopping, speed control and backing

Unit 5 · 7 lessons

Rules of the Road

Right-of-way, signals, signs and pavement markings

  1. Right-of-way and traffic control devices
  2. Traffic signals
  3. Warning signs and railroad crossings
  4. Work zone signs and devices
  5. Regulatory signs: stop, yield, speed and passing
  6. Guide, service and slow-moving vehicle signs
  7. Pavement markings and lane controls

Unit 6 · 8 lessons

General Driving

Turns, intersections, interchanges, parking, passing and stops

  1. Turns, turnabouts and U-turns
  2. Intersections and roundabouts
  3. Interchanges and interstate driving
  4. School buses and parking rules
  5. Angle, perpendicular and parallel parking
  6. Lane changes, keeping pace and merging
  7. Passing and overtaking bicycles
  8. What to do during an enforcement stop

Unit 7 · 8 lessons

Safe Driving Tips

Searching, speed, space cushions and communicating

  1. Visual search: ahead, sides and behind
  2. Steep hills and deer
  3. Speed management and stopping distance
  4. Following distance
  5. Space to the side and behind
  6. Space to pass and extra-room situations
  7. Headlights and the horn
  8. Breakdowns, blind spots and signaling

Unit 8 · 4 lessons

Emergencies and Crashes

Avoiding crashes, malfunctions, the crash scene and reporting

  1. Avoiding a crash
  2. Vehicle malfunctions
  3. At the crash scene
  4. Reporting a crash

Unit 9 · 7 lessons

Sharing the Road

Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycles, trucks and emergency vehicles

  1. Pedestrians
  2. Bicyclists
  3. Motorcyclists
  4. Trucks and buses: No-Zones and stopping
  5. Trucks and buses: turns, merging and bus hazards
  6. Emergency vehicles, the move-over law and police stops
  7. Slow-moving vehicles, farm equipment and horses

Unit 10 · 4 lessons

Special Driving Situations

Night, work zones, winter and rural roads

  1. Night driving
  2. Work zones
  3. Winter driving
  4. Rural road driving

Know which test you are studying for

South Dakota Knowledge Test

This Roadwise course uses a 25-question practice test with 20 correct answers needed to pass. The format can depend on your age, license class, or application type.

The SD Driver Handbook itself (p.65) shows only a 10-question, 3-choice self-check sample and does not state the official computer-based test's length or passing score. The official DPS site (dps.sd.gov/driver-licensing/south-dakota-licensing-information/driving-tests) could not be checked directly for these figures, so the 25-question / 80%-to-pass (20 correct) format is used here as the best-corroborated value, consistent across independent test-prep sources describing the DPS knowledge test. There is no evidence of a separately scored signs sub-section, so the practice test uses one combined score.

See format details and sample questions