South Dakota runs a Graduated Driver’s Licensing program. Teens can acquire an instruction permit at just 14 years old and can obtain a full, unrestricted driver’s license at 16.

The driver’s licensing process varies from state to state. South Dakota teens are lucky, because they can begin learning to drive at just 14 years old, and can acquire a full driver’s license at 16. However, before they can drive unsupervised, teens must first complete a lengthy period of training and supervised driving.

Confused by South Dakota’s licensing process? Don’t sweat it!

Jerry

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South Dakota car insurance

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What is the driving age in South Dakota?

South Dakota runs a Graduated Driver’s Licensing program. Teens can obtain an instruction permit at 14, a restricted permit at 14 1/2, and can obtain a full license at 16.

What is the Graduated Driver’s Licensing program in South Dakota?

According to the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), car accidents are the second leading cause of death amongst young people. To minimize the number of accidents and fatalities, many states, including South Dakota, have implemented Graduated Driver’s Licensing (GDL) programs.

GDL programs allow teens to accrue driving experience in stages, while being granted incrementally more freedom. Most programs include these three stages:

Learner’s permit stage: supervised driving

Restricted license stage: limited unsupervised driving

Unrestricted stage: unrestricted standard driver’s license

MORE:

The speed limit in South Dakota

How to get your instruction permit in South Dakota

In South Dakota, you only need to be 14 years old to obtain an

instruction permit

To acquire a South Dakota instructor permit, you and a parent/guardian must visit a

South Dakota licensing location

with the following

documentation

Proof of lawful status in the United States

Proof of name change (if applicable)

Proof of Social Security Number (card, W-2, 1099, or pay stub)

Two documents proving residential/physical address

Finally, you must pass a written knowledge exam in order to obtain your instruction permit. If you have already passed a state-approved driver’s education class, the exam may be waived.

Instruction permit restrictions

If you have an instruction permit, you may only drive under the supervision of a licensed adult. A parent or guardian may cancel your instruction permit through a written request. You may also lose your instruction permit if you are convicted of a traffic violation.

MORE:

Your questions about teenage car insurance, answered

How to get your restricted permit in South Dakota

In South Dakota, a restricted permit is a license that allows new drivers to operate motor vehicles alone under certain conditions. You can acquire a restricted permit if you have held your instruction permit for at least 275 days. Completing a state-approved driver’s education course lowers the time required to 180 days.

While holding an instruction permit, you must drive under the supervision of a parent/guardian for at least 50 hours. 10 of those hours must be at night, and 10 must be in inclement weather. Your parent/guardian must sign a statement confirming that you completed the required hours.

Finally, to obtain a restricted permit, you must pass both a written knowledge exam and a drive test.

Key Takeaway To obtain a South Dakota restricted license, you must have held an instruction permit for at least 180 days if you completed a driver’s education course, and 275 days if you did not.

Restricted permit limitations

While holding a restricted permit, you may drive alone only between the hours of 6 A.M. and 10 P.M. You may drive outside of those hours only under the supervision of a licensed parent or guardian.

You may not have any passengers from outside your immediate family or household for the first six months after your permit issuance date. After the first six months, you may carry one passenger from outside your immediate family or household.

To acquire your full driver’s license you must:

Be at least 16 years old

Meet all the requirements for holding an instruction permit

Have held a restricted permit for at least six months

Have driven conviction-free for at least six months

Have the written approval of your parent or guardian

MORE:

Worst cars for teenage drivers

How to save on car insurance in South Dakota

So you got your license and you’re ready to hit the open road. But before you do, tell your parents the importance of adding a teen driver to their car insurance. Since teens lack driving experience, they tend to get in more accidents. Therefore, it's imperative to have full protection before you take to the streets.

Don’t worry,

Jerry

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Shopping with Jerry takes just a couple of minutes from start to finish. Download the Jerry app, enter your information, and then pick your policy from a selection of personalized quotes. No phone calls. No unnecessary forms.

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How old do you need to be to drive in South Dakota?

South Dakota teens may begin learning to drive at age 14, as long as they acquire an instruction permit. To obtain a restricted permit, you must be at least 14 ½. If you did not complete a driver’s education course, you must have held an instruction permit for at least 275 days. If you did complete a driver’s education course, you need only have held your instruction permit for 180 days. You must also have completed 50 hours of parent/guardian supervised driving, at least 10 of which were at night. You may apply for a full license at 16.

Can you drive by yourself at 14 ½ in Idaho?

Yes. If you meet all the requirements to acquire a restrictedpermit, you may begin driving by yourself at age 14 ½. You may not have any passengers outside your immediate family or household for six months from the initial permit issuance date. After those six months, you may only have one passenger from outside your immediate family or household. You may apply for a full driver’s license at 16.

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