- Updated for June 2025
- Based on official South Dakota Driver's manual
Free South Dakota DMV Written Test Study Guide 2025
Driving in South Dakota can be an unforgettable experience, especially if you’re crossing the vast plains or winding through the Black Hills. The state is known for its open roads and light traffic, making it ideal for beginners who lack behind-the-wheel experience. However, icy roads and snow can pose a challenge in winter, even for expert drivers. You must always drive cautiously and prioritize safety.
Before you can legally explore South Dakota’s roads behind the wheel of your favorite vehicle, you must complete the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. Teen drivers begin this program with the instruction permit, which is granted after passing a vision screening and a 25-question knowledge exam. Adults are not required to hold an instruction permit, but they, too, must pass the vision screening and the official knowledge test.
South Dakota’s Department of Public Safety (DMV) publishes the official South Dakota Driver License Manual (South Dakota DMV Handbook (SD Driver's Manual) 2025). This resource describes the various aspects of driving theory in detail, helping you understand what it takes to become a safe and responsible driver. However, some students find active learning easier and more efficient than traditional study methods. They use practice tests to boost their learning potential and retain information through repetition. You can adopt a similar approach by incorporating our South Dakota DMV Written Test Study Guide practice test into your study routine.
This intuitive tool is up to date as of June 2025, so you will always practice with the latest version. It consists of 20 multiple-choice questions based on the official driver license manual. To pass, you must score 80% or higher. However, we recommend ignoring your score during your first few attempts. Focus on improving your knowledge and learn from your mistakes with the help of our immediate feedback feature. We provide a detailed explanation for each question, helping you understand the reasoning behind the correct answer.
Start today and take the first step towards becoming a licensed driver. Use our practice test alongside the official driver license manual to master driving theory and ace the official written knowledge test on your first attempt.
- Perfect for learner’s permit, driver’s license, and Senior Refresher Test
- Triple-checked for accuracy
What you need to know

What to expect on the actual SD DMV exam
questions
correct answers to pass
passing score
minimum age to apply
More resources
- Alabama: Test 1 / Test 2
- Alaska: Test 1 / Test 2
- Arizona: Test 1 / Test 2
- Arkansas: Test 1 / Test 2
- California: Test 1 / Test 2
- Colorado: Test 1 / Test 2
- Connecticut: Test 1 / Test 2
- Delaware: Test 1 / Test 2
- District of Columbia: Test 1 / Test 2
- Florida: Test 1 / Test 2
- Georgia: Test 1 / Test 2
- Hawaii: Test 1 / Test 2
- Idaho: Test 1 / Test 2
- Illinois: Test 1 / Test 2
- Indiana: Test 1 / Test 2
- Iowa: Test 1 / Test 2
- Kansas: Test 1 / Test 2
- Kentucky: Test 1 / Test 2
- Louisiana: Test 1 / Test 2
- Maine: Test 1 / Test 2
- Maryland: Test 1 / Test 2
- Massachusetts: Test 1 / Test 2
- Michigan: Test 1 / Test 2
- Minnesota: Test 1 / Test 2
- Mississippi: Test 1 / Test 2
- Missouri: Test 1 / Test 2
- Montana: Test 1 / Test 2
- Nebraska: Test 1 / Test 2
- Nevada: Test 1 / Test 2
- New Hampshire: Test 1 / Test 2
- New Jersey: Test 1 / Test 2
- New Mexico: Test 1 / Test 2
- New York: Test 1 / Test 2
- North Carolina: Test 1 / Test 2
- North Dakota: Test 1 / Test 2
- Ohio: Test 1 / Test 2
- Oklahoma: Test 1 / Test 2
- Oregon: Test 1 / Test 2
- Pennsylvania: Test 1 / Test 2
- Rhode Island: Test 1 / Test 2
- South Carolina: Test 1 / Test 2
- South Dakota: Test 1 / Test 2
- Tennessee: Test 1 / Test 2
- Texas: Test 1 / Test 2
- Utah: Test 1 / Test 2
- Vermont: Test 1 / Test 2
- Virginia: Test 1 / Test 2
- Washington: Test 1 / Test 2
- West Virginia: Test 1 / Test 2
- Wisconsin: Test 1 / Test 2
- Wyoming: Test 1 / Test 2
Your go-to, trusted source
Experience the Driving-Tests differenceBefore you view your test results, discover how you can pass faster with Premium:
- Real Exam-Like South Dakota QuestionsGet 650+ questions seen on the real test
- Money-Back GuaranteeIf you don't pass, it costs you nothing
- 97% Premium Users Pass on Their First TryCompare with the average US passing rate of 49%





Trusted by 1.15 Million drivers