What to Bring to the South Dakota DMV for Your Permit Test
Don't get sent home. Here's the complete checklist — documents, fees, forms, and what to leave at home.
Before You Go
- →Check the office hours online; some locations close early on Wednesdays
- →Call ahead to see if an appointment is needed for your specific location
- →Have your parent or guardian check their own ID and address proof before leaving home
- →Review the South Dakota Driver's Manual thoroughly before the written test
- →Arrive at least 15 minutes early to handle paperwork without rushing
- →Make sure your eyes are rested; you will take a vision test
- →Double-check that your name matches exactly on all documents
Required Documents
Proof of Identity (Primary Document)
- ✓Valid U.S. Passport
- ✓Certified U.S. Birth Certificate
- ✓Permanent Resident Card
- ✓Consular Report of Birth Abroad
- ✓Certificate of Naturalization
- ✓Valid Foreign Passport with valid U.S. visa
Bring the original document only; photocopies are not accepted for the primary identity proof.
Proof of Social Security Number
- ✓Social Security Card
- ✓W-2 Form
- ✓SSA-1099 Form
- ✓Pay stub with full SSN
- ✓Military ID with SSN
South Dakota requires proof of your SSN. If you don't have a card, bring a W-2 or pay stub. If you have never been issued an SSN, you must visit the Social Security Administration first to get one.
Proof of South Dakota Residency
Bring 2 of these:
- ✓Utility bill (electric, water, gas) in parent's name
- ✓Bank statement
- ✓School report card or transcript
- ✓Lease agreement or mortgage statement
- ✓Parent's driver's license (if address matches)
You need two different documents showing your South Dakota address. If you are applying for a REAL ID, two proofs are strictly required.
Parental / Guardian Consent (applicants under 18)
- ✓Parent or legal guardian must sign the application in front of the examiner
- ✓Parent must provide their own proof of identity
- ✓If parents are divorced, the custodial parent must sign
- ✓Legal guardians must bring court documentation proving guardianship
- ✓Foster parents must bring agency documentation
A parent or legal guardian MUST be present at the office to sign. They cannot sign this form at home and bring it in; they must sign it right there at the counter.
Fees & Payment
$28
This fee covers the learner's permit application. If you fail the vision or written test, there may be a small fee to retake it, but the $28 is the main cost to get the permit issued.
Accepted payment:
Forms
Driver License Application (Form DL-180)
Available at: Available at the office or downloadable from the South Dakota DPS website
Do not sign the form until you are standing in front of the DMV examiner. If you sign it early, you will have to start over.
What NOT to Bring
- ✗Your cell phone (unless you need it for the test, but silence it completely)
- ✗Large backpacks or bags (storage is limited)
- ✗Friends or siblings waiting in the lobby (keep the group small)
- ✗Pets (they are not allowed inside the office)
- ✗Food or drinks (no eating in the testing area)
- ✗Your own pen (use the one provided to avoid ink issues)
- ✗Photocopies of documents (bring originals only)
At the Office
- →The written test is computer-based; use headphones if provided
- →You must pass the vision screening first before taking the written test
- →If you fail the written test, you can usually retake it the same day for a small fee
- →Once you pass, you will get an interim paper permit immediately; the hard plastic card arrives by mail in a few weeks
- →Remember, with a learner's permit, you must always have a licensed driver 18+ in the front seat with you
Official South Dakota Department of Public Safety info: dps.sd.gov
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