New Driver Checklist

Required SD Driver License Documents

In order to obtain a South Dakota drivers license, you must present the following to your local Driver Exam station:

• One primary ID document.
• One document proving your Social Security number.
• Two documents proving your South Dakota residency, to include your physical street address.
• Proof of vehicle insurance and registration.

Primary ID

The purpose of the primary ID is to prove your full legal name, date of birth, and legal presence in the United States. Acceptable documents include a:

• Certified U.S. birth certificate.
• Valid U.S. passport.
• Valid foreign passport.
• Certificate of Naturalization.
• Permanent resident card.
• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship.
• Unexpired employment authorization document.
• Valid, out-of-state drivers license.

If your legal name is different than it appears on your primary ID, you must also present proof of name change legality in one of the following forms:

• Certified marriage certificate.
• Divorce decree.
• Certificate of adoption.
• Certified court order.

Proof of Your Social Security Number

In addition to your Social Security card, the following documents are acceptable proofs of your Social Security number:

• W-2 tax form.
• SSA or non-SSA 1099 form.
• A recent pay stub, including your full legal name and SSN.

Proof of Address

Out-of-state drivers are required to obtain a South Dakota drivers license within 30 days of establishing residency. Acceptable proofs of SD residency include:

• A recent pay stub, displaying your current street address.
• Utility or phone bill.
• Credit card statement.
• Mortgage document.
• Rental receipt.
• Homeowners insurance policy.
• Renters insurance policy.
• Recent bank statement.
• Tax document.
• Educational transcript from an accredited school.
• Report card from an accredited school.

Full-time students, military personnel, and military dependents are exempt from the residency requirement. Further exceptions are found on the Department of Public Safety (DPS) website.

Proof of Insurance

In order to operate a motor vehicle in the state of South Dakota, you must carry proof of vehicle insurance at all times, in one of the following forms:

• Liability insurance policy.
• Insurance ID card.
• Certificate of Self-Insurance.
• Surety company bond.
• Certificate of Deposit of $50,000 with the SD Treasury.

South Dakota takes its insurance requirements very seriously. The penalty for uninsured driving is a $100 fine, license suspension, and up to 30 days incarceration in a county jail.

Additional Requirements for a New Drivers License

First time applicants for a drivers license must pass a vision test, a written license test, and a driving test. Tests are given on a walk-in basis only; no appointment is necessary.

Additional Requirements Out-of-State Drivers License Transfers

If you have a valid, out-of-state license, you are not required to take the driving test.

In preparation for the written test, become familiar with the South Dakota Drivers Manual, available for download on the DPS website. You can also take a practice test online, provided by numerous independent websites such as the Unofficial DMV Guide.