South Dakota: Licensing basics — Part 1 Practice Test
Questions in this part include: “What does South Dakota law say about having your driver license with you when you operate a motor vehicle?” · “How old can the documents proving your South Dakota physical address be?”
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Questions are original and based on the official manual "South Dakota Driver License Manual" (Revised 11/2024), South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
All 18 questions in this practice test
Take the test above first, then use this list to study. Tap “Show answer” to see the correct answer and explanation.
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How soon must a person with a valid out-of-state non-commercial license apply for a South Dakota driver license after establishing residency in South Dakota?
- Within 90 days
- Within 60 days
- Within 120 days
- Within 6 months
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Correct answer: Within 90 days
A person with a valid out-of-state non-commercial license has 90 days after becoming a South Dakota resident to apply for a South Dakota license.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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How soon must a commercial driver license (CDL) holder apply for a South Dakota license after establishing residency in South Dakota?
- Within 10 days
- Within 60 days
- Within 30 days
- Within 120 days
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Correct answer: Within 30 days
A CDL holder has a shorter period than other drivers: 30 days after establishing South Dakota residency.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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What does South Dakota law say about having your driver license with you when you operate a motor vehicle?
- A copy kept at home is enough if you are driving locally
- Every licensee must always have it in their immediate possession
- It is required only when driving outside your home county
- It is required only when a peace officer has stopped you
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Correct answer: Every licensee must always have it in their immediate possession
South Dakota law requires every licensee to always have the driver license in their immediate possession while operating a motor vehicle.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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At what minimum age can a non-resident drive in South Dakota on a valid operator license from their home state?
- 15
- 17
- 18
- 16
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Correct answer: 16
Non-residents who are at least 16 years old may drive in South Dakota on a valid operator license from their home state.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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A person under what age must have parent/guardian consent for every driver license application?
- 16
- 18
- 17
- 21
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Correct answer: 18
Applicants under 18 need parent or guardian consent, and it is required for every application completed.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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What must you do with your existing driver licenses or identification cards when you obtain a South Dakota driver license?
- Keep them as a backup
- Have them photocopied and keep the originals
- Mail them to the state that issued them
- Turn them in
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Correct answer: Turn them in
One of the requirements for getting a South Dakota driver license is turning in all existing driver licenses and identification cards.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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Which of these is a requirement for obtaining a South Dakota driver license?
- Having no unpaid fines for moving traffic violations
- Having lived in South Dakota for at least one year
- Owning a vehicle registered in your own name
- Having completed a high school diploma or GED
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Correct answer: Having no unpaid fines for moving traffic violations
The list of requirements includes having no unpaid fines for moving traffic violations; the other choices are not listed.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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Which of these prevents a person from obtaining a South Dakota driver license?
- A valid license from your previous state
- Having moved to South Dakota last month
- A suspended license in any other state
- Being under 21 years of age
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Correct answer: A suspended license in any other state
A person who currently has suspended, revoked, or denied driving privileges in South Dakota or any other state cannot obtain a license.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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Which court finding disqualifies a person from obtaining a South Dakota driver license?
- Being a habitual user of illegal drugs
- Being found liable in a civil lawsuit
- Having filed for bankruptcy
- Being named in a custody order
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Correct answer: Being a habitual user of illegal drugs
An applicant must not have been found by a court to be mentally incompetent, alcoholic, or a habitual user of illegal drugs.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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Which statement about the documents you bring when applying for a driver license or ID card is correct?
- Photocopies are accepted if they are notarized
- Photocopies are accepted for address documents only
- Photocopies are not acceptable
- Photocopies are accepted if they are less than a year old
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Correct answer: Photocopies are not acceptable
The document requirements state that photocopies are not acceptable.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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To renew a driver license or ID card with a star on the front, how many documents proving your physical address in South Dakota must you bring?
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
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Correct answer: Two
Renewal requires two documents proving a South Dakota physical address.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 5
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How old can the documents proving your South Dakota physical address be?
- Less than 30 days old
- Less than six months old
- Less than two years old
- Less than one year old
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Correct answer: Less than one year old
Address documents must be less than one year old.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 6
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Which marriage certificate is acceptable as proof of a name change?
- A certificate issued by the church or chapel of the wedding
- A certified copy issued by the state vital statistics office
- A photocopy of the original marriage certificate
- A certificate signed by the officiant
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Correct answer: A certified copy issued by the state vital statistics office
A marriage certificate must come from the state office of vital statistics or an equivalent agency and be a certified copy; a church or chapel certificate is not acceptable.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 6
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Which birth certificate is NOT acceptable as proof of date of birth, identity and lawful status?
- A certified copy issued by a state of the United States and bearing a raised seal
- A Puerto Rico certificate issued on or after July 1, 2010
- A certified copy bearing the stamp of the issuing authority
- One issued by a hospital
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Correct answer: One issued by a hospital
A birth certificate must be a certified copy with the stamp or raised seal of the issuing authority; a hospital-issued certificate is not acceptable.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 6
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A birth certificate issued by Puerto Rico is acceptable only if it was issued on or after what date?
- July 1, 2010
- January 1, 1990
- July 1, 2000
- January 1, 2015
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Correct answer: July 1, 2010
A Puerto Rico birth certificate must be certified as issued on or after July 1, 2010.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 6
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A court order used to prove a name change must be stamped with what?
- A date stamp from the clerk
- A file stamp from the court
- The official court seal
- A notary public seal
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Correct answer: The official court seal
The court order must carry the official court seal; date stamps and file stamps do not count as official court seals.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 6
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Which document is accepted as proof of your Social Security number?
- A W-2 form
- A birth certificate
- A bank statement
- A utility bill
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Correct answer: A W-2 form
A W-2 form is on the short list of accepted proofs of SSN, and no other documents may be accepted.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 6
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If you are eligible for employment but do not have a Social Security number, what are you required to do?
- Present your USCIS number instead
- Sign a statement that you have none
- Obtain one and present it
- Ask the examiner to waive the requirement
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Correct answer: Obtain one and present it
Someone eligible for employment who has no SSN must get one and show it; only those not authorized for employment may skip documenting an SSN.
Source: South Dakota Driver License Manual (Revised 11/2024), page 6