Driving Tests

Moving to South Dakota? How to Transfer Your Driver's License in 90 Days

informational·how to guide·Published May 20, 2026

How long do I have to get a South Dakota driver's license after I move?

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) says you need a South Dakota license once you have lived in the state 90 days. A commercial driver's license (CDL) holder must apply within 30 days. A valid out-of-state license transfers with no tests unless it has a hazardous materials endorsement. You apply in person at a driver exam station, and the fee is $38.

Where these South Dakota transfer rules come from

The deadlines, transfer steps and fees come from the DPS Driver Licensing Information page and the current South Dakota Driver License Manual. The documents come from the DPS Required Documents page, and the appointment, test and card-fee rules come from the DPS Appointment Information, Testing Information and Fees pages. The law comes from South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) 22-6-2, 32-12-2, 32-12-3.4, 32-12-3.5, 32-12-16, 32-12-18, 32-12-22, 32-12-24, 32-12-26, 32-12-26.1, 32-12-27 and 32-12-62. The 90-day deadline is DPS and manual guidance; SDCL 32-12-26.1 makes you a resident for licensing after 90 days. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (dps.sd.gov) before you drive.

How long can you drive on your old license in South Dakota?

State law treats a person who has lived in South Dakota for 90 days as a resident for licensing. The manual tells you to apply within 90 days of establishing residency, so plan the visit before the 90th day.
A visitor or other nonresident who is 16 or older may drive on a valid license from the home state or country. This works only as far as the home state gives the same right to South Dakota residents.

Which deadline applies to you?

You have a regular (non-commercial) license from another state

Apply for a South Dakota license within 90 days of establishing residency.

You hold a CDL

Apply within 30 days of establishing residency in South Dakota.

You are a nonresident service member stationed in South Dakota, or a dependent of one

You may drive on a valid driver license from your home state or country.

You keep a full-time residence in another state

You cannot get a South Dakota license. DPS does not issue one to people who own, live in or maintain a full-time residence in another state.

Your license or driving privileges are suspended or revoked in South Dakota or another state

You cannot get a South Dakota license while the suspension or revocation is in place.

How to transfer an out-of-state license to South Dakota

1
Complete the application form
DPS does not accept an application without an original signature and the date at the bottom of the form.
2
Collect your documents
Bring proof of lawful status, Social Security proof if you need it, and two proofs of address. The next section lists them.
3
Go to a driver exam station in person
A transfer from another state needs an in-person visit to a driver exam station.
4
Give up your old licenses
You surrender every South Dakota and out-of-state license and ID card when you apply.
5
Pay the fee
The regular license fee is $38, and that includes a transfer from out of state. DPS takes cash, check, money order and credit or debit cards at the station.
6
Have your photo taken and carry the license
DPS takes your photo at the station. Then carry your South Dakota license every time you drive, as our free question on carrying your driver license shows.

Documents to bring to the South Dakota driver exam station

Proof of lawful status: a state-certified U.S. birth certificate (photocopies and hospital certificates are not accepted), a valid U.S. Passport or Passport Card, a Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization, a Permanent Resident Card, an Employment Authorization Card, or a foreign passport with a U.S. visa or I-94.
Social Security proof, if your current license has no gold star in the upper corner: your Social Security card, or a W-2, Form 1099 or pay stub that shows the full number. DPS accepts originals only.
Two proofs of name and physical address: for example a utility bill, rent receipt, bank statement, phone bill, mortgage document, tax document or vehicle registration.
Your current license and any other license or ID card you hold. You give them up at the station.

Does the gold star change your documents?

State law also limits the Social Security proof. DPS may not ask for it if your current license meets the federal card rules in 6 C.F.R. 37 (a REAL ID-compliant card), unless the Social Security Administration gave you a new number. For each document, and for the rules when your name changed, see our guide to South Dakota license documents.

Do you take tests when you transfer to South Dakota?

Do you take tests when you transfer to South Dakota?
Your license	What happens
Valid out-of-state license	No testing for the transfer
Valid out-of-state license with a hazardous materials endorsement	The no-testing rule does not apply
Expired license that you surrender	You take the knowledge test at an appointment

If you need the South Dakota knowledge test

The knowledge test covers rules of the road and safe-driving practices, and you need a score of 80% or higher. DPS gives no official sample test, but the manual has a short "Test Your Knowledge" page with sample questions. Our practice test and question pages are free and in English only.

What happens to your old license and your driving record

DPS destroys the out-of-state license you surrender and tells the old state. Your credential from that state becomes invalid. DPS also asks the old state for your driving record, and that record becomes part of your South Dakota record. Points count for out-of-state convictions just as for South Dakota ones, so see our free question on how the point system leads to a suspension.

South Dakota transfer fees in 2026

South Dakota transfer fees in 2026
Item	Fee (USD)
Regular license, including a transfer from out of state	$38
Commercial driver's license (CDL), transfer from out of state	$43
Credit or debit card payment at the exam station	Extra $2.00 or 2.95%, whichever is greater

Who can get a South Dakota license, and what about RVs and mail forwarding?

You must have a physical residential address in South Dakota, live full time in an RV or camper, or travel full time for work. If you use a mail forwarding service, you complete a residency affidavit. Non-U.S. citizens apply at a state driver exam station. For license rules for visitors and students, see our guide to a foreign license in South Dakota.

Key takeaways

Plan to get your South Dakota license within 90 days of moving. A CDL holder has 30 days.
Go in person to a driver exam station with proof of lawful status, two proofs of address and Social Security proof if your license has no gold star.
A valid out-of-state license transfers with no testing. An expired license means the knowledge test, with a score of 80% or higher.
The fee is $38 ($43 for a CDL), and you surrender every other license when you apply.
Next step: practice the rules of the road on the free South Dakota operator license practice test.

South Dakota license transfer: common questions

What happens if I wait longer than 90 days?

After 90 days you are a resident for licensing, and DPS says you need a South Dakota license. Driving without a valid license is a Class 2 misdemeanor, except for people the law exempts. In South Dakota, a Class 2 misdemeanor can bring up to 30 days in a county jail, a $500 fine, or both.

Can I keep my old license as a second ID?

No. State law says you may not apply for a South Dakota license until you surrender all valid licenses you hold, and no person may have more than one valid driver's license at any time. Bring every license and ID card that you hold to the driver exam station.

Do I need an appointment to transfer my license?

No. You can book an appointment or walk in during open hours. Appointments at some exam stations can be booked several weeks ahead, so an early booking helps you meet the 90-day deadline. A visit that includes a knowledge test, for example when your old license is expired, needs an appointment.

What if I fail the knowledge test?

You may not take the test again before the next working day. The $38 fee covers up to three attempts within six months of your application. If you surrendered a valid license and then fail the test, DPS gives you a temporary permit that lets you drive for 30 days.

Do I also have to register my car in South Dakota?

Yes. The manual gives you 90 days to register a vehicle that you bring in from another state. You register it with the County Treasurer of the county where you live, because the vehicles of South Dakota residents that are driven on public highways must be registered there.