Driving Tests

How Much Is a Driver's License in South Dakota? $38 and Other Fees

informational·how to guide·Published June 4, 2026

How much is a driver's license in South Dakota?

A South Dakota operator's license costs $38, and so does an instruction permit, a restricted minor's permit and a renewal. A duplicate license, a name change or an address change costs $20. These fees have applied since July 1, 2025. The $38 fee covers up to three test attempts in six months. At the full fee, a teen pays $114 for all three stages.

Where the South Dakota fee facts come from

The amounts come from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) driver license and ID card fees page, the DPS teen driver pamphlet, the DPS testing, licensing and permit upgrade pages, and South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) 32-12-16. The 2025 increase comes from Senate Bill 3, SDCL 2-14-16 and an older DPS manual file. The retest, proration, renewal and reinstatement rules come from the South Dakota Driver License Manual and SDCL 32-12-2, 32-12-42, 32-12-42.1 and 32-12-47.1. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (dps.sd.gov) before you drive.

South Dakota license and permit fees since July 1, 2025

South Dakota license and permit fees since July 1, 2025
What you pay for	Fee
Instruction permit	$38
Restricted minor's permit	$38
Operator's license (new)	$38
License renewal	$38
Non-driver ID card	$38
Duplicate or replacement license	$20
Name or address change	$20
Your own driving record	$7

Why South Dakota license fees went up in 2025

The Legislature passed Senate Bill 3, an act to increase driver license fees, and the Governor signed it on March 31, 2025. The bill raised the license and renewal fee from $28 to $38, and the duplicate, name change and address change fee from $15 to $20. Under state law, an act of a regular session takes effect on July 1 after it passes, unless the act sets another date. The DPS teen driver pamphlet with the $38 fee is marked effective July 1, 2025. Older pages and manual files that show $28 are out of date.

How to pay South Dakota license fees

When you pay in person, DPS takes cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards.
A card payment at the exam station or an online renewal payment adds $2.00 or 2.95% of the fee, whichever is greater.
For online renewals and duplicates, DPS takes Visa or MasterCard.
Make a check payable to "Department of Public Safety."
Before you go, gather your papers. Our guide to South Dakota license documents lists what to bring.

What a teen pays from instruction permit to operator's license

A teen pays the $38 fee at each stage. Here is the math at the full fee: instruction permit $38, plus restricted minor's permit $38, plus operator's license $38, equals $114.
With a card at the exam station, the card fee is $2.00, because 2.95% of $38 is only about $1.12. That makes $40 for each stage and $120 for all three. An online upgrade to the operator's license adds the same $2.00 processing fee. For the permit steps and the age at each stage, read our guide to the South Dakota restricted minor's permit.

Do you pay again if you fail the South Dakota test?

You fail the knowledge test or the driving test, and it is your first or second try within six months of your application

You pay no new fee. The application fee covers up to three attempts within six months of the application date. You can test again from the next working day. Try our free question about taking a failed examination again to check the rule.

You make a serious error on the driving test, such as running a stop sign, excessive speeding or a failure to yield

You must wait 30 days before DPS gives you another driving test.

You fail three times in six months, or six months pass after your application

Pay the $38 fee again before you test again.

Is the South Dakota license fee lower if you are under 21?

It can be. A license for a person under 21 expires 30 days after the 21st birthday, so it can be valid for less than five years. The Driver License Manual says DPS prorates the fee for applicants under 21 who get a license for less than five years. A restricted minor's permit holder who is 17 or older and upgrades by mail or at an exam station pays a prorated part of the $38. To learn the exact amount, call DPS at (605) 773-6883, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, except state holidays.

When can you renew a South Dakota license, and what does it cost?

You are 21 or older, and your license has not expired

Renewal costs $38. You can renew from 180 days before the license expires. A license expires on your birthday in the fifth year after it is issued.

You are under 21

You can renew on or after your birthday, but before the license expires. The renewal fee is $38, or a prorated part of it when the new license is valid for less than five years.

Your license expired 30 days ago or less

Pay the $38 renewal fee. You do not need to take the knowledge test or the driving test.

Your license expired 31 days ago or more

Go to a driver exam station in person, pay the $38 fee and pass the knowledge test again.

Key takeaways

A South Dakota operator's license, instruction permit, restricted minor's permit and renewal each cost $38 since July 1, 2025, up from $28.
A duplicate license, name change or address change costs $20. A reinstatement costs $75 to $225 on top of the $38.
The $38 covers up to three test attempts in six months. After a failed test, wait until the next working day; after a serious error on the driving test, wait 30 days.
At the full fee, a teen pays $114 for all three stages, or $120 with the card fee.
Next step: practice on the free South Dakota operator license practice test, which is in English only.

South Dakota driver's license cost: common questions

How much does it cost to renew a South Dakota driver's license online?

An online renewal costs the $38 renewal fee plus a processing fee of $2.00 or 2.95%, whichever is greater. On $38, the $2.00 applies, so you pay $40. You may be able to renew online or by mail if your license has not expired and you renewed in person 5 years ago.

How much is a replacement driver's license in South Dakota?

A duplicate or replacement license costs $20. A name change or an address change on your license also costs $20. A duplicate or replacement non-driver ID card costs $20 too. You can order a duplicate online and pay with Visa or MasterCard.

How much is it to reinstate a South Dakota license?

A reinstatement fee runs from $75 to $225, depending on your case, and you pay it in addition to the $38 application fee. After a revocation for some serious offenses, you must also pass the knowledge test again. A teen whose permit was suspended for a violation before age 16 does not pay the reinstatement fee, unless the offense carries six or more points. Call DPS at (605) 773-6883 to learn your fee.

How much does a CDL cost in South Dakota?

A commercial driver license (CDL) costs $43, and so do a CDL renewal and a CDL instruction permit. Each CDL endorsement costs $20, and a CDL renewal with a hazmat endorsement costs $63. The CDL fee does not include the skill (drive) test. A third-party tester gives that test.