Driving Tests

South Dakota Permit Test in Spanish: Languages and Interpreters

informational·how to guide·Published May 10, 2026

Can you take the South Dakota permit test in Spanish?

Yes. South Dakota law lets you take the written knowledge test for a noncommercial permit or license in Spanish or English, and you need 80% or higher to pass. The application and exam materials come in both languages. Driving test instructions are in English. Since a 2025 law, a native speaker of another language may bring a DPS-approved interpreter to the driving test, at their own cost.

Where the South Dakota test language rules come from

The language and interpreter rules come from South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) 32-12-126, as changed by Senate Bill 193 (2025). The pass mark, appointments, retest rules and road test rules come from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) testing page. The English and Spanish manuals come from the DPS manuals page. The three-attempt rule, the test topics and the start date come from SDCL 32-12-2, 32-12-4 and 2-14-16, and the $38 fee from the DPS fee list. 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 permit and license test languages at a glance

South Dakota permit and license test languages at a glance
Item	Language	What to know
Knowledge test	Spanish or English	You choose. You need 80% or higher.
Application form	Spanish and English	Print it and sign it by hand before you arrive.
Driving test	English	A native speaker of another language may bring a DPS-approved interpreter.
Driver manual	English and Spanish	The Spanish manual is the 2021 edition.

Taking the South Dakota knowledge test in Spanish

State law tells DPS to give the written knowledge test in Spanish or English, as you choose. The law covers noncommercial driver licenses and permits, so it applies to the instruction permit (the learner's permit), the restricted minor's permit and the operator's license.
The test covers the rules of the road and safe-driving practices. By law, the state exam also checks that you can read road signs and that you know South Dakota traffic laws. The driver manual says that you cannot pass the knowledge test unless you know what is in it.

How to book and take the test in Spanish

1
Study the manual
Download the English manual for the current rules. The Spanish manual, Manual de Licencia de Conducir de Dakota del Sur, is also on the DPS manuals page, but it is the 2021 edition.
2
Fill in the Spanish application
Print the Driver License Application in Spanish from the DPS testing page and complete it at home. Sign it by hand: electronic, digital or stamped signatures are not allowed.
3
Book your appointment
Each visit for a knowledge test or a drive test needs an appointment. Book online from the DPS testing page, or call (605) 773-6883 and press 6, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time.
4
Ask for the Spanish test
At the driver exam station, say that you choose the knowledge test in Spanish. A score of 80% or higher passes.

Which language rule applies to you?

You read Spanish and want the written test in Spanish

Take the knowledge test in Spanish. The law gives you the choice of Spanish or English for the written test.

Your native language is not English, and you want help on the driving test

You may bring an interpreter. DPS must approve the interpreter. You find the interpreter and pay the fees.

You want the driving test in Spanish

The law says that instructions during the driving test are in English. A native Spanish speaker may bring a DPS-approved interpreter.

The 2025 interpreter rule for the South Dakota driving test

Senate Bill 193 added the interpreter right to the driving test. The Governor signed it on March 13, 2025. Under the general South Dakota rule for new laws, it took effect on July 1, 2025.
DPS must approve the interpreter, and you alone find and pay the interpreter. The DPS testing page also says that you bring your own vehicle and that passengers are not allowed in the vehicle during road tests. Before your test day, call (605) 773-6883 and ask how DPS approves an interpreter and how the interpreter takes part.

What the South Dakota permit test costs and how many tries you get

The instruction permit costs $38. The fee gives you up to three attempts to pass within six months from the date of application. If you fail, you may not retest before the next working day. Our free question on a retake after a failed test shows how these rules work together.
A person who is caught cheating must wait at least two weeks. After some driving test errors, such as running a stop sign or excessive speeding, you must wait 30 days before another driving test. Read more about the test topics and retakes in our guide to what the South Dakota permit test covers.

How to study if you read Spanish

Read the Spanish manual to learn the topics, then check each rule in the English manual, which is the current edition.
Use the Test Your Knowledge page near the end of the English manual. It has questions with answers a, b or c.
DPS does not provide pre-tests or sample tests.
Learn the road signs well. For extra practice, try our free question on the YIELD sign. Our practice questions are in English only.

If you are not a U.S. citizen

Non-U.S. citizens must apply at a state Driver Licensing location and bring proof of legal status with their other documents. The language rules are the same for every applicant: you may take the knowledge test in Spanish or English, and a native speaker of another language may bring an approved interpreter to the driving test. For the full list of documents, read our guide to South Dakota license documents.

Key takeaways

You can take the South Dakota knowledge test in Spanish or English, and the application comes in both languages.
Driving test instructions are in English. A native speaker of another language may bring a DPS-approved interpreter and must pay for the interpreter.
Study the English manual for the current rules. The Spanish manual is the 2021 edition.
Call (605) 773-6883 to book each test and to ask how DPS approves an interpreter.
Next step: practice on the free South Dakota operator license practice test.

South Dakota permit test language: common questions

Is the South Dakota driver manual available in Spanish?

Yes. The DPS manuals page has the Spanish manual, Manual de Licencia de Conducir de Dakota del Sur, next to the English manual. The Spanish file was revised in June 2021. The English manual is the current edition, so use the Spanish manual to learn the topics and check each rule in the English manual before your test.

Can I bring an interpreter to the written knowledge test?

South Dakota law gives the interpreter right for the driving test only. For the written knowledge test, the law gives you a choice of Spanish or English. If you need other help with the knowledge test, ask DPS when you book: call (605) 773-6883 and press 6, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time.

Can I take the South Dakota permit test in a language other than Spanish or English?

South Dakota law requires DPS to offer the written knowledge test in Spanish or English. If your native language is another language, the law lets you bring a DPS-approved interpreter to the driving test, at your own cost. For questions about the knowledge test in your language, call DPS at (605) 773-6883 before you book.

Where do I get the South Dakota license application in Spanish?

Download the Spanish Driver License Application from the DPS testing page. Print it and complete it at home before you arrive at the exam station. You must sign the form by hand: DPS does not allow electronic, digital or stamped signatures on the application. Bring the form and your documents to your appointment.