South Dakota Driver's License Requirements For Rvers

Full-Time RVers In South Dakota

Anyone driving a motor vehicle or riding a motor-driven cycle on public roads in South Dakota must have a driver's license. You can apply for a driver's license when you are at least 14 years old and have the necessary documents. A parent or legal guardian must go along with applicants who are under the age of 18. Applications for new commercial driver's licenses or non-citizens must be submitted at a state exam station rather than county or state offices.

Who Is Eligible For A SD Driver's License?

To be eligible for a South Dakota Driver's License, you must have a physical South Dakota residential address, travel full-time for work, for example, a traveling nurse or OTR truck driver, or partake in RV living full-time in an RV/camper. You must fill out a residency affidavit if you use a mail forwarding service, which includes a perjury statement stating that the answers you provided on the form are true and correct.

Who Is Ineligible For An SD Driver's License?

• People under the age of 14 years
• Individuals with driver's licenses or driving privileges suspended or revoked in South Dakota or another state.
• People who owe $1,000 or more in child support arrears. These individuals will be issued a six-month temporary license.
• People who are living illegally in America.
• Individuals who own, live in, or maintain a full-time residence in another state.

Do You Already Have An SD Driver's License?

Here's what you need to know:

• You have 180 days (6 months) before your license expires and is due for renewal.
• You can renew your driver's license in person at any of the state's driver's license offices.
• You can also have your license renewed online or by mail. If your license has not yet expired and you did not renew online or by mail five years ago (for your last renewal), you may be able to renew online or by mail.

Is Your Driver's License Out Of Date?

Drivers with an expired license for more than 30 days must visit an exam station in person and pass the knowledge test. Those with an expired motorcycle endorsement (Class 2 license) must take both the operator's knowledge test and the motorcycle knowledge test.

Must You Convert A Permit To A Driver's License?

You can renew your license/ID. Card or request a duplicate license/ID. Card online or by mail if you live in South Dakota and travel frequently. As well as the standard renewal documents, you'll need to provide the following:

• A signed Residency Affidavit
• A South Dakota hotel/motel, Rv park, or campground receipt proves one night's stay within the previous year. The receipt ought to have your name and South Dakota address on it.
• One document proving your private mailbox (PMB) service address, no older than one year. This document should include a receipt from the private mailbox (PMB) company or a piece of mail with your PMB address on it (it cannot be handwritten)
• No virtual or virtual postal addresses will be accepted.
• If you have South Dakota friends or family and want to use their address, you must fill out the consent for the use of Address form.

Documents Needed For Driver's License And ID Card

Ensure you have the following documents to obtain or renew your license or ID card as soon as possible. Ensure you do the following before you renew your driver's license:

• Obtain or update an identification card or driver's license
• Renew your driver's license and ID card online
• Only US citizens and permanent South Dakota residents are eligible to renew online

You will require the following documents:

For renewals

If you have a South Dakota federally compliant card with a gold star in the upper right corner, you can renew it up to 180 days before it expires. You will be required to provide:

• TWO documents proving your physical/residential address (cannot be handwritten documents). These documents must include your name, physical/residence address, and be no older than one year. Such documents include utility bills, pay stubs, recent rent receipts, recent phone bills, mortgage documents, bank statements, tax documents, vehicle registrations, homeowner's insurance policies, and so forth.
• If you utilize a PO Box, one of your address documents may include that address; however, your other address document MUST consist of your physical/residence address.

You must provide proof of name change in the form of a certified copy of a marriage certificate (from a government entity, not the church), a divorce decree, or a court order. This is in the event that your name has changed (applicants with name changes must apply for Driver Licensing Renewal).‍

Note: Only original, certified documents will be accepted. Photocopies are not permitted!‍

If you are not a US citizen or were not one when you last applied, you must provide a Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization, a Permanent South Dakota Resident Card, a Foreign Passport with a valid US visa/I-94, or an Employment Authorization Card.

New applicants and out-of-state transfers

You must present evidence of your legal status in the country if you are a new applicant, a non-citizen, or a transfer from another state. Acceptable documents include:

• A certified birth certificate issued in the United States (only state-certified copies and certificates issued by hospitals will be accepted).
• A passport or passport card that is current and has not expired.
• A certificate of citizenship or naturalization.
• A permanent resident card.
• An employment authorization.

You must provide a certified copy (from a government agency, not the church) of a marriage certificate, a divorce decree, and/or a court order to prove any name change if it differs from the one on your proof of legal status paperwork. Only accept original certified documents; no photocopies will be accepted.

In the event that you are a new applicant or transferring from another state, and your current driver's license doesn't have a gold star in the upper corner, you must also provide your Social Security Card (showing your whole social security number), a W-2 (showing your entire social security number), 1099 (showing your entire social security number), or a pay stub (showing your full social security number).‍

Note: Only original documents will be accepted. Photocopies are not permitted!‍

All applicants must submit two documents proving their residential/physical address. These documents must include your entire name, physical/residence address, and be no older than one year.

Such documents vary but often include utility bills, pay stubs, homeowner's insurance policies or bills, recent phone bills, bank statements, mortgage documents, recent rent receipts, recent tax documents, vehicle registrations, and so forth. Photocopies and handwritten mail/addresses are not permitted!

Request a replacement/duplicate driver's license or ID card

American citizens and permanent residents are only eligible for online applications. You will require the following documents:

• A filled-out application form in English or Spanish
• Two pieces of documentation proving your residential/physical address (cannot be handwritten documents). Documents must bear your name and be no more than a year old. A utility bill, rent receipt, phone bill, bank statement, mortgage document, paystub, homeowner's policy, or tax document may be included.

You must provide documented proof of the name change in the form of a certified copy of a marriage certificate (issued by a government entity, not the church), a divorce decree, or a court order. This is if your name has changed (applicants with name changes must apply for Driver Licensing renewal).‍

Note: Only original, certified documents will be accepted. Photocopies are not permitted!‍

If you are not a US Citizen or were not one when you last applied, you must provide a Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization, a Permanent Resident Card, an Employment Authorization Card, or a Foreign Passport with a valid US visa/I-94.

Commercial driver's permit (for renewals only)

Documents required Include:

• Form of license application completed (in English)
• Other documents are required, as well as a completed medical certificate form, if applicable.
• Two documents bearing your name that attest to your residential or physical address (must not be handwritten documents). Documents must bear your name and be no more than a year old. A utility bill, paystub, phone bill, bank statement, rent receipt, mortgage document, homeowner's policy, or tax document may be included.
• There is a $33 application fee and a $15 fee for each endorsement knowledge test.
• You should note that CDL (Commercial Driver's License) driving tests must be taken at a third-party testing facility and scheduled at least two business days in advance. Before taking a driving test, you must drive on a commercial learner's permit for 14 days. Third-party testers will charge you $90 plus tax.
• Upgrade from Restricted Minor's Permit to Operator's License
• You can do permit upgrades by mail or in person at a driver's licensing office.

New applicants and out-of-state transfers for CDL

Documents required Include:

• A completed application for a license (in English)
• Applications will not be accepted unless they are signed and dated at the bottom of the form.
• Applicants below the age of 18 will have to have a parent or guardian's notarized signature.
• A copy of the permit or a federally recognized ID card. Suppose you lose your permit or ID card. In that case, you must provide copies of two proof of identity documents (one with a date of birth), such as a US-certified birth certificate and a valid, non-expired US passport/passport card or your Social Security card.
• If you aren't an American citizen, you must apply in person at a state driver exam station and provide a United States Citizenship and Immigration document proving your lawful status in the United States.

Two pieces of documentation proving your residential/physical address (cannot be handwritten documents). Documents must bear your name and be no more than a year old. When submitting two documents in your parent's name, you must have a parental consent form if you are under the age of 18. A recent utility bill, paystub, recent rent receipt, phone bill, bank statement, mortgage document, homeowner's insurance policy, or tax document may be included.

Armed forces personnel

Military personnel and dependents stationed abroad may use two address documents to prove their APO/FPO address. Military personnel and dependents posted in another state must provide two address documents proving their out-of-state residence.

Veterans

Individuals honorably discharged from military service can have the word "Veteran" added to the front of their South Dakota driver's license or identification card. In addition to the other documents needed, veterans must also present one of the following:

• Certificate signed by a county or tribal veteran's service officer verifying their status on a DD-214 form to show honorable discharge status from active duty
• Form 2 (DD) (Retired)
• Form 2A of the DD (Reserve Retired)
• Form 22 of the NGB

South Dakota Teen Drivers

According to the CDC, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers. However, with the proper education, training, and parental guidance, we can help to reverse this trend. This section contains resources for teen drivers who are ready to get behind the wheel.

Teen driver permit reform (effective July 1, 2021)

The Governor has temporarily suspended proposed changes to teen driver permits and rules enacted by 2020 Senate Bill 113 until June 30, 2021. Please carefully review this information, as it will apply to both existing and new learners and restricted permit applicants beginning July 1, 2021. Because there is no "grandfathering," this applies to everyone unless they have already obtained an unrestricted adult driver's license.

Permits for driver instruction

You must be eligible to upgrade (have driven 90 days with driver's ed on the permit or 180 days (roughly half a year) without driver's ed on the permit and have upgraded to a Restricted Permit by 7/1/2021. Those who were not eligible to upgrade to a Restricted Permit before 7/1/2021 will be subject to the following new instruction permit laws:

• Must drive for 180 days on the Instruction Permit (with driver's ed)
• Must drive for 275 days on the Instruction Permit (without driver's education).
• To upgrade to a Restricted Permit, you must have a minimum of 50 hours (10 hours in the evening and 10 hours in inclement weather) of parent/guardian supervized driving.

In the event the driver and parent/guardian return to an exam station to upgrade to a restricted permit, they must sign the "Supervized Driving Statement," which confirms that the permit holder has completed supervized driving.

Use the student driving log to track your driving hours. You can use this affidavit to certify that a minor has completed 50 hours of parent-supervized driving since the Learner's Permit was issued.

Permits with restrictions

Restricted permits that you did not upgrade to Operator licenses by 7/1/2021 will be subject to the new regulations:

• Prior to upgrading to a full operator license, anyone under the age of 18 must hold a restricted permit for six months (and meet all other license requirements).
• For six months after the initial permit issuance date, anyone driving on a Restricted Permit may not transport any passengers who are not members of their immediate family or household.
• Anyone with a Restricted Permit who has been driving for six months or more may only have a single passenger who is not a member of their immediate family or household.

When And How Can I Get My Driver's License?

You must be at the minimum age of 14 to obtain an instruction permit in South Dakota. Applicants must also pass a knowledge test or have completed a state-approved driver's education course. You must keep this permit for at least 275 days or 180 days if an approved driver's education class has been completed.

With your instruction permit, you must always drive under the supervision of a licensed adult. Driver education certificates are valid for one year from the date of class completion. If you have not had any traffic convictions in the past six months, you can apply for your Restricted Minor's Permit.

You can drive unaccompanied from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with your restricted license, and from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., you may drive with a legal guardian. You may not have any passengers other than immediate family or household members for the first six months after the permit is issued.

After six months of driving on a restricted permit, you may carry only one passenger who is not a household or immediate family member. You must meet the following requirements to obtain a full operator's license:

• Being a minimum of 16 years of age is required.
• Meet all of the license requirements of the instruction permit.
• You must have held a restricted minor's permit for at least six months.
• They must have been driving without a conviction for six months.
• Obtain your parent's or guardian's consent in writing.

Extended CDL waiver

The FMCSA has extended the current CDL waiver until August 31, 2022. This means for South Dakota CDL holders, the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) will continue to waive the two-week waiting period between the issuance of a CLP and the skill test date until August 31, 2022.

Full-time RVer

If you live in South Dakota and travel frequently as a full-time RVer, you can renew your license or request a duplicate license online or by mail.

In addition to the standard renewal documents mentioned above, you must also provide:

• A signed residency affidavit
• A receipt from a South Dakota hotel/motel, campground, or rv park proving one night's stay within the previous year. You must include your name and South Dakota address on the receipt.
• One document proving your mailbox (PMB) service address, no older than one year. This document may include a receipt from the PMB company or a piece of mail bearing your PMB address (it cannot be a handwritten document). No virtual or virtual postal addresses will be accepted.

If you have South Dakota friends or family and want to use their address, you must fill out the consent for the use of address form.

Why Must You Hold An SD Driver's License?

If you intend to stay in South Dakota (SD) for longer than 90 days, you must hold a driver's license. You must apply within 30 days for a South Dakota driving license if you have a commercial driver's license. When operating a motor vehicle, every licensee must have their South Dakota driver's license on them at all times.

Should you need assistance sending or filing your driver's license documentation, you can reach out to a reliable and trustworthy mail forwarding service to handle it for you no matter where you are worldwide.