Free South Dakota DPS Practice Permit Test - Practice Test 3 2026
This Practice Test 3 is modeled on the Department of Public Safety (Driver Licensing Program) (DPS) written knowledge exam, whose length the agency does not publish; to pass you need 80% correct. These 25 questions rotate through traffic laws, road signs, and right-of-way - the core topics the DPS tests most heavily. Every question includes an explanation, so you learn the rule behind each answer - not just whether you got it right.
A vehicle entering a roundabout (traffic circle) must:
What's on the South Dakota Practice Test 3
The DPS does not publish how many questions are on the real South Dakota knowledge test, and to pass you need 80% correct. Practice Test 3 is a 25-question set drawn from 51 questions, scored against a practice target of 80%.
Topics in this test's question pool
- Road signs 17
- Traffic laws 14
- Safe driving 9
- Alcohol & drugs 3
- Emergencies 3
- Right of way 2
- Vehicle equipment 2
- Parking 1
51 questions in the pool, 9 of them written specifically for South Dakota. Each attempt shows 25 in a new order.
Sample questions from this test, with answers
Want to test yourself first? Take the test above before reading these. Every answer below is checked against the source shown.
1. On an undivided South Dakota highway, you may not make a U-turn on a curve or near a hilltop where other drivers cannot see you from within:
- A. 200 feet
- B. 300 feet
- C. 500 feet (correct)
- D. 1,000 feet
Why: U-turns are banned on curves and near the crest of a hill on an undivided highway if drivers approaching from any direction could not see your vehicle within 500 feet.
Source: official South Dakota driver handbook, p.39 (PDF p.39), U-Turns
2. A South Dakota driver under 18 did not take driver education. How long must they hold an instruction permit before upgrading it?
- A. 275 days (correct)
- B. 90 days
- C. 180 days
- D. 1 year
Why: Minors must hold the instruction permit without a break for 275 days. Passing an approved driver education course (80% or better on both parts) cuts this to 180 days.
Source: official South Dakota driver handbook, p.8 (PDF p.8), Types of Driver's Licenses - Instruction Permit (Under 18)
3. Why should you use low beams instead of high beams when driving in fog?
- A. High beams drain the battery faster in damp air
- B. Low beams make your car look larger to others
- C. High beams are only allowed on freeways
- D. High beams reflect off the fog and cause glare (correct)
Why: Fog reflects the bright light of high beams back at you, making it harder to see. Low beams light the road with less glare. Also slow down.
4. What is the most effective way to stay alert on a long drive?
- A. Drink coffee or an energy drink each hour
- B. Keep the window open and the air cold
- C. Take breaks every 2 hours or 100 miles (correct)
- D. Turn up the radio and sing along
Why: The only real cure for drowsiness while driving is sleep. Take breaks at least every 2 hours or 100 miles. Coffee provides temporary relief but is not a substitute for rest.
5. On an undivided two-lane road, a school bus stops with its red lights flashing and stop arm out. What must drivers do?
- A. Stop, then pass slowly if no children are seen
- B. Stop in both directions until the lights stop (correct)
- C. Slow down and pass on the left with caution
- D. Wait until children reach the curb, then pass
Why: On an undivided road, traffic in both directions must stop for a school bus showing flashing red lights and a stop arm, and stay stopped until the lights stop. Rules for the opposite side of a divided highway differ by state (New York requires you to stop even then), so check your handbook.
6. What does this sign tell you about the bridge ahead?
- A. It is narrower than the road (correct)
- B. It is closed to all traffic
- C. It may be icy in cold weather
- D. It is a toll bridge ahead
Why: The narrow bridge sign warns that the bridge is narrower than the road leading to it. Slow down and watch for oncoming traffic.
Source: p.63 (PDF p.66), Warning signs
More South Dakota facts, the full requirements table and the printable PDF are on the South Dakota permit practice test page.
South Dakota DPS Test Info
- Questions on real test
- Not published by the DPS
- Passing score
- 80%
- Correct needed
- 80% correct
- Minimum age
- 14 years old
- Testing agency
- Department of Public Safety (Driver Licensing Program)
More South Dakota Tests
Study Tip
Don't just aim to pass this South Dakota Practice Test 3 once - keep taking it until you score 80% or higher two or three times in a row. Read the explanation after every question, even the ones you get right, to lock in the rule before your DPS exam.