South Dakota · Knowledge testIs there a South Dakota CDL practice test?
Not from DPS. Its testing page covers every type of South Dakota license and says there is no sample test, pointing you to its manuals instead. For a CDL, that’s the Commercial Driver License Manual, which the car manual says you’ll need to read.
Steps to a South Dakota CDL
On top of a qualifying South Dakota driver’s license, the testing page lists:
- The application form
- Your required documents, including a medical certificate form if it applies to you
- The application fees
- A passing score on a written knowledge test
- A passing score on each skills test you need, given at a third-party testing site
First-time commercial applicants must apply at a state Driver Licensing location, as the county and city issue stations don’t offer first-time CDL testing. The testing page also mentions a military waiver.
The CDL skills test
A third-party tester gives the drive test and sets its fee: the testing page gives $90 plus tax, and the manual says a tester may charge up to that. You drive on a CDL instruction permit for 14 days before it, and the drive test has to be scheduled at least two business days ahead.
CDL fees
The DPS fee page lists:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial driver license | $43 |
| CDL renewal | $43 |
| Renewal, hazardous materials endorsement | $63 |
| Each endorsement | $20 |
| CDL duplicate | $20 |
| CDL instruction permit | $43 |
The Driver License Manual, revised in November 2024, prints $33 for a CDL, a CDL renewal or a CDL instruction permit and $15 for each endorsement test. Go by the fee page’s amounts.
Moving here with a CDL
If you hold a commercial license from another state, you apply for a South Dakota license within 30 days of becoming a resident. You can’t convert an out-of-state CDL at a county or city issue station.
Sources: South Dakota Department of Public Safety and 2 more. Checked November 2026.
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety: South Dakota driver license testing information ↗
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety: Driver license and ID card fees ↗
- South Dakota Department of Public Safety: South Dakota Driver License Manual (revised 11/2024), linked from the teen drivers page ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.
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