Do You Need a Motorcycle License in South Dakota?

Yes — to ride a motorcycle on public roads in South Dakota, you need a driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement, or a motorcycle instruction permit. A standard driver’s license alone isn’t enough, and riding without the right credential is a Class 2 misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.¹

Which Vehicles Actually Require It

South Dakota defines a motorcycle to include motorbikes, motorized bicycles, and motor-powered bicycle- or tricycle-type vehicles with a saddle, seat, or standing platform.² If your vehicle has handlebars, a seat you straddle, and an engine larger than 50cc, you need the motorcycle credential.

Two look-alikes are exempt. Mopeds, defined as motor-driven cycles with a combustion engine no larger than 50cc and an automatic drive requiring no clutching or shifting, can be operated with just a regular driver’s license. The same goes for three-wheeled vehicles operated with a steering wheel and foot controls, such as many autocycles.³ You still need a valid regular license for those; you just don’t need the motorcycle endorsement.

Age Rules and the Instruction Permit

You can start the process at 14 by applying for a motorcycle instruction permit.⁴ The permit requires passing a vision screening and a written knowledge test. Applicants under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign.⁵

The permit comes with real restrictions:

Riding is allowed only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A licensed motorcycle operator who is at least 18 and has at least one year of riding experience must accompany you on a separate motorcycle.
You cannot carry passengers.

The permit is valid for a year. Minors must hold it for at least 275 continuous days before they can apply for a full motorcycle license.⁴ Older guides sometimes list 180 days; the 275-day rule has applied to permits issued since July 1, 2020.

The Three Tests

Every applicant for a motorcycle license must pass a vision screening, a written knowledge exam on traffic laws and safe riding (minimum score of 80%), and an on-cycle skills test.⁶

The skills test checks your ability to control a motorcycle through turns, stops, and obstacle avoidance. If you’d rather skip it, completing a state-approved motorcycle safety course lets the Department of Public Safety waive the riding portion.³ The South Dakota Safety Council runs Basic Rider Courses from April through October, which is the route most new riders take.

What to Bring

Apply in person at a South Dakota driver exam station. If a knowledge or driving test is part of your visit, book an appointment ahead of time.⁷

A completed application (downloadable in English or Spanish from the DPS website). Digital and stamped signatures are not accepted.
Your federally compliant South Dakota driver’s license or ID. First-time applicants will need identity documents such as a passport or birth certificate, plus a Social Security card.
Two documents showing your name and residential address, each less than one year old.

A standard driver’s license costs $38; check the DPS fee schedule for any motorcycle-specific charges.⁸ After you pass and submit paperwork, you’ll get a photo taken and leave with a temporary permit. The permanent license arrives by mail.

Visitors and New Residents

Visitors with a valid motorcycle license from their home state or country can ride in South Dakota without getting a local license.

After establishing residency, you have 90 days to obtain a South Dakota license with motorcycle credentials.⁹ CDL holders have 30 days.¹⁰

Penalties for Riding Without One

Operating a motorcycle without proper licensing is a Class 2 misdemeanor — a criminal offense, not a traffic ticket.³ A conviction can bring up to 30 days in county jail, a fine up to $500, or both, with the actual sentence set by the court.¹ A misdemeanor conviction also leaves a permanent record that can affect employment, insurance, and future licensing.

Rules You’ll Ride Under

Helmets are required for all operators and passengers under 18, and the helmet must meet DOT Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. The offense is a Class 2 misdemeanor, and it attaches to the operator; if your passenger is a helmetless minor, the charge lands on you.¹¹ Riders 18 and older can legally ride without a helmet.

Every operator, at any age, must wear eye protection or ride a motorcycle fitted with a windscreen tall enough to shield the rider’s eyes when seated normally. Tinted lenses that reduce light transmittance below 35% are prohibited during hours when headlights are required. The eye-protection violation is a petty offense.¹²

Motorcycles are subject to South Dakota’s financial responsibility law. Minimum liability coverage is $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person per accident, $50,000 for two or more people per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.¹³

1
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 22-6 – Authorized Sentences and Limits
2
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 32-20-1 – Definitions
3
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 32-20-2 – Driver License or Permit Required to Operate Motorcycle, Moped, All-Terrain Vehicle, or Three-Wheel Vehicle
4
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 32-12-11.1 – Motorcycle Instruction Permit Application Requirements Examination and Fee Restrictions
5
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 32-12-6 – Minors Under Age of Eighteen Authorization by Parental Authority
6
South Dakota Department of Public Safety. Motorcycle License
7
Department of Public Safety. DPS – Appointment Information
8
South Dakota Department of Public Safety. Fees
9
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 32-12-26.1 – Period of Residency for Purpose of Licensing Requirement
10
South Dakota Department of Public Safety. South Dakota Driver Licensing Information
11
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 32-20-4 – Protective Helmet Required for Minor Violation as Misdemeanor
12
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 32-20-4.1 – Eye Protective Device or Windscreen Required Tinted or Shaded Eye Protection Restricted Violation as Petty Offense
13
South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 32-35-70 – Owners Policy of Liability Insurance