Motorcycle Laws & Licensing for South Dakota, United States

Handling a motorcycle carries both great risks and high rewards. On the one hand, you get to know the thrill and freedom that comes with handling a high-speed, maneuverable motor vehicle. On the other hand, your health and property are more vulnerable to damage during accidents or collisions. The best way to ensure trips involving your motorcycle proceed smoothly is to fully understand how to operate one and comply with traffic laws.

Throughout the United States, each region has a different interpretation of the rules that motorcyclists must comply with and the process to complete to earn the credentials needed to ride a motorcycle. The state of South Dakota is no exception. 

Because you never know when you could end up in a motorcycle accident, you are required to own South Dakota motorcycle insurance. This coverage will be needed to provide compensation for bodily injury or property damage that another party sustained. Whenever you travel on your motorcycle, you must be carrying some proof of ownership to show you meet the standards for financial responsibility.

The minimum costs that your liability insurance coverage must be able to cover if you are found liable for an accident must include the following:

• $25,000 for bodily injury to a person per accident

• $50,000 for bodily injuries to multiple people per accident

• $25,000 for property damages sustained per accident

While you are not required to own any other forms of automobile insurance, you may want to consider getting the optional coverage that safeguards your health and property only:

• Collision coverage

• Uninsured coverage

• Underinsured coverage

• Comprehensive coverage

• Bodily injury coverage

• Medical expenses

Any motorcyclists and passengers under age 18 are required to wear a three-quarter or full-face helmet when operating a two-wheeled motor vehicle. Besides being big enough to fit your head and cover your neck, there should be a DOT sticker plastered on either the exterior or interior.

Based on statistics from 2020, it is best to have a motorcycle helmet with you since it has been integral in saving lives:

• Motorcycle accidents made up 19.7% of fatal automobile collisions

• 38% of riders who were in accidents were wearing motorcycle helmets

• 62% of riders who were in accidents were not wearing motorcycle helmets

• 25 riders were killed during 2020

Listed below are the features that your motorcycle helmet should have if you wish to ride your vehicle through South Dakota:

For your South Dakota motorcycle instruction permit, you can start registering if you are at least 14 years old. You must pay $28 to complete the process of getting a South Dakota motorcycle instruction permit if you are a new license holder. The fee will drop to $15 if you already own a South Dakota driver’s license.

For your South Dakota motorcycle license, you are ready to receive one if you are at least age 16. You must pay $28 to successfully convert your motorcycle instruction permit into a full motorcycle license.

Listed below are the requirements, restrictions, and details you will need to follow if you wish to obtain the credentials and what you are legally allowed to do with your South Dakota motorcycle instruction permit or motorcycle license:

*If you are a minor, you are required to hold onto the motorcycle instruction permit for 180 days.

*If you complete a driver’s education course, the time required to hold onto the motorcycle instruction permit is cut down to 90 days.

*If you complete a motorcycle safety course, the time required to hold onto the motorcycle instruction permit is cut down to 30 days. 

• Complete 25 multiple-choice questions 

• Questions will be based on content from South Dakota Motorcycle Operators Manual

• Requires a passing grade of 80% or higher

• Will be conducted in an actual traffic environment

• Will be graded by a DPS examiner

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of motorcycle operation

• You will be tested on staying within the posted speed limit, adjusting speed, accelerating, braking, turning safely, stopping, turning, swerving, and acting while under stress

• You will be graded based on how well you ride at safe speeds, stay within lanes, and demonstrate riding maneuvers

If you fail the South Dakota motorcycle license test, you are allowed to retake it at least three times within six months without having to repay the testing fees. 

As there is no age limit in South Dakota, you can carry almost anyone on your motorcycle. As you are responsible for the well-being of your passenger, you must use your best judgment when determining who can ride with you. It is recommended that you do not bring along young children or elderly folk since they may not be at the appropriate height.

If you are interested in transporting a passenger, your motorcycle must be adorned with equipment to carry another person safely including a passenger seat, footrests, and handholds or hand straps.

Listed below are the criteria for features needed to keep your passenger securely seated and the characteristics your passenger should have:

• The passenger is seated in a driver’s saddle big enough to fit two people 

• Or the passenger is seated in a separate saddle near the rear 

• Or the passenger is seated in a sidecar 

• There are footholds the passenger can reach 

• There are secure handholds or hand straps the passenger can hold onto

• The passenger is facing forward with a leg hanging on each side

• The passenger cannot hold packages that could obstruct the driver

• The passenger can understand and follow your directions

As lane splitting is banned in South Dakota, motorcyclists are not allowed to practice any of the following when riding on laned roads, highways, or freeways:

• You cannot ride on top of the dividing lines between lanes

• You cannot ride in between adjacent rows of vehicles that are stopped

• You cannot overtake a car or truck sharing the same lane 

While motorcyclists are subject to the same traffic laws as car and truck drivers, there are legal maneuvers they can pull off thanks to the versatility and size of their motorcycles:

• You are entitled to full use of the space within your current lane 

• You can only share a lane with another motorcycle if:

  • Both parties stay apart at least two abreast

  • Both parties consent beforehand

Depending on how old your motorcycle is and how frequently you operate it, the machinery may start to break down due to overuse. Even if nothing seems wrong at first glance, there could be hidden punctures in the tires or a damaged primary component due to getting hit by debris. If even a single part of your motorcycle is not working properly, then its overall functionality will suffer for it.

• Horn

• Wheels

• Tires

• Handlebars 

•  Front and rear brakes 

• Controls

• Headlight(s)

•  Taillight 

•  Brake light 

• License plate light

•  Rear reflector 

• Exhaust system

•  Muffler(s) 

•  Rearview mirrors 

•  Turn signals

• South Dakota Motorcycle License Manual
• South Dakota Department of Public Safety - South Dakota Motorcycle License
• South Dakota Department of Revenue - Motor Vehicle
• South Dakota Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Summary 2020
• South Dakota Department of Public Safety - South Dakota Licensing Information: Driving Tests