South Dakota Driver's License

Please note: The South Dakota Driver's License Bureau in Rapid City is CLOSED weekends AND MONDAY.

Driver's License Bureau
1301 East Catron Blvd, Rapid City SD  57701
800-952-3696 (statewide number in Central Time Zone)
Open Tue-Fri 7-5:30.

Folks, rules and conditions change. While the below facts are in place the day we posted them, rules change. We try to be current but to be on the really safe side, give the number above a call to verify before you go to the driver's license facility you have chosen. Local personnel turnover may result in facing someone who may not know the rules; have the name of the person you spoke to at the statewide number handy when you go in.

You do NOT have to have a South Dakota driver's license to register your vehicles in Pennington County. Also, you can get your driver's license anywhere in the state, not necessarily in Rapid City. Call the state to find out the hours elsewhere.

Currrently driver's licenses in South Dakota cost:

$20 for a regular Drivers License

$25 for a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Please read the web page specifically regarding CDLs.

In many cases, it will take about 15 to 20 minutes from the time you walk in the door until you walk out, with your driver's license in your hand.

While the state can do what they want and change what they want, in many cases, many of our members have told us that all they had to do in the way of testing was place their forehead on a machine and tell the examiner what a line of letters are.

You will need to surrender your current license or State ID card from another state and show them verification of your Social Security number and one other form of ID.

The best form of a second ID is your valid Passport/Passport Card. In the absence of a Passport, you will need to show them a Certified Birth Certificate. If the name on your current driver's license does not match your name on these other documents, you must present either a Marriage Certificate, Divorce Order or some other Approved Court Order (or a series of them) to prove the name you want on your SD driver's license.

Please note that unlike some other states like Texas & California, South Dakota does not require a person to have a special driver's license for the big rigs.

We have also received an email from the SD DMV that the Real ID act as implemented in South Dakota for full-time travelers will NOT require you to show utility bills, bank statements, or anything else of that type as of December 31, 2009 when the Real ID Act turned into law.

However, you ARE required to spend one night at a hotel, motel, or campground anywhere within the state, and to bring the receipt with your name(s) and that address on it to a driver's license facility anywhere in the state. This receipt MUST show the address of the South Dakota location. However, your PMB address will actually go on your driver's license.

You will be required to sign a paper stating that you are a South Dakota resident and that is the state "to which you intend to return." The address on the receipt will NOT appear on your regular driver's license. The address that will appear is your address at Americas Mailbox. Of course the above requirements for a valid license, ID, and verification of SSN apply.

Please note that for a Commerical Drivers License (CDL) you must spend the night at a hotel, motel or campground in Pennington County, and that IS the address that appears on your CDL driver's license. Like the paragraph above, the receipt you present MUST have the address of where you stayed within the State. You must make sure they have your mailing address at Americas Mailbox as well.

The following is taken directly from the state's web site on the federal requirements for documentation needed when obtaining a South Dakota driver's license:

"Effective Dec. 31, 2009 federal regulations require anyone applying for a new, renewal, or duplicate driver license or identification card will have to provide the following documents listed below (photocopies are not acceptable).

I . You will need ONE Identity Document. NOTE: If your name is different than the name on your identity document, you will need to bring additional proof of your legal name. Acceptable documents for proof of a legal name change are a certified marriage certificate (issued by a state vital records agency), a certified adoption document, or a certified court order authorizing a name change (such as a divorce decree). If you have had multiple marriages, you will need to bring similar documents providing legal proof of each name change. If you have any questions please call our office at 1-800-952-3696.

An Identity Document to prove identity, date of birth, and lawful status is considered to be one of the following:

 
(For phone numbers and addresses to write for Vital Records, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm.)

II . You will need ONE document to prove Social Security number. Only the documents listed below can serve as proof of Social Security number (document must include your full social security number):

• Social Security card
• W-2 Form
• SSA 1099 Form
• Non-SSA 1099 Form
• Pay stub (must include name and social security number)

(For information on how to apply for a social security number or replacement card, please visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ )

If you are using a mail forwarding address the applicant must complete the "Residency Affidavit" and provide one document proving their temporary address (campground or RV park receipt)."