How to Renew Your Driver's License in South Dakota
A standard driver’s license renewal in South Dakota costs $28 and can be done online, by mail, or in person depending on your situation.
Written by Shannon Fitzgerald
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
You can renew your driver’s license in South Dakota either online, by mail, or in person. A standard renewal costs $28 to process and it generally takes two to three weeks for your new license to arrive in the mail.
For those who live and drive in the Mount Rushmore State, you will typically need to renew your license every five years. While the license renewal process can be tedious, it’s important to make sure it’s done on time. If you fail to do so before your expiration date, you risk driving with an expired license, which is punishable by some serious fines and possible jail time!
If your license expiration date is coming up or you’re just getting ahead of the game, you’ve come to the right place. Here,
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guides you through everything you’ll need to know to renew your driver’s license in South Dakota. (We'll also drop some tips for saving big on your South Dakota car insurance cost
down below!)
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When to renew your driver’s license in South Dakota
The expiration date on your South Dakota license is listed in the top right corner—just below your issue date. Usually, this will be on your birthday every five years.
You are eligible to begin the renewal process 180 days prior to this expiration date if you are over 21. If your expiration date is set for your 21st birthday, you can only renew your license in the 30 days immediately following your birth date.
It’s not always guaranteed that you will receive a renewal notice from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety (SD DPS), so be sure to keep track of these dates on your own so you don’t miss them.
How to renew your driver’s license in South Dakota
Depending on your circumstance, you may renew your driver’s license in South Dakota either online, by mail, or in person.
Renew your license online
You can renew your license online in South Dakota every other renewal—or once every 10 years.
To do so, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- You have an unexpired REAL ID card—check for the gold star in the upper right corner
- You have no changes to your personal information or USCIS status
- You do NOT wear bioptic lenses
- You are NOT required to take a driving test
- You have no changes to your license class, CDL class, or endorsements
- You have NOT been issued a license or ID card from another state
- Your license has NOT been expired more than 30 days
If you meet these requirements, you can follow the directions on the
online renewal form
. You will need to upload the following: - Driver’s license number
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of SSN
- Two documents to prove your residential/physical address—documents must be less than a year old, show your full name, cannot be handwritten, and active military personnel and dependents may use documents proving their APO/FPO address or out-of-state residential address
Online transactions will have a $2 administrative charge in addition to the $28 renewal fee. The DPS will accept Visa and Mastercard for payment.
Renew your license by mail
In South Dakota, the process for renewing your license by mail is very similar to the online procedure. You can do so once every 10 years, and you are required to meet a similar set of conditions.
They are as follows:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- You must currently have an unexpired REAL ID card—with a gold star in the upper right corner
- Your license must be no more than 30 days expired
- You do NOT wear bioptic lenses
- You do not wish to change your personal information or license class
If you meet these requirements, you will need to mail in the following information:
- Two documents proving your residential/physical address—or a separate party’s signed and notarizedConsent for Use of South Dakota Addressand aResidency Affidavit
- If you are active military personnel or dependent—proof of military status
- A self-addressed, stamped envelope for your license return
- An application fee of $28 for Class 1, 2, or 3 renewals
- An application fee of $33 for Class A, B, or C renewals
You can send the completed application and required documents to:
Driver Licensing Program
118 West Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Checks can be made payable to: Department of Public Safety. You should allow several weeks for your new license to arrive by mail. You won’t receive a temporary license in the meantime so be sure to keep an eye on your expiration timeline. Remember, if you’re over 21, you can start the renewal process as far as 180 days before your expiration date.
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Start earning nowRenew your license in person
You will typically only need to renew your South Dakota driver’s license in person under the following circumstances:
- Your license is more than 30 days expired
- You renewed online or by mail during your last renewal
- You wear bioptic lenses
- You need to change personal information
- You need to change citizenship status
- You want to update your license class or apply for a CDL
- You do NOT have a federally-certified REAL ID
- You were recently issued a driver’s license or ID card in another state
To make the process a little easier, SD DPS offers an
online scheduling tool
to make a license renewal appointment at the nearest driver licensing location
ahead of time. While walk-in appointments are welcome, scheduled appointments are encouraged to save you time. You should bring the following materials with you:
- Your current license—this should be your federally compliant license if you have it
- If you don’t have a federally compliant license, you will need to bring one of the following:
- Your Social Security cardA W-2A 1099A pay stub showcasing your full SSN
- Proofs of identity and residency—these will have the same requirements as they did for the online and mail renewals
- If you are changing your name—original copies of a government-certified document (i.e., a marriage license)
- If you are or were not a U.S. citizen at your last renewal—a Certificate of Citizenship, Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Card, or Foreign Passport with a valid U.S. visa
At the driver licensing location, you will take a vision test, take a new photo, and pay the $28 renewal fee. You will typically receive your new license immediately.
Key Takeaway In South Dakota, you can renew your license online or by mail every other renewal period and in person anytime.
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Reviewed on 5/28/2023
How long does it take to renew a South Dakota driver’s license?
If you’re renewing your license online or by mail, it can take between two and three weeks for your new license to arrive. However, if you are over 65 and need to send in a vision statement, the process may take longer. You should therefore allow several weeks for your new license to come in.
If it is nearing your current license’s expiration date and you would like to check on the status of your online or by-mail renewal, you can either
email DPS
or call 605-773-6883. How to save money on car insurance in South Dakota
Staying on top of your license renewal schedule goes hand in hand with maintaining car insurance that meets state requirements. Researching policies that serve both your coverage and budget needs can be daunting, though. Luckily, the
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The average Jerry user ends up saving over $800 a year on car insurance, so it’s definitely worth a look to keep some extra cash in your wallet!
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FAQs
Is there a grace period for South Dakota driver’s license renewal?
There is no grace period for driver’s license renewal in South Dakota. If you are caught driving with an expired license, you can be charged with some serious fines and even jail time.
If it has been less than 30 days since your license expired, you may still renew it through standard procedures. If it has been more than 30 days, however, you will need to pass a knowledge test in person at an exam station.
Can I renew my South Dakota driver’s license online?
In South Dakota, you can renew your driver’s license online every other renewal period. However, you must meet a certain set of requirements in order to do so.
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