South Dakota Motorcycle Safety Course
Verified against South Dakota motorcycle safety education program ·
Compiled and verified against primary state DMV/DPS/BMV sources by GetMotorcycleLicense Research Team — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
South Dakota does not require any rider to complete a motorcycle safety course before getting the license. This page covers who runs the course, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly which tests completing it can waive.
South Dakota's motorcycle safety course requirements — including completion waiving the state skills test if the applicant completes a motorcycle safety course approved under SDCL § 32-20-14; the waiver of the motorcycle testing certification is discretionary with the Department of Public Safety rather than automatic — are verified against South Dakota motorcycle safety education program (see SDCL § 32-20-14 (motorcycle safety education; standards and procedures; funding)), current as of 2026-07-28.
South Dakota Motorcycle Safety Course at a Glance
| Program | South Dakota motorcycle safety education program |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Office of Highway Safety, which sets instruction and instructor-certification standards and approves individual courses by rule |
| Delivery model | State buys the seatsProviders compete for a state grant or contract, and the state sets or subsidizes what the rider pays. |
| Typical cost | — |
| Course length | — |
| Mandatory under age | No — not required at any age |
| Waives the riding skills test | Yes, if the applicant completes a motorcycle safety course approved under SDCL § 32-20-14; the waiver of the motorcycle testing certification is discretionary with the Department of Public Safety rather than automatic |
| Waives the knowledge test | No |
SDCL § 32-20-14 does not name a national curriculum; it directs the director of the Office of Highway Safety to set instruction standards, instructor or teacher certification standards, and course-approval procedures by rule, funded from a dedicated motorcycle safety education fund.
SDCL § 32-5-10.1 adds a $7 motorcycle safety education fee to every motorcycle registration; § 32-5-10.2 deposits it in a special revenue fund; § 32-20-15 has the Department of Public Safety budget and appropriate that revenue, together with any other funds made available to it, to provide motorcycle safety courses and education approved by the director. For a minor aged 14 to 17, completing an approved motorcycle safety course together with an approved driver education class shortens the minimum time the motorcycle instruction permit must be held, from 275 continuous days to 180, before applying for the motorcycle restricted minor's permit under § 32-12-12.1.
What South Dakota’s course covers
South Dakota teaches the Motorcycle Safety Course, developed by South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Office of Highway Safety. Full detail here.
How South Dakota differs: SDCL § 32-20-14 does not name a national curriculum; it directs the director of the Office of Highway Safety to set instruction standards, instructor or teacher certification standards, and course-approval procedures by rule, funded from a dedicated motorcycle safety education fund.
Once you complete the course, see license requirements in South Dakota.
Source Notes
Where a source is stale, conflicting, or required a judgment call, we document it here rather than presenting a single confident-sounding number. See our methodology for how these calls are made.
- Licence classes, permits, fees, and tests come from the South Dakota Codified Laws, Title 32, chapters 12 and 20. Training facts come from the same chapters. Helmet rules come from SDCL § 32-20-4 and the general misdemeanour penalty in § 22-6-2.
- South Dakota's motorcycle safety course is optional at every age. Completing one can shorten the permit-holding period required of a 14-to-17-year-old applicant, and separately may lead the Department of Public Safety to waive its own motorcycle skills certification for an applicant of any age, at the department's discretion.
- A helmet is required only for a rider or passenger under 18. Separately, an operator of any age may not carry a passenger under 18 who is not wearing one.
means no primary source publishes that figure — left blank on purpose rather than estimated or copied from an unverified aggregator.
Sources
- SDCL § 32-20-14 (motorcycle safety education; standards and procedures; funding)
- SDCL § 32-20-2 (waiver of motorcycle testing requirements upon course completion)
- SDCL § 32-12-12.1 (reduced permit-holding period for safety-course graduates)
- SDCL § 32-5-10.1 (motorcycle safety education fee; amount and payment)
Data last verified: 2026-07-28 (verified by: agent) | Source: SDCL § 32-20-14 (motorcycle safety education; standards and procedures; funding)