South Dakota Permit Supervisor Rules: Age, License, Seating & Night Requirements

For a South Dakota instruction permit holder under 18, a qualified licensed adult age 18 or older with at least one year of driving experience may supervise from 6 AM to 10 PM. From 10 PM to 6 AM, the person seated beside the driver must be the permit holder's parent or legal guardian; a friend, neighbor, sibling, or driving instructor cannot substitute overnight.

Who Qualifies as a Valid Supervising Driver in South Dakota?

A valid supervisor must be at least 18, hold a valid driver's license, have at least one year of driving experience, and sit in the front passenger seat throughout every drive.

• Age:At least 18 years old
• [YES] License:Valid driver's license - out-of-state licenses accepted if current and not suspended
• Experience:At least one year of licensed driving experience
• [YES] Seating:Front passenger seat at all times - never the back seat. An out-of-state license is accepted if valid and not suspended, but the supervisor must still be 18 or older with at least one year of licensed driving.

Important:An out-of-state license is valid for supervision if it is current and not suspended. The one-year experience rule still applies regardless of which state issued the license.

South Dakota Permit Supervisor Eligibility by Time of Day

For drivers under 18, South Dakota changes the supervision rule at 10 PM. The daytime rule allows a qualified licensed adult; the overnight rule requires the permit holder's parent or guardian to sit beside the driver.

See SDCL 32-12-11 for the under-18 instruction-permit supervision rule.

Can a Driving Instructor Supervise a South Dakota Permit Holder After 10 PM?

Not as a substitute for the parent or guardian of an under-18 instruction permit holder. From 10 PM to 6 AM, South Dakota law requires the minor to drive under the direction of a parent or guardian seated beside them. A driving instructor may supervise during the daytime only if the instructor otherwise meets the qualifying licensed-driver requirements.

Can Someone With a Learner's Permit or Restricted Permit Be My Supervisor?

No. For the under-18 daytime rule, the person seated beside the permit holder must hold a valid operator's license, be at least 18, and have at least one year of driving experience. A learner or instruction permit does not meet that requirement, and the rule does not name a restricted minor's permit as the qualifying operator's license.

What Happens If My Supervisor's License Becomes Suspended or Expires?

That person no longer meets the valid-license requirement and should not continue as the qualified supervisor. Stop driving until another qualified supervisor can take over. If the issue is discovered during a traffic stop, follow the officer's instructions; see the South Dakota permit driving rules guide for related traffic-stop guidance.

Supervisor Legal Responsibilities in South Dakota

The supervisor is legally responsible for the vehicle during supervised practice. Texting or being distracted while supervising can result in a citation for inattentive supervision.

• Must remain sober, alert, and attentive throughout the drive
• Cannot text, use a phone, or be distracted - a texting supervisor can be cited for inattentive supervision
• Shares legal responsibility for any traffic violations during supervised practice
• [YES] Must verify their own license is valid and unexpired before every practice session

A Sioux Falls teen's parent had an expired driver's license during a long illness - never renewed. At the exam station, the teen's intake screen hard-blocked because the parent's expired license showed in the system. The parent renewed first; the joint appointment slot was rescheduled nine days later.

What Makes a Supervising Driver Unqualified in South Dakota?

Sitting in the back seat, holding an expired license, and being the wrong relation after 10 PM are the most common supervisor mistakes that immediately void the supervised practice session.

• Sitting in the back seat- supervisor must be in the front passenger seat, always
• Expired license- an expired supervisor license disqualifies them immediately
• Wrong relation after 10 PM- only parent or legal guardian counts overnight for minors

Parental or guardian consent is an application requirement, not a supervisor qualification. The current South Dakota application allows an under-18 applicant's parent or guardian to sign before a notary public or a South Dakota driver examiner. See the official South Dakota driver license and ID application.

For the full South Dakota supervisor requirements, GDL rules, and practice hour requirements, see the South Dakota Learner's Permit guide on shoro.ai.