IN
Fail the South Dakota permit knowledge test and you may retest on the next working day or later. Normal failures do not create a 7-day wait. Your $38 application fee covers up to three combined knowledge and driving test attempts within a six-month period. If you are caught cheating, a separate minimum two-week wait applies. Before returning, review the weak areas shown after your test and use the South Dakota Driver Manual to focus your study.
After a normal failed knowledge test, the earliest South Dakota allows you to retest is the next working day. You can wait longer if you want more time to study or practice.
| Situation | Earliest Retest | New Fee? |
|---|---|---|
| First failed knowledge test | Next working day | No, if attempts remain |
| Second failed knowledge test | Next working day | No, if attempts remain |
| Third failed attempt / all attempts used | Further testing requires another paid application | Yes |
| Six-month application period expires | Further testing requires another paid application | Yes |
| Caught cheating | Minimum two-week wait | Depends on remaining application and test eligibility |
Only if that day is a working day for testing. The rule is the next working day, not simply the next calendar day. If the next day is not a working day, wait until the next working day or later.
Yes. Testing visits require an appointment, so schedule another testing visit for an eligible working day before returning to the exam station.
South Dakota requires a minimum two-week wait before you may test again after being caught cheating. This is separate from the next-working-day rule for an ordinary failed knowledge test.
A Rapid City teen who misses several right-of-way questions can use the time before the next eligible appointment to review that section of the manual instead of restudying every chapter.
South Dakota gives you up to three combined testing opportunities under one paid application within six months.
How many times can I fail the South Dakota permit test? You can use up to three total examination attempts under the same paid application within six months. Knowledge-test and driving-test attempts count toward the same three-attempt allowance.
What happens if I fail the South Dakota permit test 2 times? If your first two attempts were knowledge-test failures, one testing opportunity remains under that application. For an ordinary failed knowledge test, the earliest retest is the next working day, subject to appointment availability.
What happens if I fail the South Dakota permit test 3 times? Once all three testing opportunities have been used, you must submit another application and pay the applicable fee before further testing.
Is there a maximum number of failed attempts? The cited South Dakota statute and DPS guidance do not state a lifetime cap on failed attempts. They state that each paid application provides no more than three examination attempts within six months. After the three attempts are used, or after the six-month application period expires, a new paid application is required before further testing.
What if six months expires before I use all three attempts? Unused attempts do not carry beyond that application's six-month period. Submit a new application and pay the applicable fee before testing again.
After a second failure, focus on the topics you missed instead of restarting every chapter. Review the relevant sections of the South Dakota Driver Manual and use South Dakota-specific practice questions. Before a first attempt or a retake, practice with Shoro AI's South Dakota permit prep to prepare better and improve your chances of passing.
For the full South Dakota permit test retake policy, study resources, and exam station locations, see the South Dakota Learner's Permit guide on shoro.ai.
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