South Dakota Motorcycle & Helmet Laws
Break Rules in Life – not on the Road.
Rides are born to be wild. But don’t take your outlaw status too far. South Dakota’s motorcycle and helmet laws are designed to protect bikers. So you can live to ride another day.
Motorcycle Licensing
To get your South Dakota motorcycle license, you must be at least 16 years of age and pass the vision, knowledge and motorcycle test. Minors who are at least 16 but under 18 years of age must also complete Instruction Permit requirements.
For more information, visit South Dakota motorcycle licensing.
Road Laws
| Minimum Operator Age | At least 16 years of age with operator license. |
| Safety Helmet | Required by law under age 18; helmet must be an approved US DOT helmet. A person riding in an enclosed cab attached to a motorcycle does not have to wear a safety helmet. |
| Eye Protection | Required by law unless equipped with windscreen of sufficient height and design that protects the motorcycle operator. When headlights are required to be on, a motorcycle operator cannot wear protective eye devices that are tinted or shaded to reduce the light transmission of the device below 35%. |
| Headlamp | Must be equipped with at least one but no more than two. |
| Daytime Headlight Use | Modulating headlight permitted. |
| Tail Lamp | Must have at least one which, when lighted, emits a red light visible for a distance of 500 feet. |
| Passenger Seat | Required if carrying passenger. |
| Passenger Footrest | Required if carrying passenger. |
| Passenger Age Restriction | No. |
| Helmet Speakers | No restrictions. |
| Handlebars | No restrictions. |
| Mirrors | One left and one right required by law. |
| Radar Detector | No restrictions. |
| Turn Signals | Required by law. |
| Muffler | Must at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. |
| Maximum Sound Level | No acoustical criteria. |
| Insurance Requirement | Compulsory liability (minimum limits, 25/50/25). |
| Periodic Safety Inspection | None |
| Rider Education Certificate | Driver test only: road test, written test. |
| Accept Motorcycle | Yes. |
| Endorsement from Other States | |
| Motorcycles Operating Two Abreast in Same Lane | No person may operate a motorcycle more than two abreast in a single lane. A violation of this section is a class 2 misdemeanor. 32-20-9.5 |
| Lane Splitting | No person may operate a motorcycle between adjacent lanes of traffic, or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. 32-20-9.3 The operator of a motorcycle may not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. This section does not apply to motorcycles being operated two abreast in the same lane or a motorcycle and a bicycle being operated two abreast in the same lane. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. 32-20-9.2 |
Off-Road Laws
| Minimum Operator Age | No restriction. |
| Operator License | Not required. |
| Safety Helmet | Required by law under age 18. |
| Eye Protection | Required by law. |
| Headlamp | Not required. |
| Tail Lamp | Not required. |
| Muffler | Not required. |
| Maximum Sound Level | No acoustical criteria. |
| Spark Arrestor | Not required. |
| Registration | Not required. |
| Vehicle Title | Required by law. |
| Rider Education Certificate | Not required. |
| Trails Program | Not available. |