Title 32 — MOTOR VEHICLES

Terms used in this chapter mean: (1) "Alcohol," any substance containing any form of alcohol; (2) "Commercial driver license," or "CDL," a license issued in accordance with the requirements of this chapter to an individual that authorizes the individual to drive a class of commer…

Adoption of rules regarding farm exemption of

No person may be issued a commercial learner's permit unless that person is a resident of this state and has passed the required knowledge test. No person may be issued a commercial driver license unless that person is a resident of this state, has received driver training from a…

Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person may not be issued a commercial driver license unless that person: (1) Is a resident of this state for the purpose of being licensed to drive a motor vehicle, as described in § 32-12-26.1 ; (2) Meets the general requirements o…

The department may authorize a third party to administer the skills test described in § 32-12A-11.1 , provided that the department and the third party comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. § 383.75 (January 1, 2026). Source: SL 2026, ch 134 , § 3. Effective July 1, 2026

The department may not issue a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license to a person while the person is subject to a disqualification from driving a commercial motor vehicle, or while the person's operator license or driving privilege is suspended, revoked, or can…

The department shall promulgate rules, in accordance with chapter 1-26 , to determine whether an applicant meets the English language proficiency requirement set forth in § 32-12A-11.1 by, at a minimum, administering all knowledge and skills tests in English. Source: SL 2026, ch …

If the holder of a commercial driver license or commercial learner's permit is issued a citation for a traffic offense, or is involved in a traffic accident, a law enforcement officer, except an officer acting under the authority of § 32-2-7 , must determine whether the driver ha…

A commercial learner's permit may be issued to a person eighteen years of age who holds a valid operator's license. No commercial learner's permit may be issued for a period to exceed one year. No commercial learner's permit may be renewed without the holder having to retake each…

A commercial learner's permit holder is not eligible to take the skills test in the first fourteen days after initial issuance of the permit. A commercial learner's permit may only be issued with passenger, school bus, or tanker endorsements. No other commercial endorsement is al…

The department may issue a nondomiciled commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license to an applicant who meets the requirements set forth in 49 C.F.R. §§ 383 and 384 (January 1, 2026). In addition, the department must observe the following conditions applicable to the…

The application for a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license, shall include the following: (1) The full legal name and current mailing and residential address of the applicant; (2) A physical description of the applicant including sex, height, weight, and eye co…

Any applicant under the provisions of this chapter shall, on making application for a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license, present to the examiner at least two documents containing the applicant's name and address of principal residence as defined in § 32-12-…

Any application under this chapter shall be accompanied by the proper fee. Payment of the fee entitles the applicant to not more than three attempts to pass the commercial driver license examination within a period of six months from the date of application. Any application for a…

The application fee for a commercial driver license is forty-three dollars. For each commercial driver license endorsement knowledge test administered, the fee is twenty dollars. The fee for a duplicate license, a name change, or an address change is twenty dollars. Any fee that …

If the holder of a commercial driver license changes that person's name, mailing address, or residential address, application for a duplicate license shall be made. Source: SL 1989, ch 267 , § 11; SDCL § 32-12-91 ; SL 2001, ch 171 , §§ 84, 115.

No person who has been a resident of this state for thirty days may drive a commercial motor vehicle under the authority of a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license issued by another jurisdiction. Source: SL 1989, ch 267 , § 12; SDCL § 32-12-92; SL 2001, ch 171 …

If any person knowingly falsifies information or certifications required by this chapter, the department shall disqualify that person's commercial driving privileges for a period of at least sixty consecutive days. Source: SL 1989, ch 267 , § 13; SDCL § 32-12-93; SL 2001, ch 171 …

32-12A-20 Form and contents of commercial driver license. 32-12A-20.1 Social security number on license prohibited. 32-12A-20.2 Veteran designation on license or permit--Requirements. 32-12A-21 Privileges conferred by learner's permit or driver license--Classifications of permits…

To the extent that this chapter conflicts with the general driver licensing provisions of chapter 32-12 , chapter 32-12A prevails. Where this chapter is silent, the general driver licensing provisions of chapter 32-12 apply. Source: SL 1989, ch 267 , § 1A; SDCL § 32-12-78; SL 200…

The commercial driver license shall be marked, Commercial Driver License, shall be, to the maximum extent practicable, tamper proof, and shall include the following information: (1) The full legal name, address of principal residence, and mailing address of the licensee; (2) A fu…

No commercial driver license issued after June 30, 2005, may contain the licensee's social security number. Source: SL 2005, ch 166 , § 4.

A designation that the licensee is a veteran must be indicated on a commercial driver license or a commercial learner's permit issued pursuant to this chapter if the licensee or permit holder: (1) Is a veteran as defined in § 33A-1-1 ; (2) Has requested the designation on the lic…

The holder of a valid commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license may drive any vehicle in the class for which that license is issued, and any lesser class of vehicle, except a motorcycle. No person may drive a vehicle requiring an endorsement unless the proper corre…

The endorsements to a commercial driver license shall be as follows: (1) T --Double/triple trailers; (2) P --Passengers; (3) N --Tank vehicles; (4) H --Hazardous materials; (5) X --Combination tank vehicles and hazardous materials; and (6) S --School bus. Source: SL 1989, ch 267 …

A person with a commercial driver license that has a Class A combination vehicle classification is not required to obtain a hazardous materials endorsement pursuant to this chapter if the person is: (1) Acting within the scope of the person's employment as an employee of a custom…

Restrictions to a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license shall be as follows: (1) L--Operation only of a commercial motor vehicle which is not equipped with air brakes; (2) M--Operation only of a Class B and C commercial passenger vehicle; (3) N--Operation only …

In addition to the restrictions provided pursuant to the provisions of § 32-12A-23 , a commercial learner's permit may also have the following restrictions: (1) P--For no passengers in a commercial motor vehicle; and (2) X--For no cargo in a commercial motor vehicle tank vehicle.…

No person under the age of eighteen may receive an endorsement on a commercial driver license to drive a school bus. Any school bus endorsed driver operating with an intrastate restriction shall meet all physical qualifications as required under 49 C.F.R. Part 391, Subpart E, as …

Source: SL 2009, ch 155 , § 1; SL 2010, ch 161 , § 8; SL 2011, ch 144 , § 9; SL 2015, ch 168 , § 22; SL 2017, ch 171 , § 50; SL 2024, ch 116 , § 2.

Source: SL 2009, ch 155 , § 2; SL 2017, ch 171 , § 50; SL 2024, ch 116 , § 3.

Source: SL 2009, ch 155 , § 3; SL 2024, ch 116 , § 4.

A school bus operator shall certify on his application that he has not been convicted of the offense of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs within the three years immediately preceding the application or any offense involving…

If a person's commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license bearing a school bus endorsement is suspended or revoked pursuant to this chapter, the Department of Public Safety shall, upon the suspension or revocation, notify the Department of Education. The Department o…

Each school district and school bus contracting company shall report to the Department of Education, in a manner prescribed by the secretary, the names and social security numbers of all individuals it employs as bus drivers. The school district and school bus contracting company…

Before issuing a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license, the department shall obtain driving record information through the commercial driver license information system and the national driver register no earlier than twenty-four hours prior to issuance. Before …

Within twenty-four hours after issuing a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license, the department shall notify the commercial driver license information system of the issuance, providing all information required to ensure identification of the licensee. Source: SL…

No person who drives a commercial motor vehicle may have more than one operator's license. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Source: SL 1989, ch 267 , § 2; SDCL § 32-12-79; SL 2001, ch 171 , §§ 73, 115; SL 2002, ch 156 , § 4.

A commercial driver license issued pursuant to this chapter, expires on the licensee's birthday in the fifth year following the issuance of the license. Any nondomiciled commercial driver license expires on the date of expiration of the licensee's authorized stay in the United St…

Each person applying for renewal of a commercial driver license shall complete the application form required by § 32-12A-14 , providing updated information and required certifications. If the applicant wishes to retain a hazardous materials endorsement, the written test for a haz…

The secretary of public safety may suspend, revoke, disqualify, or cancel the commercial learner's permit, commercial driver license, or driving privilege of a person after opportunity for hearing pursuant to chapter 1-26 , if hearing is demanded, upon a showing by its records or…

Any person who makes a false statement or representation, or knowingly fails to disclose a material fact in order to obtain a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and is subject to at least a one year suspension or disqualifi…

The Department of Public Safety shall suspend, revoke, or disqualify the commercial learner's permit, commercial driver license, or driving privilege of a resident of this state upon receiving notice of the conviction or final administrative decision from another state for an inf…

September 30, 2005. 32-12A-36 Persons disqualified from driving commercial motor vehicle for period of not less than one year or not less than three years. 32-12A-37 Disqualification for life for multiple violations of 32-12A-36 --Reduction. 32-12A-38 Disqualification for life us…

Any person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of not less than one year: (1) If convicted of a first violation of driving or being in actual physical control of a commercial or noncommercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, or …

Any person is disqualified for life for the commission of two or more violations of any of the subdivisions specified in § 32-12A-36 , or any combination of those subdivisions, arising from two or more separate incidents. The department may adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 1-26 ,…

Any person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for life who uses a commercial or noncommercial motor vehicle in the commission of any felony involving the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance, or possession with intent to manufact…

Any driver disqualified for life as specified in § 32-12A-37 , who has both voluntarily enrolled in and successfully completed, an appropriate rehabilitation program that meets the standards of the department, may apply to the department for reinstatement of that person's commerc…

Any driver holding a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver license issued by the state, who is convicted of violating any state law or local ordinance of any other state, or federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal law of Canada, relating to motor vehicle traffic…

Any person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of not less than sixty days if convicted within a three-year period of two serious traffic violations committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle. Any person is disqualified from driving a co…