How to Get Your MVR in South Dakota
South Dakota driving records are issued by the South Dakota Department of Public Safety — Driver Licensing. Order yours directly from the state for $5.00 — no reseller markup — and use it for your driver qualification file or your truck insurance quote.
South Dakota Record Types and Fees
| Record | History | Certified | Fee | DQ file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Year Driving Record | 3-year | Yes | $5.00 | ✓ |
| 3-Year CDL Driving Record | 3-year | Yes | $5.00 | ✓ |
| Full Driving History | full-history | Yes | $5.00 | ✓ |
Fees last verified 2026-08 against the official SD ordering page. States change fees — the official page always controls.
Order by Mail
Form: Request from Record Holder for Three Year Driving Record (or Full Driving Record) (download)
- Download the appropriate form from sd.gov/dps: 'Request from Record Holder for Three Year Driving Record' or 'Request from Record Holder for Full Driving Record'
- Complete the form with your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and driver license number
- Have the form notarized — the DPS will reject any mail-in request that is not notarized
- Include a check or money order for $5.00 payable to 'Department of Public Safety' (no cash)
- Mail to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing program
Mail to: South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Driver Licensing, 118 W Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501
Turnaround: Allow 5–7 business days for mail processing
Order In Person
Form: Request from Record Holder
- Visit any South Dakota DMV driver exam station
- Bring your driver license or government-issued photo ID
- Complete the request form and pay $5.00
- Receive your record
Mail to: Any South Dakota DMV exam station
Turnaround: Same day at exam station
Good to Know — South Dakota Quirks
South Dakota does NOT offer an online self-service portal for individual driving records — mail or in-person are the only methods. All mail requests must be notarized. By default only the most recent 3 years of traffic record may be released; you must specifically request a full history to receive more. The SD DPS releases only certified copies. A $2 credit card processing fee may apply at some offices.
Why You Need This Record
If you drive a commercial vehicle, your MVR does two jobs. First, FMCSA rule 49 CFR 391.23 requires a driving record from every state where you held a license in the last 3 years in your driver qualification (DQ) file — within 30 days of hire and annually after that. Owner-operators under their own authority keep a DQ file on themselves. Second, insurance carriers pull an MVR on every listed driver before releasing a quote; bringing a South Dakota record dated within 30 days speeds up underwriting and avoids surprises at bind time.
Get a Truck Insurance Quote →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a South Dakota driving record cost?
- $5.00 per record — the same fee applies whether you request 3-year, CDL, or full history.
- Can I order my South Dakota driving record online?
- No. South Dakota does not offer an online portal for individual drivers to pull their own MVR. You must request by mail (with notarization) or in person at a DMV exam station.
- Why does my mail-in request need to be notarized?
- South Dakota law requires a notarized signature on mail-in driving record requests to verify the identity of the requester. The DPS will return or reject any unnotarized request.
- Is a South Dakota driving record certified?
- Yes. The SD DPS releases only certified records, making them acceptable for employer background checks, CDL applications, and FMCSA Driver Qualification Files under 49 CFR 391.23.
- How far back does the South Dakota driving record go?
- The standard record covers 3 years. If you need a longer history (for CDL or DQ file purposes), you must specifically request 'Full Driving History' on the form — the DPS will then release the complete record.