As a driver, even if you practice safe driving at all times, it is highly unlikely that you will never receive a ticket for minor offenses at least a few times.

Maybe you find yourself in this situation now.

Are you worried that you might have accumulated too many license points? 

Well, the best way to keep track of your traffic tickets and charges is to check your driving record. 

And if you’re not sure where to get it,  this article will be your 2023 guide on how to get a driving record in South Dakota. 

So let’s begin! 

What is a Driving Record and Why Should You Check It

Your South Dakota driving record will contain your personal information as well as your driving history for the past three years. It will also show your license expiry, status, violations, convictions, and the points you may have accumulated. 

Checking your driving record, at least once a year, will let you assess whether you are at risk of license suspension, cancellation, or revocation. 

What’s more, you will be able to do a spot check for errors since this isn’t exactly unusual in driving records.

So, if there are points that have not been removed or violations that are mistakenly added, you will be able to correct them immediately - you just have to reach out to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety at 800-952-3696.

Yet another reason why you should check it is that the points on your record will directly influence your auto insurance rates. 

Your auto insurance company will see it as a sign of a high-risk driver and therefore will charge you more, so you might want to take a look at your driving record before such time your insurance is due for renewal. 

A Guide on How to Get a Driving Record in South Dakota

You can obtain your South Dakota driving record in two ways: 

• in-person

• by mail

• online

Let’s take a look at each one.

In-Person

Normally, you will be able to request your South Dakota in person at any exam station in the state. However, due to the Covid19 pandemic, offices are not currently issuing records. 

If you want to confirm when they will be resuming appointments for driving records, you can reach out to them by calling the below hotline:

Phone number: (605) 773-6883

Once the DPS begins accepting appointments for driving record requests, you can visit an exam station in any of the following locations:

• Aberdeen - 2729 West Highway 12

• Brookings - 910 4th Street

• Mitchell - 1315 North Main Street, Suite 100

• Rapid City - 1301 East Catron Boulevard

• Sioux Falls - 2501 West Russell Street

• Watertown - 2001 9th Avenue SW, Suite 100

• Yankton - 3113 Spruce Street, Suite 109

In the meantime, you can get your driving record by mail or online. 

Mail

To request your South Dakota driving record by mail, first, download the driving record form you’re interested in getting. 

There are five different forms available:

• Request for Three-Year Driving Record

• Request for Full Driving Record

• Request to Obtain Abstract

• Request for CDL Holder for Three-Year Driving Record

• Request from Employer/Prospective Employer for Three Year CDL Driving Record

Complete the form and have it notarized. Then, mail it along with a $5 fee to the following address:

Driver Licensing Program

118 West Capitol Avenue

Pierre, SD 57501

Note: state and government agencies are not required to pay the fee.

Online

Currently, the South Dakota DPS does not yet issue driving records via online requests. Some third-party vendors offer such services, but we do not suggest that you get your records through them. We highly recommend that you transact directly with the DPS.

But if you insist on doing it online, the best thing to do is look for a reliable third-party vendor. 

You can read reviews and see what previous customers have to say about a specific vendor. I mean, you don’t want to be requesting your driving record from a scammer. 

Another thing you should be aware of, these third-party vendors will most likely cost a lot more. 

So again, it’s best to request a driving record from the DPS.  

South Dakota Points System

When you first get your license in South Dakota, your driving record starts with a clean slate. You earn points from moving violations, and if you accumulate 15 points over 12 months or 22 points over 24 months, your license will be suspended for 60 days. 

Below is a list of some violations and convictions and their corresponding points in South Dakota:

If you are convicted of a DUI, the state will revoke your license by law, regardless of the points on your record. 

Defensive Driving Courses and Driving Records in South Dakota

If you want to avoid points from being added to your driving record, you may attend a defensive driving course. 

Note: you have to confirm with your court handler if they will allow defensive driving courses to dismiss traffic tickets. Unfortunately, most courts will NOT allow it.

Still, defensive driving courses are significant to your driving record. 

For one, even if you have many points in your driving record, auto insurance companies will give you an insurance discount if you take defensive driving courses. Again, it’s important that you ask them first, but thankfully, they will usually agree to it. 

Another thing is, a defensive driving course will help you relearn the street rules and laws. This way, you will be more aware of it and thus avoid getting ticketed. 

Looking for a reliable online defensive driving course? 

Check on the one offered by GoToTrafficSchool! 

GoToTrafficSchool

GoToTrafficSchool is one of the most trusted online traffic schools in the US. It has been around for two decades and has served more than four million customers. 

Today, it continues to be one of the top choices for traffic school goers for its high-quality course work, excellent customer services, convenience, and affordability. 

GoToTrafficSchool offers defensive driving courses with the lowest price guarantee. At around $40, its South Dakota defensive driving course is probably the cheapest you will find online. 

You even have the option to start the course at absolutely no charge. Pay only before you complete it, or get your money back if you feel that you are not happy with your purchase. 

GoToTrafficSchool’s course fees may be low, but the school does not compromise the quality of its materials. Its lessons feature a combination of text and video content, as well as other interactive elements such as quizzes and 3D clips. 

For a portion of the cost of an in-person traffic school, you get the best quality of service from the comfort of your home. 

Conclusion

Want to check how many points your new traffic ticket added to your record?

Need to get hold of your South Dakota driving record? 

Well, here’s a quick recap of how you can do this:

• In-person: Once the DPS begins accepting appointments for driving record requests, you can visit an exam station and submit the completed form and pay the fees on the counter. 
• By mail: download and complete the form from the South Dakota DPS website, have it notarized, and mail it along with a $5 fee to Driver Licensing Program at 118 West Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
• Online: We do not advise this as you’ll have to get it from a third-party vendor. If you insist, though, it’s important to look for a reliable source. 

Want an auto insurance discount despite your high pointed driving record? 

The best way to do that is to complete a defensive driving course. If so, you might want to check the course offered by GoToTrafficSchool.