South Dakota Driver's License Reinstatement Fees
How Much It Actually Costs to Reinstate Your South Dakota License
The reinstatement fee is just one line item on the bill, and it varies by offense. Here's the full breakdown under SDCL 32-12-47.1, with the updated fees from Senate Bill 11 (2026 legislative session).
Reinstatement fees by offense:
| Suspension/Revocation Cause | Reinstatement Fee |
|---|---|
| Point accumulation | $75 |
| Unpaid fines or failure to appear | $75 |
| Insurance lapse or no-insurance default | $75 |
| Unsatisfied civil judgment | $75 |
| CDL disqualification | $75 |
| First DUI offense | $100 |
| Second DUI offense | $150 |
| Third or subsequent DUI | $200 |
| Vehicular homicide | $225 |
Every reinstatement also requires the applicable application fee: $38 for a standard license — the cost of the physical license card, updated from the previous $28 rate by Senate Bill 11 — or $43 for a CDL. If your license was revoked, you must retake the required exams at the exam station.
Child support holds are the exception. The DPS charges no reinstatement fee for clearing a child support block. However, if your physical license expired while the hold was active, you still owe the $38 renewal fee for a new card.
Fees Stack When Holds Stack
Here's where cost estimates go wrong: reinstatement fees are cumulative. If you have both a DUI revocation and an unpaid-fine suspension on your record, you pay both the DUI reinstatement fee and the $75 fee for the fine — plus the $38 application fee. A driver with a first DUI and a separate insurance-lapse suspension pays $100 + $75 + $38 = $213 minimum before they even address the underlying court fines or SR-22 insurance premiums.
Other Costs That Aren't Technically "Reinstatement Fees"
The reinstatement fee gets the most attention, but it's rarely the largest expense:
- Certified driving record: $7 per copy (increased from $5 by SB 11). You need this to identify exactly what holds exist on your record.
- SR-22 insurance: Costs vary by provider and driving history; the filing must be maintained continuously for three years.
- ORC cost recovery fee: If your court debt was transferred to the Obligation Recovery Center, they add a non-waivable 20% surcharge to your total balance.
- 24/7 Sobriety Program: $2 per day for twice-daily breath tests, or $6 per day for a SCRAM ankle monitor.
- Duplicate license: $20 if you need a replacement card (up from $15 under SB 11).
- CDL application: $43 (up from $33) if you're reinstating commercial driving privileges.
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No Payment Plans for DPS Fees
A critical detail: the South Dakota DPS does not offer installment plans for reinstatement fees. The full amount is due at the exam station when you apply. Cash, check, or card — but card transactions incur a processing fee of $2.00 or 2.95%, whichever is greater.
Court fines are different. The UJS clerk of courts and the Obligation Recovery Center both allow monthly payment arrangements for criminal debt. But the administrative reinstatement fee paid to the DPS? That's one lump sum.
Paying in the Wrong Order Wastes Money
If you pay the reinstatement fee before clearing all your external holds — a child support block, an out-of-state flag, or a pending court order — the DPS still can't restore your license. You've spent $75–$225 on a reinstatement that can't process.
The South Dakota Driver's License Reinstatement Guide includes the exact sequence for clearing holds before you pay, so every dollar goes toward actually getting your license back.
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