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Commercial driver’s license · knowledge tests

CDL permit test: federal rules, state guides and a free practice test

As of October 26, 2026, the FMCSA requires commercial drivers to be at least 21 to drive in interstate commerce, while drivers aged 18 to 20 may hold a CLP or CDL and drive only within their state.

Under 49 CFR 383.25, a CLP holder cannot take the CDL skills test during the first 14 days after the permit is first issued.

Under 49 CFR 383.135, a driver must answer at least 80 percent of the questions correctly to pass each CDL knowledge test.

The FMCSA’s entry-level driver training (ELDT) rules apply to anyone getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or getting a first school bus (S), passenger (P) or hazardous materials (H) endorsement (per fmcsa.dot.gov and ecfr.gov, checked on Oct 26, 2026).

Updated Oct 26, 2026Rules checked against fmcsa.dot.gov and ecfr.govHow we check
Federal CDL rulesAll states
Minimum age for a CLP
18
Minimum age to drive interstate
21
Days with a CLP before the skills test
14
Score to pass each knowledge test
80%

49 CFR, Oct 26, 2026

Take the free 30-question CDL practice testCDL rules in 15 states

Which CDL tests you take for each license and endorsement

Every applicant starts with the general knowledge test. The class you want and each endorsement add their own tests; federal rules set what each one needs, in every state.

CDL knowledge and skills tests by license class and endorsement, with sources
License or endorsementKnowledge testsSkills testSource
Class A CDLGeneral knowledge + combination vehicles; air brakes to drive with air brakesYes: pre-trip inspection, basic control, road test

49 CFR § 383.71, § 383.111, § 383.133 · Oct 26, 2026

Class B CDLGeneral knowledge; air brakes to drive with air brakesYes: pre-trip inspection, basic control, road test

49 CFR § 383.71, § 383.111, § 383.133 · Oct 26, 2026

Class C CDLGeneral knowledge + the endorsement that makes it a CDL vehicle (P or H)Yes: pre-trip inspection, basic control, road test

49 CFR § 383.71, § 383.91, § 383.93, § 383.133 · Oct 26, 2026

Double/triple trailers (T)Doubles and triples testNo

49 CFR § 383.93 · Oct 26, 2026

Tank vehicle (N)Tank vehicles testNo

49 CFR § 383.93 · Oct 26, 2026

Hazardous materials (H)Hazardous materials test, after entry-level trainingNo

49 CFR § 383.93, FMCSA · Oct 26, 2026

Passenger (P)Passenger testYes, in a passenger vehicle

49 CFR § 383.93 · Oct 26, 2026

School bus (S)School bus test, plus the passenger testYes, in a school bus

49 CFR § 383.93, § 383.123 · Oct 26, 2026

Each test is passed at 80 percent. A score under 80 on air brakes adds an air brake restriction to the license; under 80 on combination vehicles rules out Class A. The hazardous materials endorsement also needs a federal security threat assessment.

CDL learner’s permit rules by state

Fees, how long the CLP lasts and the knowledge test are set by each state. Every number links to the state page it came from, with the date OneTryPass read it.

CDL learner’s permit fee, validity and general knowledge test by state, with sources
StateCLP feeCLP valid forGeneral knowledge questionsState CDL manual
ArizonaSee ArizonaSee ArizonaNot publishedNot linked yet
CaliforniaSee California180 daysdmv.ca.gov, Oct 26, 2026Not publisheddmv.ca.gov
FloridaSee FloridaSee FloridaNot publishedflhsmv.gov
Georgia$10dds.georgia.gov, Oct 26, 2026365 daysdds.georgia.gov, Oct 26, 2026Not publisheddds.georgia.gov
Illinois$50ilsos.gov, Oct 26, 2026See Illinois30ilsos.gov, Oct 26, 2026ilsos.gov
Indiana$17in.gov, Oct 26, 2026See IndianaNot publishedin.gov
MichiganSee MichiganSee Michigan50michigan.gov, Oct 26, 2026michigan.gov
New Jersey$125nj.gov, Oct 26, 2026180 daysnj.gov, Oct 26, 202650nj.gov, Oct 26, 2026nj.gov
New YorkSee New YorkSee New YorkNot publisheddmv.ny.gov
North Carolina$25.50ncdot.gov, Oct 26, 2026180 daysncdot.gov, Oct 26, 2026Not publishedncdot.gov
Ohio$31.50bmv.ohio.gov, Oct 26, 2026Not publishedNot publishedpublicsafety.ohio.gov
PennsylvaniaSee PennsylvaniaSee PennsylvaniaNot publishedpa.gov
TennesseeSee Tennessee365 daystn.gov, Oct 26, 2026Not publishedtn.gov
Texas$25dps.texas.gov, Oct 26, 2026180 daysdps.texas.gov, Oct 26, 2026Not publisheddps.texas.gov
Washington$40dol.wa.gov, Oct 26, 2026180 daysdol.wa.gov, Oct 26, 202650dol.wa.gov, Oct 26, 2026dol.wa.gov

Some states charge one CLP fee; others split it into an application fee and a permit or test fee, or charge by license class. A cell shows a number only when the state writes a single figure for it; “See” links to the state page with the full rule (by license class or in months), and “Not published” means the official pages OneTryPass checked don't give it. The other 35 states and the District of Columbia are not on OneTryPass yet; each one is added only after its rules are checked.

CDL questions people ask

How old do you have to be to get a CDL?

You can apply for a commercial learner's permit at 18 in every state, because the federal minimum for a CLP is 18. With a CLP or CDL at 18, 19 or 20, you may drive a commercial vehicle only inside your own state.

Crossing state lines with a commercial vehicle, or hauling for an interstate trip, takes a driver who is at least 21.

Sources: 49 CFR 383.71, Driver application and certification procedures (eCFR) · Why are 18 to 20-year-olds not allowed to operate a CMV across State lines now?

Do you need CDL school before the test?

You need entry-level driver training (ELDT) from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry if you are getting a Class A or B CDL for the first time, moving up from Class B to Class A, or adding a first P, S or H endorsement.

The training has to be finished before the skills test. For the hazmat endorsement, it has to be finished before the hazmat knowledge test, since H has no skills test.

Sources: Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) · Drivers

Which CDL knowledge tests do you take, and what score passes?

Everyone takes the general knowledge test. Add the air brakes test to drive a vehicle with air brakes, and the combination vehicles test for a Class A license. Each endorsement you want adds its own test.

Each test is passed at 80 percent. Miss that mark on air brakes and your license carries an air brake restriction; miss it on combination vehicles and you cannot get a Class A license.

Sources: 49 CFR 383.71, Driver application and certification procedures (eCFR) · 49 CFR 383.111, Required knowledge (eCFR) · 49 CFR 383.135, Passing knowledge and skills tests (eCFR) · 49 CFR 383.93, Endorsements (eCFR)

The CDL practice pack

One pack for every state: the CDL knowledge tests follow the same federal standards everywhere. Pick the part you are studying for and practice it the way the app below shows.

Inside the CDL pack: study sessions that bring missed questions back, timed full practice tests and a readiness score.

One-time payment

CDL practice pack

$24.951 year of access · no subscription

  • Every question for 8 CDL knowledge tests: general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles and the endorsements
  • Study sessions that bring back the questions you miss
  • Timed practice tests for the part you choose, scored at 80%
  • Each answer explained, with the manual section or regulation, for a year

Refunds: Full refund within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked.

OneTryPass is not affiliated with the FMCSA or any state agency. Federal CDL rules are free at fmcsa.dot.gov.

CDL permit test FAQ

Can a CLP holder carry passengers or hazardous materials?

A CLP can hold only the P, S and N endorsements. With P or S, a CLP holder may not carry passengers other than examiners, auditors, other trainees and the supervising CDL holder; with N, only an empty, purged tank. Placarded hazardous materials are off limits until you hold a CDL with the H endorsement. Source: official pages "49 CFR 383.25, Commercial learner's permit (CLP) (eCFR)" and "49 CFR 383.93, Endorsements (eCFR)", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Do I still need to carry my medical card?

Not if you hold a CDL or CLP and your medical examiner’s certificate is current: since June 23, 2025 the certificate reaches your state electronically. Drivers with a medical variance still carry that paperwork. Source: official pages "49 CFR 391.41, Physical qualifications for drivers (eCFR)" and "49 CFR 383.71, Driver application and certification procedures (eCFR)", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

How much does a CDL learner’s permit cost?

It depends on the state. Among the 8 states OneTryPass has checked that publish a single CLP fee, it runs from $10 in Georgia to $125 in New Jersey; some states add an application or test fee on top. Each figure comes from the state's own fee page, checked on Oct 26, 2026.

How many questions are on the CDL general knowledge test?

Each state sets the number. Michigan, New Jersey and Washington publish a 50-question test; Illinois publishes a 30-question test, according to each state's official pages. Federal rules set the passing score: 80 percent on every knowledge test.

Are these the real CDL test questions?

No. OneTryPass writes its own practice questions from the official CDL manual and federal rules, and each question names the manual section or regulation it comes from. States do not publish their live test questions.

Is OneTryPass affiliated with the FMCSA or a state DMV?

No. OneTryPass is an independent practice site. CDL rules are free at fmcsa.dot.gov and ecfr.gov, and each state page links to that state’s own CDL manual.

Every federal CDL rule we checked

Each line is one rule from the FMCSA or the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR), with the date we read it.

Minimum age
Federal rules (49 CFR 383.71) let a person apply for a commercial learner's permit at 18, with proof of age. source, Oct 26, 2026
The FMCSA requires commercial drivers to be at least 21 to drive in interstate commerce, while drivers aged 18 to 20 may hold a CLP or CDL and drive only within their state. source, Oct 26, 2026
Commercial learner's permit (CLP)
A commercial learner’s permit is a required step before a first CDL, and before any CDL upgrade that needs a skills test (49 CFR 383.25). source, Oct 26, 2026
Under 49 CFR 383.25, a CLP holder cannot take the CDL skills test during the first 14 days after the permit is first issued. source, Oct 26, 2026
A CLP can stay valid for at most one year from the first issue date before its holder must retake the general and endorsement knowledge tests. source, Oct 26, 2026
A CLP holder may drive a commercial vehicle on public roads only with a CDL holder of the right class and endorsements in the front seat beside them, or right behind the driver in a passenger vehicle. source, Oct 26, 2026
Federal rules allow only three endorsements on a CLP: passenger (P), school bus (S) and tank vehicle (N). source, Oct 26, 2026
Entry-level driver training (ELDT)
The FMCSA’s entry-level driver training (ELDT) rules apply to anyone getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or getting a first school bus (S), passenger (P) or hazardous materials (H) endorsement. source, Oct 26, 2026
Entry-level training must be finished with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before the CDL skills test, or before the knowledge test for a first hazmat (H) endorsement. source, Oct 26, 2026
Drivers who got their CDL or their S, P or H endorsement before February 7, 2022 do not have to take entry-level training for it. source, Oct 26, 2026
Knowledge tests and passing score
A CLP applicant must first pass a general knowledge test for the vehicle group they plan to drive (49 CFR 383.71). source, Oct 26, 2026
Under 49 CFR 383.135, a driver must answer at least 80 percent of the questions correctly to pass each CDL knowledge test. source, Oct 26, 2026
Drivers of vehicles with air brakes must know 7 air brake areas, and drivers of combination vehicles must know 3 more areas, so each has its own knowledge test (49 CFR 383.111). source, Oct 26, 2026
Scoring under 80 percent on the air brake knowledge test means the CLP or CDL is issued with an air brake restriction. source, Oct 26, 2026
A driver who fails the combination vehicles knowledge test cannot be issued a Group A (Class A) CLP or CDL. source, Oct 26, 2026
Every state builds its CDL knowledge tests for each vehicle group and endorsement from the same FMCSA pre-approved pool of test questions (49 CFR 383.133). source, Oct 26, 2026
States must give a different version of a CDL knowledge test to an applicant who retakes a test they failed. source, Oct 26, 2026
The CDL skills test runs in a fixed order — pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, then the on-road test — and failing one part ends the test there. source, Oct 26, 2026
Interpreters are not allowed during the CDL skills test, and the applicant must understand and answer the examiner’s spoken instructions in English. source, Oct 26, 2026
License classes
A Class A (Group A) CDL covers combinations with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more when the towed vehicle is rated over 10,000 pounds. source, Oct 26, 2026
A Class B (Group B) CDL covers a single vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more, including one towing a vehicle rated 10,000 pounds or less. source, Oct 26, 2026
A Class C (Group C) CDL covers smaller vehicles that are designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver, or that haul hazardous materials. source, Oct 26, 2026
Endorsements and restrictions
Each CDL endorsement has its own knowledge test: double/triple trailers (T), tank vehicle (N) and hazardous materials (H) need only that test, while passenger (P) and school bus (S) also need a skills test. source, Oct 26, 2026
A school bus (S) endorsement applicant must first pass the knowledge and skills tests for the passenger (P) endorsement. source, Oct 26, 2026
The CDL shows endorsements with federal codes: T for double/triple trailers, P for passenger, N for tank vehicle, H for hazardous materials, X for tank plus hazmat, and S for school bus. source, Oct 26, 2026
Taking the skills test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission puts an E restriction on the CDL, which bars driving a commercial vehicle with a manual transmission. source, Oct 26, 2026
States must renew a hazardous materials (H) endorsement at least every 5 years, so the driver goes through a Transportation Security Administration security screening each time. source, Oct 26, 2026
Medical certificate
Since June 23, 2025, a new CLP or CDL applicant who will drive in non-excepted interstate commerce must be examined and certified by a medical examiner, and the certificate reaches the state electronically from the FMCSA. source, Oct 26, 2026
Since June 23, 2025, a CDL or CLP holder with a current medical examiner’s certificate no longer has to carry the certificate while on duty. source, Oct 26, 2026
A commercial driver must be examined and certified again when the last medical certification is more than 24 months old. source, Oct 26, 2026

Where this information comes from

The federal rules on this page come from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, read on ecfr.gov. State fees and rules come from each state's licensing agency. Last full check: October 26, 2026. A rule that passes its re-check date leaves this page on its own until it is read again.

How often each kind of rule is read again: minimum age, 365 days; commercial learner's permit (CLP), 180 days; entry-level driver training (ELDT), 180 days; knowledge tests and passing score, 180 days; license classes, 365 days; endorsements and restrictions, 365 days; medical certificate, 180 days.

Something wrong on this page? Tell us at [email protected] and include the link to the official page that changed. See how we check.