CDL Permit Practice Test: What's on the CLP Knowledge Exam
The CDL permit test covers General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles. Most states ask 50 questions and require 80% to pass. Practice prep is $15.
CDL Permit Test by State (2026)
The general knowledge test is the one every CDL applicant takes. Every state requires at least 80% to pass (49 CFR 383.135); the number of questions is set by the state.
| State | General knowledge test | CLP fee | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | not published | $36.25 alea.gov | ALEA |
| Alaska | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) dmv.alaska.gov | $15 (instruction permit, commercial and non-commercial); $5 renewal dmv.alaska.gov | Alaska DMV |
| Arizona | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) azdot.gov | $25.00 Class A or B permit (no endorsements); $12.50 Class C permit azdot.gov | AZ MVD |
| Arkansas | not published | not published | AR DFA |
| California | not published | not published | CA DMV |
| Colorado | not published | $20.00 (learner's permit fee, commercial included; raised from $19.00 effective June 30, 2026) dmv.colorado.gov | CO DMV |
| Connecticut | 50 questions portal.ct.gov | $20 (charged after passing the required knowledge tests) portal.ct.gov | CT DMV |
| Delaware | not published | $5.00 at issuance citizen.dmv.de.gov | DE DMV |
| Florida | not published | not published | FLHSMV |
| Georgia | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) dds.georgia.gov | $10 (paid before testing; kept as a testing fee and paid again if any exam is failed); permit valid 365 days dds.georgia.gov | GA DDS |
| Hawaii | not published | $30 permit application fee honolulu.gov | HDOT |
| Idaho | 50 questions itd.idaho.gov | $29 itd.idaho.gov | Idaho DMV |
| Illinois | 30 questions, 80% to pass ilsos.gov | $50 (Illinois non-CDL holder adding a CLP; renewing an original CLP also $50) ilsos.gov | IL SOS |
| Indiana | not published | $17 secure.in.gov | Indiana BMV |
| Iowa | 50 questions iowadot.gov | $12 (added to an existing license; 1 year) iowadot.gov | Iowa DOT MVD |
| Kansas | not published | $13 total ($5 permit issuance + $8 photo fee) ksrevenue.gov | Kansas DOR |
| Kentucky | 50 questions, 80% to pass wp.kentuckystatepolice.ky.gov | $11 ($14 REAL ID) drive.ky.gov | Kentucky DDL |
| Louisiana | not published | not published | LA OMV |
| Maine | not published | not published | Maine BMV |
| Maryland | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) mva.maryland.gov | $106 mva.maryland.gov | Maryland MVA |
| Massachusetts | 50 questions mass.gov | $30 mass.gov | Mass RMV |
| Michigan | 50 questions, 80% to pass michigan.gov | not published | Michigan SOS |
| Minnesota | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) revisor.mn.gov | $26.75 dps.mn.gov | MN DVS |
| Mississippi | not published | $16 (valid 6 months) driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov | MS DPS |
| Missouri | 50 questions, 80% to pass dor.mo.gov | $44 total ($25 written exam fee + $10 permit fee + $9 office processing fee) dor.mo.gov | MO DOR |
| Montana | not published | Same as the CDL fee: $41.72 interstate (age 21-67, includes admin costs); $35.54 intrastate (age 21-67) mvdmt.gov | Montana MVD |
| Nebraska | not published | $15 ($10 fee + $5 security fee) dmv.nebraska.gov | Nebraska DMV |
| Nevada | not published | $57.50 dmv.nv.gov | NV DMV |
| New Hampshire | 50 questions gc.nh.gov | $20, in addition to the $60 class fee dmv.nh.gov | NH DMV |
| New Jersey | 50 questions, 80% to pass nj.gov | not published | NJ MVC |
| New Mexico | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) mvd.newmexico.gov | $10 mvd.newmexico.gov | NM MVD |
| New York | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) dmv.ny.gov | $10 application fee (covers all written tests taken at the same time) dmv.ny.gov | NY DMV |
| North Carolina | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) ncdot.gov | Same as the regular learner's permit fee (G.S. 20-7) ncleg.gov | NCDMV |
| North Dakota | not published | $15 ($20 for non-domiciled) dot.nd.gov | ND DOT |
| Ohio | 50 questions, 80% (40 correct) to pass codes.ohio.gov | $31.50 (CDL temporary permit, deputy registrar fee included) bmv.ohio.gov | Ohio BMV |
| Oklahoma | not published | not published | Service OK |
| Oregon | not published | $40 oregonlegislature.gov | Oregon DMV |
| Pennsylvania | 70 for Class A (general knowledge plus combination); 50 for Class B or C pa.gov | Included in the upgrade fee (one permit, photo fee included); the upgrade fee is prorated by months left on the current non-commercial license: $43.50 (7-12 months), $65.50 (13-24), $87.50 (25-36), $109.50 (37-48) pa.gov | PennDOT |
| Rhode Island | not published | $73.50 (new CLP) dmv.ri.gov | RI DMV |
| South Carolina | not published | $2.50 for the CLP (plus $15 application fee and $2 per knowledge test) scdmvonline.com | SC DMV |
| South Dakota | 50 questions sd.gov | $43 sd.gov | SD DPS |
| Tennessee | not published | Class A $14 ($8 permit + $6 application); Class B or C $13 ($7 + $6); valid 1 year tn.gov | TN DOS |
| Texas | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) dps.texas.gov | $25 (expires 180 days from issuance) dps.texas.gov | TX DPS |
| Utah | 50 questions dld.utah.gov | not published | Utah DLD |
| Vermont | not published | $18 for 1 year (no renewals) dmv.vermont.gov | VT DMV |
| Virginia | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) dmv.virginia.gov | $3 dmv.virginia.gov | Virginia DMV |
| West Virginia | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) webapps.transportation.wv.gov | not published | WV DMV |
| Wisconsin | 50 questions wisconsindot.gov | $30 (180 days) wisconsindot.gov | WisDOT DMV |
| Wyoming | 80% to pass (number of questions not listed) dot.state.wy.us | $45 dot.state.wy.us | WYDOT |
Every figure links to the state's own page or manual, last checked November 4, 2026. "Not published" means we could not find it on an official state page; ask the state. Washington is not listed: DLA Academy does not serve Washington.
Free CDL Permit Practice Questions
Ten general knowledge questions like the ones on your state permit test. Pick an answer to see if you're right. No sign-up.
Which license class covers a combination vehicle with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more where the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds?
Class A. That is a tractor-trailer, which is Class A.
What shape and color is the parking brake knob?
A yellow diamond. The yellow diamond-shaped knob is the parking brake.
What shape and color is the trailer air supply knob?
A red octagon. The red octagon-shaped knob is the trailer air supply.
In a turn, what does off-tracking describe?
In a turn, the rear wheels follow a shorter, tighter path than the front wheels. Off-tracking is why a trailer can cut several feet inside the tractor's path.
To make the trailer go left when backing, which way do you steer the wheel?
Right. Backing inverts car driving: steer right to send the trailer left.
When you have a choice, which side should you back toward?
The driver's side. A driver-side back lets you look directly out the window.
What does GOAL stand for?
Get Out And Look. Walk the space before you start and get out again partway in.
Which air line color is the emergency line when coupling?
Red. Red is emergency and blue is service.
Which air line color is the service line when coupling?
Blue. Blue is service and red is emergency.
The CDL manual teaches an eye lead of how many seconds of travel?
12 to 15 seconds. This is instructional guidance rather than a federal regulation.
Want all 119? The CDL Permit Practice Test is $15 (a study aid, not ELDT).
What the CDL permit (CLP) test covers
The CDL permit test is the written knowledge exam you pass to earn your Commercial Learner's Permit. It is written and administered by your state DMV from that state's CDL manual — there is no single national CDL permit test, which is why question counts and passing scores differ from state to state.
For a Class A permit you will normally sit three sections. **General Knowledge** (~50 questions) covers rules of the road, road signs, vehicle inspection, safe driving procedures, cargo handling, and the effects of alcohol and fatigue. **Air Brakes** (~25 questions) covers system components, the low-air-pressure warning, spring brakes, and correct parking-brake use — skip it and you get an air-brake restriction on your license. **Combination Vehicles** (~25 questions) covers coupling and uncoupling, trailer handling, and rollover prevention.
Adding an endorsement means an extra section: Hazmat (H), Passenger (P), School Bus (S), Tanker (N), or Doubles/Triples (T) each have their own knowledge test. If you are deciding which to take, our Which CDL Endorsement Should I Get? guide breaks down which ones require ELDT and which are knowledge-test only.
How many questions, and what score do you need?
Most states use roughly 50 General Knowledge questions with a passing score around 80% — meaning about 40 correct. Air Brakes and Combination Vehicles are usually ~25 questions each at the same threshold. Because each state sets its own numbers, treat your state DMV's CDL manual as authoritative rather than any figure you read online, including this one.
Nearly every state lets you retake a failed section, though most impose a waiting period (commonly 1–7 days) and many charge a retest fee. Sections you have already passed generally carry over, so a failed Air Brakes section does not usually mean re-sitting General Knowledge.
The permit test is not ELDT — first-time applicants need both
This is the single most common point of confusion, and it costs people time and money. The **CDL permit test** is a state DMV knowledge exam that earns you a CLP. **ELDT** is a separate federal requirement: FMCSA-registered entry-level driver training that must be completed by a registered provider and reported to the federal Training Provider Registry before you may take the CDL *skills* test.
Practice-test products — including DLA Academy's — are study aids. They are **not** FMCSA-registered and do **not** satisfy the ELDT mandate. Anyone selling you a "CDL permit test" as ELDT is misleading you. If you are a first-time Class A applicant you will need the permit test to get your CLP, then FMCSA-registered CDL-A Theory ELDT at $20 to qualify for the skills test, then behind-the-wheel training at a local FMCSA-registered provider. See ELDT vs CDL School for how the pieces fit together.
How to study and what to bring
Start with your state DMV's CDL manual — it is free, and the test questions are drawn directly from it. Read the General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles chapters, then test yourself rather than re-reading; recall practice is what moves the score. Plenty of free question banks exist online, and they are worth using.
If you want a structured bank that mirrors the DMV interface, DLA Academy's CDL Permit Prep is $15 for 119 questions — roughly 50 General Knowledge, 25 Air Brakes, 25 Combination Vehicles, plus sample Hazmat questions — with unlimited retakes and review of missed items. Most drivers run the full bank twice before testing.
On test day bring proof of identity, proof of state residency, your Social Security number, and your DOT medical card if your state requires it at the permit stage. Once you pass, you must hold the CLP for **at least 14 days** before taking the CDL skills test — that federal minimum applies in every state, so factor it into your timeline.
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