Start a test

CDL knowledge test

CDL General Knowledge Practice Test 2026

The core CDL knowledge test every applicant takes: vehicle inspection, basic control, seeing, speed and space management, hazards, bad weather, emergencies, accidents and fires, and cargo safety.

113 practice questions, all written from Commercial Driver's License Manual (Version 07/20/2026 (form DMV 60A), AAMVA, Virginia DMV edition). Every answer shows the manual section it comes from. Free, no sign-up.

  • 113 questions
  • 50 per attempt
  • Pass mark: 80%
Start the practice test See sample questions

Start the General Knowledge practice test

50 questions. Passing score: 80%. No sign-up needed.

Choose how you want to practice:

Test format

Passing score At least 80% correct (49 CFR 383.135 (eCFR))
Number of questions Varies by state. Check the CDL manual from your state’s licensing agency.
Our practice test 50 questions per attempt, drawn at random from 113. Pass mark: 80%.

Topics covered

  • Speed and space management 18 questions
  • Accidents, fires and alcohol 14 questions
  • Emergencies, ABS and skids 12 questions
  • Night, fog and weather 12 questions
  • Seeing and communicating 11 questions
  • Vehicle inspection 10 questions
  • Cargo safety 10 questions
  • Railroad crossings and mountain driving 9 questions
  • Hazards and distracted driving 9 questions
  • Basic control and shifting 8 questions

Sample questions

A few questions from the set. Try to answer before opening each explanation.

  1. Sample question 1

    Your ABS stops working. What does that mean for braking?

    • AYou still have regular brakes; drive normally and get it serviced soon
    • BYou have no brakes and must stop at once
    • CYou must brake only with the parking brake
    • DYou must pump the brakes at all times
    Show answer

    Answer: A. ABS is added to the normal brakes. If it fails, the normal brakes still work, but have the system repaired soon.

    Source: Commercial Driver's License Manual, Version 07/20/2026 (form DMV 60A), section 2.18.7 Braking If ABS Is Not Working.

  2. Sample question 2

    What is controlled braking?

    • ABraking fully and releasing when the wheels lock
    • BBraking as hard as you can without locking the wheels
    • CPumping the pedal as fast as possible
    • DUsing only the parking brake
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Controlled braking keeps the wheels rolling while you brake hard, with only small steering moves.

    Source: Commercial Driver's License Manual, Version 07/20/2026 (form DMV 60A), section 2.17.2 How to Stop Quickly and Safely.

  3. Sample question 3

    Compared with hand-held phones, how likely are hands-free devices to distract you?

    • AThey never distract you
    • BThey distract you only in heavy traffic
    • CThey are half as likely to distract you
    • DThey are no less likely to distract you
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Your attention leaves the road with either kind of phone, so hands-free does not remove the distraction.

    Source: Commercial Driver's License Manual, Version 07/20/2026 (form DMV 60A), section 2.9.4 Cell/Mobile Phones.

  4. Sample question 4

    In winter, you notice there is no spray coming off other vehicles' tires. What does this tell you?

    • AThe road is dry and safe
    • BIce has formed on the road
    • COther drivers have chains on
    • DThe temperature is rising
    Show answer

    Answer: B. When tires stop throwing up spray on a winter road, the water has likely frozen.

    Source: Commercial Driver's License Manual, Version 07/20/2026 (form DMV 60A), section 2.13.2 Driving.

  5. Sample question 5

    During an inspection you see rust around the wheel nuts. What might this mean?

    • AThe nuts may be loose
    • BThe tire is underinflated
    • CThe brakes are overheating
    • DThe wheel bearing needs oil
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Rust streaks around wheel nuts can be a sign of looseness, so check how tight they are.

    Source: Commercial Driver's License Manual, Version 07/20/2026 (form DMV 60A), section 2.1.3 What to Look For.

How to prepare

  • Read the matching sections of your state’s CDL manual before you practice.
  • Use practice mode first: it shows the explanation and the manual reference after each answer.
  • For every missed question, reread the whole manual section we cite.
  • Switch to exam mode when you score well above 80% without help.

More detail in our guide How to Study for the CDL Knowledge Tests.

Other CDL practice tests

Which tests you need depends on your license class and endorsements, as explained in CDL Classes, Endorsements and Restrictions Explained.

Frequently asked questions

What score do I need to pass?

Federal rules require at least 80% correct on each CDL knowledge test (49 CFR 383.135 (eCFR)).

Are these the questions on the real test?

No. Real test questions are not public. We write our own questions from the official manual, so they cover the same material but are not copies of test questions.

Is the CDL manual the same in every state?

State CDL manuals are built on the same national model manual from AAMVA, so the knowledge content is largely the same. We compared 3 state editions for this test: 112 of 113 quotes appear word for word in the same section of all of them. Your own state’s manual is the final word if anything differs.

How do you check the answers?

Each question stores the manual section (or page) and an exact quote that a script checks against the manual text, then an independent AI review answers it from that part of the manual alone. See our editorial policy. Found a mistake? Tell us.

Ready for the General Knowledge test?

50 questions, pass mark 80%. Free, no sign-up.

Start the practice test

Sources

Questions cite the newest edition we have. We also check every quote against the other state editions of the same model manual, section by section.