Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, every practice question, explanation, and simulated test on this site is free, with no login, account, or paywall required. You can start practicing immediately and your progress is tracked right in your browser. Nothing on this site requires payment to use.

No, these are original practice questions, not the actual test questions used by any state. No state publishes its real CDL exam, so every question here is written from the federal knowledge-test standards in 49 CFR Part 383, never copied from a real exam or another site's practice test.

Washington, for example, uses 50 questions for its General Knowledge test, but your own state sets the exact number of questions, not federal law. Check your own state's DMV page to confirm the exact count and time limit before test day.

The federal minimum passing score is 80 percent, set by 49 CFR 383.135. Some states require a higher score than that federal floor, so check your own state DMV for its exact requirement. Our simulated tests score against this same 80 percent standard so you know where you stand.

Every CDL applicant must pass the General Knowledge test, required under 49 CFR 383.111(a). Beyond that, you need the Air Brakes test if your vehicle has air brakes, Combination Vehicles if you're pursuing a Class A license, and a separate knowledge test for each endorsement you want, such as Hazmat or Passenger.

A Class A CDL covers a combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more where the towed unit exceeds 10,000 pounds, under 49 CFR 383.91. A Class B CDL covers a single large vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more instead. Class A additionally requires Combination Vehicles knowledge that Class B does not.

You can get a commercial learner's permit at 18 under 49 CFR 383.25, but federal law separately requires drivers to be at least 21 to drive in interstate commerce or haul hazardous materials, under 49 CFR 391.11. States set their own rules for everything else, including intrastate driving below 21, so check your own state.

You need ELDT if you're getting a Class A or Class B CDL, or a Passenger, School Bus, or Hazmat endorsement, for the first time, under 49 CFR 380.603. This requirement started February 7, 2022, and only applies the first time you get that class or endorsement. Training must come from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.

It depends on which of four self-certification categories you fall into, not simply whether you hold a CDL: only drivers who self-certify as "non-excepted interstate" are federally required to hold a medical certificate, under 49 CFR 391.45. See our medical card page for the full breakdown of all four categories.

There's no single national figure, since state licensing fees and training costs both vary widely. State fees typically add up to a few hundred dollars, while training, the biggest and most variable cost, can range from a few thousand dollars to a carrier-sponsored program with little or no upfront cost. See our CDL cost breakdown for real examples.

No, you don't need an account to use this site. Your answers and completed-attempt history are saved only in your browser's local storage, never sent to a server. That means your progress stays on one browser on one device, and clearing your browser's site data will erase it.

Your state's licensing agency sets the time limit, not federal law, and it varies by state. As one example, Washington, D.C. allows 90 minutes for the General Knowledge test, while California allows about 60 minutes for the same test. Check your own state DMV for its specific time limit.

Partly. The core knowledge areas are consistent nationwide because 49 CFR Part 383 sets a federal minimum every state must meet. States are free to add requirements beyond that floor, so details like exact question counts, time limits, and retake rules do vary from state to state.

Yes, you can retake the test, but your state sets the specific retake policy, not federal law. That includes how many attempts you get, whether there's a waiting period, and whether a fee applies. Check your state DMV's CDL page for its own retake rules.

Right now this site has 270 original practice questions live across 8 sections; more sections are added as their content is written and reviewed. The home page shows which sections are currently available.