Try 10 free California CDL questions
Real General Knowledge questions from the same bank our students use. No account, no email needed. You see the correct answer after each question, and your score at the end.
- 10 questions, from the 81-question General Knowledge bank, one for each key manual topic
- Practice mode: the correct answer and manual reference show after each question
- 80% is a pass, the same standard as the real California CDL knowledge test
Takes about 3 minutes. Keyboard: A to D to answer, Enter for next.
About the California CDL knowledge test
The General Knowledge test is the written exam every CDL applicant sits, whatever class of license they are working toward. The questions come from the California CDL manual, they are multiple choice, and you need 80% to pass. California Department of Motor Vehicles gives the test, and passing it is what earns your commercial learner's permit, the permit you hold before taking the skills test in a truck.
What it covers
Our 10 free questions and the full 81-question General Knowledge bank are drawn from these manual sections:
- Vehicle Inspection
- Basic Control of Your Vehicle
- Shifting Gears
- Seeing
- Communicating
- Controlling Speed
- Managing Space
- Seeing Hazards
Endorsements such as HazMat, Tank, Passenger and School Bus are separate written tests on top of this one. See which California CDL endorsements you need before you book anything, because the endorsement you are missing decides which tests you sit.
What California requires
- Hold the CLP for 14 days before the skills test; the same wait applies to class upgrades and endorsement or restriction changes that need a drive test.
- You have three attempts to pass each knowledge test; fail the same test three times and the application is void and you must reapply and pay again.
- You also get three tries at the skills test, and a retest fee is due each time.
- The application and fee are valid for 12 months; if the CDL is not earned in that time you start over.
- The CLP is valid 180 days and can be renewed once for another 180 days if that is within a year of the original application.
Checked against California Department of Motor Vehicles on September 16, 2026. Rules change, so confirm anything that affects your booking before you travel.
Where to go next
Work out which license class you need, then study the test that goes with it:
- California CDL classes: what Class A, B and C each let you drive.
- California CDL endorsements: H, N, P, S, T and X, and who needs each.
- California CDL study material: the full study guides, practice tests and narrated audio.
Common questions
What score do I need to pass the California CDL knowledge test?
You need 80% to pass. Miss more than that and you retake the test, so the goal while studying is to be comfortably above 80%, not just at it.
Where do I take the California CDL knowledge test?
At California Department of Motor Vehicles. Passing the General Knowledge test is what earns your commercial learner's permit, which you hold before the skills test.
Is this free test the real California CDL exam?
No. These are 10 real questions from the same General Knowledge bank our paid study material uses, so the style and difficulty match what you are studying for. The official exam is given only by California Department of Motor Vehicles.