Try 10 free District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia CDL knowledge test
Takes about 3 minutes. Keyboard: A to D to answer, Enter for next.
About the District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia CDL manual, they are multiple choice, and you need 80% to pass. District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia CDL endorsements you need before you book anything, because the endorsement you are missing decides which tests you sit.
What District of Columbia requires
- DC requires the CDL learner permit to be held for at least 30 calendar days before the road test (longer than the federal 14-day minimum).
- Fail the road test once and you wait 3 calendar days; fail twice and you wait at least 90 calendar days.
- You pay the knowledge-test and road-test fees for every attempt, pass or fail.
- No cash is accepted at the Deanwood CDL office or the testing facility; use a card.
- Smart glasses and other wearable recording devices are not allowed during any DC DMV test.
Checked against District of Columbia 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:
- District of Columbia CDL classes: what Class A, B and C each let you drive.
- District of Columbia CDL endorsements: H, N, P, S, T and X, and who needs each.
- District of Columbia CDL study material: the full study guides, practice tests and narrated audio.
Common questions
What score do I need to pass the District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia CDL knowledge test?
At District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles.