Start your Rhode Island CDL career
with BeginCDL.
No-nonsense Rhode Island CDL prep: Class A, B & C practice tests and study guides. Pay once, study anywhere.
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No subscription, no auto-renewal: 120 days of access included, or extend to 180 or 365 days at checkout.
Everything You Need to Pass Your Rhode Island CDL Exam Tests
BeginCDL is Rhode Island CDL test prep without the bloat: nothing to install, update, or change on your device, just log in securely and study.
We use the official Rhode Island CDL study guides for our CDL test prep students, rebuilt so they can prepare section by section, on any device. The CDL practice tests use the full question bank for practice tests and CDL exam modes. The Rhode Island CDL practice test and CDL exam modes are designed to work with you at your pace. No filler lessons, no upsells, no subscription. Studying CDL classes and endorsements should be easy, not complicated. Let BeginCDL help you study for your career the right way.
Failing your Rhode Island CDL exam costs more than preparing.
CDL school costs thousands. Do not let the permit test hold you up. A failed CDL or endorsement test means paying for a retest, which is another trip to the testing site or school, and a later start on your new RI CDL career. Study it once, pass it the first time, and start your Rhode Island CDL career on schedule.
Rhode Island CDL Free Practice Test
Take our free Rhode Island CDL practice test with no account, or see how the program works. Buy only the tests you need. No subscription.
Rhode Island CDL Study Material, Built for Rhode Island Drivers
Pick Rhode Island once and the whole site follows: your study guides, practice tests, and prices are matched to Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles licensing steps and requirements are just a few clicks away.
Rhode Island CDL Study Guides
Every Rhode Island CDL study guide has been rebuilt from the official Rhode Island CDL manual, with the original diagrams. All the Rhode Island CDL exam prep study material is built for desktop, tablet, and phones.
Rhode Island CDL Practice Tests & Exam
Three modes: practice with answers explained, exam conditions with nothing revealed until the end, and a missed-question drill that replays only what you got wrong. Pass at 80% and the test is marked ready.
Rhode Island CDL Quick Review and Q&A
Each one boiled down to the facts the test asks about, plus every question with its correct answer and manual reference for a fast read-through the night before.
Rhode Island CDL Narrated Audio
Every purchase includes the Rhode Island CDL manual read aloud, section by section, so you can study on the road, on a break, or in line at Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles.
All 7 CDL Endorsements Covered in Rhode Island
Air Brakes
Most trucks and buses in Rhode Island have air brakes. Skip this test and your CDL carries an air brake restriction.
Study Air Brakes →Combination Vehicles
Pulling a trailer in Rhode Island takes a Class A, and that means Combination Vehicles: coupling, air lines, and off-tracking.
Study Combination Vehicles →Hazardous Materials
Placarded loads in Rhode Island need the H endorsement plus a TSA background check. Placards, shipping papers, and emergencies.
Study Hazardous Materials →Tank Vehicles
Liquids and gases in tanks over 119 gallons surge. Rhode Island tank drivers must know outage, baffles, and rollover risk.
Study Tank Vehicles →Passenger
Drive 16 or more people in Rhode Island, from hotel shuttles to motor coaches. Loading, emergency exits, and passenger safety.
Study Passenger →School Bus
Rhode Island school districts require the S endorsement on top of P. Student stops, railroad crossings, mirrors, and evacuations.
Study School Bus →Doubles & Triples
Haul two or three trailers on the Rhode Island routes that allow them. Stability, coupling, and following distance are the test.
Study Doubles & Triples →Not sure which Rhode Island CDL you need?
Answer a few questions and the selector tool gives you a starting point based on your vehicle and operation in Rhode Island.
Use the CDL Selector →Rhode Island Licensing at a Glance
State Profile
Rhode Island supports dense New England freight movement with significant port and healthcare supply chain activity.
Key Interstates: I-95, I-195, I-295
Getting Your CDL in Rhode Island
How to book the skills test
Rhode Island handles all commercial transactions at the CDL Office at the Cranston DMV (600 New London Avenue), and all CDL skills tests are given at the DMV skills test site at 400 Romano Vineyard Way, North Kingstown, by appointment only through the online reservation system (ridmvreservations.ri.gov). You can hold only one active appointment at a time. Bring original hard copies of your CLP and operator license (no photocopies), registration, inspection sticker, and insurance, and arrive with an empty vehicle.
Wait times and timing tips
The DMV does not publish wait times; the online system shows openings at the single North Kingstown site. Cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours ahead or you pay the skills-test fee again; fees are non-refundable.
Rhode Island CDL fees
| Commercial learner's permit (new) | $73.50 |
| Knowledge test | $23.50 (additional tests $10 each) |
| CDL renewal, 5-year | $103.50 |
| Out-of-state CDL transfer | $59.50 |
| CLP update or duplicate | $23.50 |
| Skills test | confirm with the CDL office at (401) 667-2882 |
Agency fees only. ELDT training, the DOT medical exam, and third-party test fees are separate.
What is specific to Rhode Island
- Rhode Island has one skills-test site for the whole state, so book early.
- The CLP must be held for at least 14 days before the skills test.
- All fees include a $3.50 technology surcharge, and card payments add a processing fee.
- Tank vehicles must arrive empty, and HazMat tankers must be cleaned, purged, and certified.
Source: Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, checked September 2026. Fees and procedures change; confirm with the agency before you book.
The most common Rhode Island CDL study material
Rhode Island Class A CDL Study Material
You save $18.80
Pulling a trailer over 10,000 lbs takes a Class A. Three written tests stand between you and that license: General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination Vehicles. This covers all three, plus the skills test.
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes
- Combination Vehicles
- Skills Test
- CDL Manual Audio
120, 180, 365 days of access · No subscription
Not ready to buy?
Take the free Rhode Island CDL practice test first. Ten real General Knowledge questions, no sign-up, and you see your score right away.
Take the free RI practice test →Common Questions About Getting a CDL in Rhode Island
How much does a CDL cost in Rhode Island?
Fees set by Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles: Commercial learner's permit (new) $73.50; Knowledge test $23.50 (additional tests $10 each); CDL renewal, 5-year $103.50; Out-of-state CDL transfer $59.50; CLP update or duplicate $23.50; Skills test confirm with the CDL office at (401) 667-2882. Skills-test fees charged by third-party testers, ELDT training, and the DOT medical exam are extra and vary by provider.
Where do I take the CDL skills test in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island handles all commercial transactions at the CDL Office at the Cranston DMV (600 New London Avenue), and all CDL skills tests are given at the DMV skills test site at 400 Romano Vineyard Way, North Kingstown, by appointment only through the online reservation system (ridmvreservations.ri.gov). You can hold only one active appointment at a time. Bring original hard copies of your CLP and operator license (no photocopies), registration, inspection sticker, and insurance, and arrive with an empty vehicle.
How long does it take to get a CDL skills test appointment in Rhode Island?
The DMV does not publish wait times; the online system shows openings at the single North Kingstown site. Cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours ahead or you pay the skills-test fee again; fees are non-refundable.
What is different about getting a CDL in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has one skills-test site for the whole state, so book early. The CLP must be held for at least 14 days before the skills test. All fees include a $3.50 technology surcharge, and card payments add a processing fee. Tank vehicles must arrive empty, and HazMat tankers must be cleaned, purged, and certified.
What CDL class do I need?
It depends on the vehicle weight rating, trailer weight, passenger use, school bus use, and whether hazardous materials are transported. The selector tool gives a starting point, and your state licensing agency makes the final determination.
Do I need ELDT before testing?
ELDT generally applies when you are getting a Class A CDL, Class B CDL, Class B-to-Class A upgrade, or a Passenger, School Bus, or HazMat endorsement for the first time.
Is HazMat ELDT different?
Yes. HazMat ELDT is theory training and must be completed before the hazardous materials knowledge test. The TSA security threat assessment is a separate requirement.
Can I study before buying training?
Yes. You can compare CDL classes, review endorsement topics, and use the selector tool first. Rhode Island study material add organized practice material, PDFs, audio, and training access.
Pass the Rhode Island CDL Class (A, B, C) exam the first time.
600+ practice questions, quick reviews, and study guides organized by class and endorsement, with 120 days of access, extendable to 180 or 365 from the day you buy.
No subscription, no auto-renewal: 120 days of access included, or extend to 180 or 365 days at checkout.