California CDL Practice Test

Everyone takes General Knowledge. Add Combination Vehicles for Class A, Air Brakes if your vehicle has air or air-over-hydraulic brakes (otherwise the license is restricted from air brakes), Passenger for buses, and a separate test for each endorsement you want, such as tank, hazmat, doubles or school bus. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-10

Yes. The knowledge tests are given on automated testing machines in English, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi, Russian and Spanish. The skills tests are given only in English, and interpreters are not allowed. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-10

The California Commercial Driver Handbook: California's licensing, medical and disqualification rules, its size, weight, speed and hours-of-service rules, and the national sections on driving safely, cargo, passengers, air brakes, combination vehicles, doubles and triples, tank vehicles, hazardous materials and school buses. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-10

Three for each required test. If you fail the same test three times, the application ends and you have to reapply. The application and its fee are good for 12 months, and you must finish every requirement, including the skills test, in that time.

Three tests in the type of vehicle you want to drive: the vehicle inspection (about 40 minutes), basic control skills (about 30 minutes) and the road test on a DMV route (about 45 to 60 minutes). If you fail the vehicle inspection, the other tests are postponed. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-11

Three. If you fail any part, the remaining parts are postponed. Once you pass, DMV gives you an interim CDL valid for 60 days. If you hold a California CLP and pass the skills test in another state, those results are sent to California instead.

80% on each of the 8 tests, each graded on its own (General Knowledge: 40 of 50). Every test's numbers are in the table on this page. Always confirm the current tests with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Why 80% in every state →

18 to drive commercially within California. You must be at least 21 to drive a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce, or to haul hazardous materials or wastes anywhere. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-2

Hold a California noncommercial Class C license first, apply online and visit a DMV office with your medical forms, identity and residency documents, then pass the knowledge tests. The CLP is valid for up to 180 days, can be renewed once within a year of applying, and you must hold it at least 14 days before the skills test.

Only tank (N), passenger (P) and school bus (S). With N you may drive only empty, purged tanks; with P or S you may not carry passengers other than examiners, inspectors, other trainees and the CDL holder riding with you. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-2

Exceptions include driving in an emergency at a peace officer's direction, vanpool drivers, military personnel in military vehicles, and people towing a large travel trailer not for pay, who need a noncommercial Class A license instead. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-7

No. Triple trailers are not legal in California, although the doubles and triples endorsement and its test are still part of the CDL. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-5

If it is current or expired for less than two years and has the same class, endorsements and restrictions, you can surrender it and the skills test may be waived.

Under Troops to Trucks, DMV can waive the skills test for qualified service members who drove a CMV-like military vehicle within the last year, with forms DL 963 and DL 964. The waiver doesn't cover the passenger or school bus endorsements. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-11

California Department of Motor Vehicles lists the current fees for the commercial learner permit, the CDL tests and the license on its official fee page. There is no separate permit fee: the application fee for the license covers the instruction permit.

Yes. For an original Class A or B CDL, California adds at least 15 hours of behind-the-wheel training, 10 of them on public roads, with no simulator time counted. A certified training provider signs the DL 1236 certification, which DMV needs before it issues your CDL.

Besides trucks and combinations of 26,001 pounds or more and placarded hazmat, California counts vehicles built for more than 10 passengers including the driver, a vehicle towing a trailer over 10,000 pounds or two trailers, a three-axle vehicle over 6,000 pounds, and any vehicle carrying hazardous waste.

Yes, if it's in DMV's Employer Testing Program: a certified examiner with three years on a CDL tests you on a DMV-approved route and signs a Certificate of Driving Skill (DL 170 ETP). DMV randomly retests some of these drivers, who then have 30 days to take a DMV drive test.

Pass the hazardous materials knowledge test and a TSA background check that includes fingerprints and criminal, immigration and FBI records. You must be at least 21, and carriers hauling placarded loads in California also need a CHP hazardous materials transportation license. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-4

A Medical Examination Report and Medical Examiner's Certificate from an examiner on the National Registry, dated within two years. If your job requires the CDL, your employer pays for the exam. Since July 27, 2026, examiners send interstate drivers' forms to DMV electronically.

A commercial driver is a negligent operator at 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 or 8 in 36 months. A violation in a commercial vehicle counts 1½ times, and reckless driving, DUI and hit-and-run count 2 points. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-15

55 mph for trucks with three or more axles, any vehicle towing another, school buses carrying pupils, farm labor vehicles with passengers, explosives and trailer buses. These vehicles also keep to the right-hand lane unless signs say otherwise. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-25

The F endorsement is for operating firefighting equipment. It is optional for Class A or B CDL holders, and has its own test that is not part of these practice tests. California Commercial Driver Handbook p. 1-5

Yes, a few federal rules. A first violation of an out-of-service order now costs your CDL for at least 180 days (the manual still says 90). If your license is suspended, revoked or canceled, or you are disqualified, tell your employer by the end of the next business day (the manual says within two business days). And for exams since June 23, 2025, FMCSA sends your medical examiner’s certificate to the state electronically, so you no longer hand in a paper copy.

Only a non-excepted one: California doesn't issue excepted CDLs, so every driver meets the federal medical standards. Choose interstate (NI) if there's any chance your load crosses state lines; intrastate (NA) adds the 40/K Intrastate Only restriction. To change it, file a DL 694 form with DMV.

Rarely, and only with limits. If a drive test shows you make up for a limb, vision or hearing condition, DMV may issue a CDL restricted to driving within California, with no passengers and no placarded hazmat. A driver who has been driving safely with the condition may get the same exception when renewing a Class A or B license.