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General Knowledge
- 50 questions · 40 to pass
The DMV says the School Bus (S) knowledge test has 20 multiple-choice questions on Section 10 of the manual, and you need 16 right.
Start General KnowledgeFree CDL study aid · New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10)Checked
New York CDL Practice Test
Each question is multiple choice with three answer choices, and there is no set limit on retakes, although the office decides. Practice with 1,900+ questions for all 8 New York CDL knowledge tests.
- 8knowledge tests
- 80%to pass each
- 14 daysminimum on a CLP
- ★★★★★
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Sample question
New York CDL General Knowledge
There is no white line at the crossing. Where should you stop the school bus?
Every New York CDL knowledge test
Everyone in New York takes General Knowledge; your class and loads add the rest. Why 80% on every test
| Test | Questions | To pass | Can miss | Where to study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York CDL General Knowledge testEveryone | 50 | 40 | 10 | Sections 1, 2 and 3 |
| New York CDL Combination Vehicles testClass A | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 6 |
| New York CDL Air Brakes testAir brakes | 25 | 20 | 5 | Section 5 |
| New York CDL Doubles and Triples testEndorsement T | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 7 |
| New York CDL Passenger testEndorsement P | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 4 |
| New York CDL School Bus testEndorsement S | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 10 |
| New York CDL Tank Vehicles testEndorsement N | 20 | 16 | 4 | Section 8 |
| New York CDL Hazardous Materials testEndorsement H | 30 | 24 | 6 | Section 9 |
New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10)CDL-10 (11/25)checked
Federal rules on top of the New York manual
Read the federal CDL rules- Training before the skills test
- Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
- Medical card sent electronically
- Age 21 to cross state lines
Rules from the New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10)
From the CDL-10 (11/25) edition.
General Knowledge test
- p. 1-1Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV)
In New York a stretch limousine altered to seat 9 or more people, counting the driver, is a commercial motor vehicle, so its driver needs a CDL or CLP.
- p. 1-2Figure 1.1 New York State CDL Class Descriptions
New York's Class C covers vehicles rated 26,000 pounds or less that carry 15 or more passengers, carry passengers under Article 19-A, are stretch limousines, or carry hazardous materials.
- p. 1-2Figure 1.2 New York State Endorsements
Besides the federal endorsements (H, N, P, S, T and X), New York has its own: F (farm Class A), G (farm Class B), R (recreational vehicles over 26,000 pounds), M (metal coil) and W (tow truck).
- p. 1-5Medical Examination Requirement
The physical done only for Article 19-A bus drivers does not meet the federal Part 391 medical requirement unless the federal standards, procedures and forms were used.
- p. 1-7Skills Testing Requirements
In New York you must wait at least 14 days after getting your CLP before the skills test, and to keep your fee you must cancel a booked test at least three full business days ahead.
- p. 1-9Knowledge Tests
New York's CDL knowledge tests are multiple choice with three answer choices, each test is passed at 80%, and there is no set limit on retakes (at the office's discretion).
- p. 1-10Additional Requirements For Bus Drivers
New York school bus drivers must be at least 21, pass a yearly follow-up physical, and have a fingerprint-based criminal history check requested by their employer.
- p. 1-11Serious Traffic Violations
In New York, using a hand-held phone or texting device while driving a CMV is a serious traffic violation, counted with speeding, reckless driving and the others toward the 60- and 120-day losses.
Air Brakes test
- p. 5-4Low Air Pressure Warning
New York's manual says the visible low air pressure warning (usually a red light, maybe with a buzzer) must come on before tank pressure falls below 60 psi (or half the governor cut-out pressure on older vehicles); a wig wag drops into view below 60 psi, and large buses commonly warn at 80–85 psi.
- p. 5-8Brake Adjustment
Automatic slack adjusters adjust themselves during full brake applications but must still be checked; one found out of adjustment should go to a repair facility as soon as possible, and adjusting it by hand is only a temporary emergency measure, since it will soon slip out again.
Hazardous Materials test
- p. 9-1Introduction
In New York's manual the Hazardous Material Regulations are cited as 49 CFR 100–185; the Hazardous Materials Table lists hazardous materials but isn't all-inclusive, and whether an unlisted material is hazardous depends on its characteristics and the shipper's decision.
- p. 9-8Appendix B to 49 CFR 172.101 - List of Marine Pollutants
Appendix B lists chemicals toxic to marine life; in New York's manual, for highway transport it applies only to chemicals in a bulk container, and a package or vehicle that already bears a label or placard for the material needs no Marine Pollutant marking.
New York CDL questions and answers
20 questionsThe knowledge tests
Which CDL knowledge tests do I need in New York?
Everyone takes the General Knowledge test. Then add the tests for what you will drive: Air Brakes if your vehicle has air brakes (air-over-hydraulic counts), Combination Vehicles for Class A, and the endorsement tests for doubles or triples (T), passengers (P, which every bus driver takes), school buses (S, which needs P too), tank vehicles (N) and hazardous materials (H). New York also has its own metal coil (M) endorsement, tested from a separate DMV manual, and a tow truck (W) endorsement. New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10) p. 1-9
What score do I need to pass a New York CDL knowledge test?
80% on every CDL knowledge test. Each question is multiple choice with three answer choices, and there is no set limit on retakes, although the office decides. The tests are given only at DMV offices, and you may bring nothing into the test area but a pencil (no phones). New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10) p. 1-9 Why 80% in every state
How many questions are on the New York school bus and metal coil tests?
The DMV says the School Bus (S) knowledge test has 20 multiple-choice questions on Section 10 of the manual, and you need 16 right. The Metal Coil (M) test also has 20 questions with 16 needed to pass, but it comes from the DMV’s separate coil securement manual (MV-79), so it is not in this practice test. The DMV does not publish the size of its other CDL tests.
What does this New York CDL practice test cover?
The New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual (CDL-10, sections dated 11/25, with Section 1 updated 2/26): New York’s own licensing rules in Section 1, then Driving Safely, Transporting Cargo, Transporting Passengers, Air Brakes, Combination Vehicles, Doubles and Triples, Tank Vehicles, Hazardous Materials and School Bus. The DMV posts the manual as one file per section, so each page link opens that section’s file.
Which languages are the New York CDL tests in?
The written tests for Class A, B and C and the endorsements are offered in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian only. The hazardous materials (HazMat) endorsement test is given in English only.
Getting your New York CDL
How old do you have to be for a CDL in New York?
18 for Class A, B or C. Until 21 you may drive commercially only inside New York, and you cannot haul hazardous materials or drive a school bus. School bus drivers must be at least 21, and the HazMat endorsement is also for drivers 21 and older. New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10) p. 1-3
What do I need before applying for a New York commercial learner permit (CLP)?
A New York driver license (Class D, E or non-CDL C) that is not suspended, revoked or cancelled. You apply in person at a DMV office (allow about three hours), list every state where you held a license in the past 10 years, certify the type of commercial driving you will do and meet the federal medical rules, then pass the knowledge tests you need.
Can temporary visitors get a New York CDL right now?
No. The DMV says its offices are temporarily unable to accept a CLP or CDL application from anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, such as temporary visitors. Check the DMV’s CDL page for updates before you apply.
When can I take the New York CDL road test?
At least 14 days after your CLP was issued, and you must pay the road test fee before scheduling. You practice with a supervising driver licensed for the vehicle. After the test, results are posted online that evening; if you passed, the DMV issues a temporary CDL valid for 60 days, and the photo CDL arrives by mail in 3 to 4 weeks.
Do I need entry-level driver training (ELDT) for a New York CDL?
Yes, if you are applying for a CDL for the first time or adding the HazMat, Passenger or School Bus endorsement for the first time: finish ELDT with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before the CDL road test. HazMat ELDT must be done before the HazMat knowledge test.
Do stretch limousine drivers need a CDL in New York?
Yes. A stretch limousine altered to carry 9 or more people, counting the driver, is a commercial vehicle in New York. Its driver needs at least a Class C CDL with the Passenger (P) endorsement, and a road test is required.
Who doesn’t need a CDL in New York?
The manual lists exemptions for farm vehicles a farmer controls within 150 miles of the farm, off-road construction equipment at sites closed to the public, fire and police vehicles in emergency operations in New York, military vehicles driven by service members, and personal vehicles (rentals up to 26,000 pounds included) used only to move your own belongings or family. New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10) p. 1-1
What are the E, L and Z restrictions on a New York CDL?
They come from the vehicle you use for your first road test in a CMV: an automatic transmission gives an E (no manual transmission CMV), a vehicle with no air brakes gives an L (no air brake CMV), and air-over-hydraulic brakes give a Z (no full air brake CMV). A driver with an L who tests in an air-over-hydraulic vehicle moves up to a Z.
Can military drivers skip the New York CDL road test?
Often, yes. If you drive CMVs in a military job now (or did within the last 12 months) and drove that type for at least two years, you can apply for a skills test waiver with form CDL-102. You still pass the written tests. New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10) p. 1-7
Hazmat, medical and keeping your CDL
How do I get a HazMat endorsement on a New York CDL?
You must be 21 or older and self-certify as non-excepted interstate (NI) or intrastate (NA). First-time applicants finish HazMat ELDT, then pass the HazMat written test at a DMV office (the result is good until your CDL expires), file form HAZ-44 with proof of legal status and pass a fingerprint background check. To keep it, pass the test and a new background check within two years before your CDL expires.
How do medical certificates work for a New York CDL?
Every CLP or CDL holder self-certifies one of four driving types. Non-excepted types need a current USDOT medical examiner’s certificate on file with the DMV, normally valid for 24 months and given only by a doctor on the FMCSA National Registry; without one on file, New York won’t issue, renew or amend the license. New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10) p. 1-5
How does a DUI in my own car affect a New York CDL?
If your personal license is revoked, suspended or cancelled for an alcohol, drug or felony violation, you lose your CLP or CDL for 1 year, and a second such violation in any vehicle means losing it for life. A suspension for other traffic violations (not parking) also takes away your commercial privileges, and no hardship license is allowed for a CMV. New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10) p. 1-13
What happens if I drive while ordered out of service?
Federal rules (49 CFR 383.51) disqualify you for at least 180 days and up to 1 year for a first violation, 2 to 5 years for a second within 10 years and 3 to 5 years for a third; carrying placarded hazmat or a vehicle for 16 or more passengers raises the first penalty to up to 2 years. The CDL-10 manual still prints older, lower minimums, so these practice tests don’t ask the figures.
How do I move an out-of-state CDL to New York?
Apply at a DMV office within 30 days of becoming a New York resident and surrender your out-of-state CDL. If it has a hazmat endorsement, you must pass the HazMat knowledge test and give fingerprints for the federal and state background checks to keep it.
What extra rules apply to New York bus drivers?
Under Article 19-A, bus employers check three years of job history and driving records, require a physical every two years, a written or oral test and a driving test every two years, and yearly record reviews and observation. School bus drivers must be at least 21, pass a yearly physical and have a fingerprint-based criminal history check. New York State Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10) p. 1-10
Sources: NY DMV: CDL endorsements · NY DMV: New York State Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Manual · NY DMV: Get a Commercial Driver License (CDL) · NY DMV: Commercial Driver License (CDL) · eCFR: 49 CFR 383.51, disqualification of CDL drivers