California CDL practice test
Published Updated Licensing sources checked:
How do I prepare for the California CDL knowledge test?
If you are preparing for your first permit, start with general knowledge and the official California instructions below. If your vehicle needs air brakes or combination vehicles, add those federal study sets; for hazardous materials, use the separate hazmat set. Compare the state’s published test rules with its current manual before you test. These practice sets teach federal topics and do not copy the state exam.
This page is study material. It is not the California state exam, and it does not copy state test questions. Check the official California pages below before you test.
| Your situation | Start with… |
|---|---|
| A quick first try | Take a 10-question warm-up |
| Ready for a longer attempt | Take the 50-question general knowledge exam |
| Need state rules or documents | Check the California application steps |
California commercial driver manual (PDF) — link checked . Study its rules alongside our federal-standard bank. Our 50-question exam length is a study setting; use the official counts below for California.
California DMV’s commercial handbook lists the knowledge tests for your license class, vehicle and endorsements. Section 1.1.1 and the CDL application page checked November 8, 2026 do not print question counts or a knowledge-test passing score. Those figures stay unknown here; our practice session lengths are not California exam lengths.
Which tests do I need in California?
| Your vehicle or work | Required study and tests |
|---|---|
| All permit applicants | Start with general knowledge. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Class A combination vehicle | Add combination vehicles. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Vehicle with air brakes | Add air brakes and check restriction rules. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Passenger vehicle | Add the passenger endorsement tests. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| School bus | Add school bus testing and check passenger endorsement requirements. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Tank vehicle | Add the tank vehicle knowledge test. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Hazardous materials | Add the hazmat knowledge test and check approval and training steps. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Doubles or triples | Add the doubles and triples knowledge test; check state vehicle limits. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
California’s doubles/triples test does not make triple trailers legal in the state. Read DMV’s vehicle rules alongside the federal study set.
Before booking the exam, check California CDL application steps and official fee lines.
| Test | Questions | To pass | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| General knowledge | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Combination vehicles, for Class A | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Air brakes, if applicable | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Passenger | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Tank vehicle | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| School bus | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Hazardous materials | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
| Doubles and triples | Not printed on the pages checked | Not printed on the pages checked | State source |
California language, permit and booking notes — checked 2026-11-08
DMV allows three attempts at each required knowledge test. Failing the same test three times means you must apply again. Official source — checked .
The CDL application page requires a commercial learner’s permit to be held at least 14 days before the skills test. Official source — checked .
The handbook lists a doubles/triples knowledge test but says triple trailers are not legal in California. Passing that test does not authorize triple-trailer operation. Official source — checked .
For unknown figures, check with the California licensing agency. A blank count is not an estimate.
Federal study sets, not the California exam
Use general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles, and hazmat to study the federal topics. Finishing one of those sets does not mean you passed the California test.