Maryland CDL practice test
Published Updated Licensing sources checked:
How do I prepare for the Maryland CDL knowledge test?
If you are preparing for your first permit, start with general knowledge and the official Maryland 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 Maryland state exam, and it does not copy state test questions. Check the official Maryland 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 Maryland application steps |
Maryland MVA commercial driver manual (PDF) — Official link checked; full PDF not verified . Study its rules alongside our federal-standard bank. Our 50-question exam length is a study setting; use the official counts below for Maryland.
Maryland MVA’s commercial-test instructions checked November 12, 2026 list the tests below but do not print their question counts. Maryland regulation COMAR 11.17.14.06 sets 80 percent for all CDL knowledge tests. The linked manual could not be fully opened on this check. Noncommercial test counts and passing scores are not used here.
Which tests do I need in Maryland?
| 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 passenger testing. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| School bus | Study school bus and passenger topics; check state requirements. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Tank vehicle | Add tank vehicle testing. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Hazardous materials | Add hazmat testing and check approval and training steps. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Doubles or triples | Add doubles and triples testing; check vehicle limits. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
Use the CDL section of MVA’s instructions. Its separate noncommercial test rules do not describe the commercial exam. The federal study sets do not copy Maryland exam questions.
Before booking the exam, check Maryland CDL application steps and official fee lines.
| Test | Questions | To pass | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| General knowledge | Unknown — not verified in the linked manual | 80 percent | State sourceState sourceState source |
| Combination vehicles, for Class A | Unknown — not verified in the linked manual | 80 percent | State sourceState sourceState source |
| Air brakes, if applicable | Unknown — not verified in the linked manual | 80 percent | State sourceState sourceState source |
| Passenger | Unknown — not verified in the linked manual | 80 percent | State sourceState sourceState source |
| Tank vehicle | Unknown — not verified in the linked manual | 80 percent | State sourceState sourceState source |
| School bus | Unknown — not verified in the linked manual | 80 percent | State sourceState sourceState source |
| Hazardous materials | Unknown — not verified in the linked manual | 80 percent | State sourceState sourceState source |
| Doubles and triples | Unknown — not verified in the linked manual | 80 percent | State sourceState sourceState source |
Maryland language, permit and booking notes — checked 2026-11-12
MVA says there is no fee for taking a knowledge test; learner permit and license issuance carry separate fees. This does not mean the whole CDL application is free. Official source — checked .
MVA requires a CLP held at least 14 days before the skills test. Applicable Entry-Level Driver Training must be completed before skills testing, or before the first hazmat knowledge test. Official source — checked .
The CDL section requires general knowledge for all applicants, combination vehicles for Class A and air brakes for air-braked vehicles. School bus work requires passenger and school vehicle knowledge tests under the CDL regulation. Official sourceOfficial source — checked .
The current manual link was checked, but its full PDF could not be retrieved by the review tools. Question counts remain unknown; consult MVA’s current manual before testing. Official source — checked .
For unknown figures, check with the Maryland licensing agency. A blank count is not an estimate.
Federal study sets, not the Maryland 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 Maryland test.
Sources
- Maryland MVA: prepare for a driver’s license test, commercial knowledge-test FAQs — checked
- Maryland MVA: get or renew a CDL — checked
- Maryland MVA: Commercial Driver’s License Manual — checked . Linked PDF exceeded the browser reader size limit; direct download returned access denied. Full text not verified.
- Maryland COMAR 11.17.14.06: administration of CDL knowledge tests — checked