North Carolina CDL practice test
Published Updated Licensing sources checked:
How do I prepare for the North Carolina CDL knowledge test?
If you are preparing for your first permit, start with general knowledge and the official North Carolina 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 North Carolina state exam, and it does not copy state test questions. Check the official North Carolina 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 North Carolina application steps |
North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
North Carolina’s CDL manual section 1.1.1 checked November 9, 2026 lists the knowledge tests and requires 80 percent correct on each. Neither that section nor the application page prints question counts. Those counts remain unknown here. Use the manual for state testing instructions and our practice banks to review federal topics.
Which tests do I need in North Carolina?
| 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 | Study combination vehicles and check class requirements. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
| Vehicle with air brakes | Study 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 | Study school bus and passenger topics; check state testing 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 | Study doubles and triples and check endorsement requirements. Official requirements. Federal warm-up · Federal exam mode |
Use NCDMV’s school bus testing instructions as well as the passenger and school bus study sets. The federal practice bank does not replace state certification or training.
Before booking the exam, check North Carolina CDL application steps and official fee lines.
| Test | Questions | To pass | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| General knowledge | Not printed on the pages checked | 80 percent | State source |
| Combination vehicles, for Class A | Not printed on the pages checked | 80 percent | State source |
| Air brakes, if applicable | Not printed on the pages checked | 80 percent | State source |
| Passenger | Not printed on the pages checked | 80 percent | State source |
| Tank vehicle | Not printed on the pages checked | 80 percent | State source |
| School bus | Not printed on the pages checked | 80 percent | State source |
| Hazardous materials | Not printed on the pages checked | 80 percent | State source |
| Doubles and triples | Not printed on the pages checked | 80 percent | State source |
North Carolina language, permit and booking notes — checked 2026-11-09
The manual allows one attempt at each knowledge test per day. After three unsuccessful general knowledge attempts, another application fee is required for three more attempts; the same applies to each further group of three. Official source — checked .
NCDMV’s application page says a commercial learner permit is valid for 180 days and can be renewed once for another 180 days. Hold it at least 14 days before the skills test. Official source — checked .
The manual says the School Bus and Traffic Safety Section administers school bus testing. Confirm the testing arrangements with NCDMV before booking. Official source — checked .
For unknown figures, check with the North Carolina licensing agency. A blank count is not an estimate.
Federal study sets, not the North Carolina 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 North Carolina test.
Sources
- NCDMV: CDL application and testing — checked
- North Carolina commercial driver manual (PDF) — checked