Free North Carolina CDL Practice Test 2026

Practice tests for every North Carolina CDL endorsement — General Knowledge, Air Brakes, HazMat, Tanker, Combination Vehicles, Passenger, School Bus, Doubles/Triples, and Pre-Trip Inspection. Based on the official NC CDL handbook.

By Pedro Marin, CDL holder Verified against the NC CDL Handbook Updated May 2026
NC CDL at a Glance
General Knowledge50 questions
Passing score80% (40/50)
Endorsements20 questions
Min. age (intrastate)18 years
Min. age (interstate)21 years
CLP hold time14 days min
Gov. fee (Class A/B)$100

North Carolina CDL at a Glance

General Knowledge
50 questions · 80% to pass
40 of 50 correct required · 1 hour time limit
Endorsement tests
20 questions · 80% to pass
16 of 20 correct required · Air Brakes, HazMat, etc.
Minimum age
18 intrastate · 21 interstate
21+ required for HazMat or passenger across state lines
CLP hold requirement
14 days minimum
Must hold CLP before scheduling skills test
Government fee
$100 (Class A or B)
Skills test retest: $46 · Separate from training costs
Testing agency
NC DMV
Third-party testing limited to employer testing program only
North Carolina Has One of the Lowest CDL Fees in the Country

North Carolina charges just $10 for a CDL — one of the lowest government fees nationally. However, North Carolina has stringent CDL disqualification rules and strictly enforces CDL holder requirements to report out-of-state traffic convictions. NC also has specific rules for tobacco and livestock transport that appear on the state knowledge exam.

Official North Carolina CDL Handbook 2026
NC DMV · Commercial Driver Handbook · The source document for all knowledge tests
Open ↗

North Carolina CDL Practice Tests — All Endorsements

Select any test below to start practicing. Each test loads one question at a time with instant feedback and a plain-English explanation after every answer. No registration required.

General Knowledge
Required for ALL CDL applicants · 50 questions on the real exam · 80% to pass
6 Practice Tests
General Knowledge — Test 1
Safe driving, basic regulations, traffic laws
📝 50 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
General Knowledge — Test 2
Vehicle safety and inspection procedures
📝 50 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
General Knowledge — Test 3
Driving techniques and hazard awareness
📝 50 questions🎯 80% to pass
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General Knowledge — Test 4
Cargo transportation and load securement
📝 50 questions🎯 80% to pass
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General Knowledge — Test 5
Emergency procedures and vehicle systems
📝 50 questions🎯 80% to pass
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General Knowledge — Test 6
Mixed review — full exam simulation
📝 50 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Air Brakes
Required for Class A/B vehicles with air brakes · 20 questions · 80% to pass
4 Practice Tests
Air Brakes — Test 1
Brake components and system overview
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Air Brakes — Test 2
Dual air brake systems and gauges
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
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Air Brakes — Test 3
Stopping distance and downhill control
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
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Air Brakes — Test 4
Full mixed review — all air brake topics
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Combination Vehicles
Required for Class A CDL · 20 questions · 80% to pass
5 Practice Tests
Combination Vehicles — Test 1
Coupling and uncoupling procedures
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Combination Vehicles — Test 2
Rollover and skid prevention
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
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Combination Vehicles — Test 3
Safe backing and inspection
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
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Combination Vehicles — Test 4
Braking and steering in combinations
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Combination Vehicles — Test 5
Full mixed review
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
HazMat (H Endorsement)
Requires TSA background check + written exam · 30 questions · 80% to pass
4 Practice Tests
HazMat — Test 1
Placards, labels, and shipping papers
📝 30 questions🎯 80% to pass
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HazMat — Test 2
Segregation rules and emergency response
📝 30 questions🎯 80% to pass
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HazMat — Test 3
Loading, unloading and parking rules
📝 30 questions🎯 80% to pass
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HazMat — Test 4
Full mixed review — all HazMat topics
📝 30 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Tanker Vehicles (N Endorsement)
Tank vehicles · 20 questions · 80% to pass
3 Practice Tests
Tanker — Test 1
Surge, slosh, and liquid load physics
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
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Tanker — Test 2
Rollover risks and speed management
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Tanker — Test 3
Full mixed review — all tanker topics
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Passenger Vehicles (P Endorsement)
Buses and passenger transport · 20 questions · 80% to pass
4 Practice Tests
Passenger — Test 1
Loading, unloading, and prohibited practices
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Passenger — Test 2
Emergency exits and evacuation procedures
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
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Passenger — Test 3
Pre-trip inspection for buses
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Passenger — Test 4
Full mixed review
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
School Bus (S Endorsement)
School bus operations · 20 questions · 80% to pass
4 Practice Tests
School Bus — Test 1
Mirror systems and pre-trip inspection
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
School Bus — Test 2
Railroad crossings and student management
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
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School Bus — Test 3
Emergency exits and evacuation
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
School Bus — Test 4
Full mixed review
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Doubles / Triples (T Endorsement)
Multiple trailer combinations · 20 questions · 80% to pass
3 Practice Tests
Doubles/Triples — Test 1
Converter dollies and coupling sequence
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Doubles/Triples — Test 2
Stability, rollover prevention, braking
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Doubles/Triples — Test 3
Full mixed review
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Pre-Trip Inspection
Required for all CDL skills tests · Know your vehicle from memory
3 Practice Tests
Pre-Trip — Test 1
Engine compartment and cab inspection
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Pre-Trip — Test 2
Brakes, tires, lights and trailer connections
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →
Pre-Trip — Test 3
Full mixed review — complete inspection
📝 20 questions🎯 80% to pass
Practice →

North Carolina CDL — Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the North Carolina CDL General Knowledge test?

The North Carolina CDL General Knowledge test has 50 multiple-choice questions. You must answer at least 40 correctly (80%) to pass. You have 1 hour to complete it.

What is the passing score for the North Carolina CDL test?

80% across the board. General Knowledge requires 40 of 50. Endorsement tests (Air Brakes, HazMat, Tanker, etc.) are 20 questions and require 16 correct.

How much does a California CDL cost?

The government fee for an original Class A or B CDL in California is $100. Skills test retakes are $46 each. These are government fees only — CDL training programs cost significantly more.

What is the minimum age to get a CDL in California?

18 years old for intrastate (within California only) commercial driving. 21 years old for interstate driving, HazMat transport, or carrying passengers across state lines.

Does California accept out-of-state CDL transfers?

Not without retesting. California requires full knowledge and skills retesting for all out-of-state CDL transfers — unlike most other states. If you're moving to California with a CDL from another state, you must complete the full California CDL process.

What is ELDT and does California require it?

ELDT (Entry-Level Driver Training) is a federal requirement for all first-time Class A, B, H, S, and P applicants. California strictly enforces it — you must complete ELDT from an FMCSA-registered training provider before you can apply for a CLP.

Also Practicing For

Browse other high-volume CDL state pages or read the "From the Cab" blog for real-world CDL prep tips from Pedro Marin.

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