North Carolina CDL practice test

Getting a commercial driver's licence in North Carolina starts with the CDL knowledge tests. The content is federal: every state, North Carolina included, writes its tests from the FMCSA CDL manual, so the general knowledge test has 50 questions, the endorsement tests have 20 to 30, and the passing score is 80% on each. North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles administers the test; the rules behind it are published by the FMCSA. Try the free North Carolina CDL practice questions below, then pick a full test.

50general knowledge questions
80%passing score on every test
8knowledge tests covered
NCpick your state once in the app

Free North Carolina CDL practice quiz

Five questions from the general knowledge, air brakes and combination vehicles banks, the three tests most North Carolina Class A applicants take first. Tap an answer to see if you were right and read the explanation.

0 of 5 right0 of 5 answered

To test the service brakes before a trip, move forward at about 5 mph and apply the brakes firmly. A problem is shown if:
Air brakes use what to make the brakes work?
The air compressor governor makes the compressor start pumping again ('cut-in') at about:
If the air compressor is belt driven, you should check the belt during your inspection for:
Why do air storage tanks hold enough air for several brake applications?

Every CDL test for North Carolina drivers

Each page has a free ten-question quiz, the real question count, the 80% pass mark and what the test covers.

How the North Carolina CDL knowledge test works

You take the general knowledge test first; it is required for every CDL class. Class A drivers add the combination vehicles test. Almost everyone takes the air brakes test, because skipping it puts an air brake restriction on the licence. Endorsements (hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples, passenger, school bus) each have their own knowledge test. Pass the tests and you hold a commercial learner's permit; the skills test in a truck comes later.

Fees, appointment rules and test centre locations are set by North Carolina; the current ones from NCDMV are in the next section. What does not change is the content, and that is what PassRig drills.

North Carolina CDL fees and rules

In North Carolina the CDL is issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. The figures below are taken from its own pages and were last checked on 2 November 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the agency before you go.

Study from the state's own book: N.C. Commercial Driver License Manual. PassRig's questions are written from the same FMCSA manual it is based on.

What	NC	Source
Learner's permit fee	$25.50	ncdot.gov
CDL fee	$51.50 application fee, then $25.50 per year of licence	ncdot.gov
Knowledge test fee	None on top; the $51.50 application fee covers three attempts	ncdot.gov
Retest fee	None for the first three attempts; after that another $51.50 buys three more	ncdot.gov
Permit valid for	180 days, renewable once for another 180	ncdot.gov
Minimum age	18; 21 for interstate driving or a hazmat endorsement	ncdot.gov
Appointment	Not needed for knowledge tests; skills tests by appointment only	ncdot.gov
If you fail	Next day: one attempt at each knowledge test per day	ncdot.gov
Attempts allowed	Three per application fee	ncdot.gov
Test languages	An interpreter can be requested for any NCDMV transaction; no list of test languages	ncdot.gov
Medical certificate	Self-certify; medical certificates arrive electronically from the examiner since 28 June 2025	ncdot.gov
Entry-level driver training	After 14 days on the permit, complete training with a school on the federal Training Provider Registry	ncdot.gov
Also worth knowing	Online booking optional: choose 'Commercial Driver License' for the written test; road tests are booked by phone	ncdot.gov

4 official pages from NCDMV were read for this section. Nothing on it is estimated. NCDMV pages were read from archived copies captured in September and October 2026.

North Carolina CDL test questions

How many questions are on the North Carolina CDL test?

The North Carolina CDL general knowledge test follows the federal model: 50 questions, 40 correct to pass. Endorsement tests are shorter: air brakes 25, hazmat 30, and combination vehicles, tanker, doubles/triples, passenger and school bus 20 each.

What is the passing score on the North Carolina CDL permit test?

80% on every knowledge test, the same pass mark used across the United States.

Where do I take the CDL knowledge test in North Carolina?

North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles gives the test. Not needed for knowledge tests; skills tests by appointment only The test content itself comes from the FMCSA CDL manual.

How much does a CDL permit cost in North Carolina?

NCDMV lists the commercial learner's permit fee as $25.50. If you fail a knowledge test: Next day: one attempt at each knowledge test per day

Does PassRig have North Carolina CDL practice questions?

Yes. Pick North Carolina in the app and you get practice sets and mock exams built from the knowledge test content your state uses, with the real counts and the 80% line.