South Carolina CDL practice test

Getting a commercial driver's licence in South Carolina starts with the CDL knowledge tests. The content is federal: every state, South 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. South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles administers the test; the rules behind it are published by the FMCSA. Try the free South Carolina CDL practice questions below, then pick a full test.

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

Free South Carolina CDL practice quiz

Five questions from the general knowledge, air brakes and combination vehicles banks, the three tests most South 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

During the static leakage test on a single vehicle (engine off, brakes released, after the initial pressure drop), the air loss in one minute should be no more than:
During the static leakage test on a combination of 2 vehicles (engine off, brakes released), the one-minute air loss should be no more than:
During the applied leakage test on a combination of 2 vehicles (engine off, service brake pedal held down), the air loss after the gauge settles should be no more than:
When making a normal stop in a vehicle with air brakes and a manual transmission, you should:
When stab braking, you release the brakes as soon as the wheels lock. After release, the wheels may take how long to start rolling again?

Every CDL test for South 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 South 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 South Carolina; the current ones from SCDMV are in the next section. What does not change is the content, and that is what PassRig drills.

South Carolina CDL fees and rules

In South Carolina the CDL is issued by the South Carolina Department 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: SC Commercial Driver License Manual. PassRig's questions are written from the same FMCSA manual it is based on.

What	SC	Source
Learner's permit fee	$2.50 plus a $15 application fee	dmv.sc.gov
CDL fee	$15 CDL application fee plus $25 for an 8-year licence	dmv.sc.gov
Knowledge test fee	$2 for each knowledge test	dmv.sc.gov
Permit valid for	One year	dmv.sc.gov
Minimum age	18 to drive within SC, 21 to drive outside SC	dmv.sc.gov
Appointment	No appointment required; knowledge tests cannot be taken after 4 p.m.	dmv.sc.gov
Medical certificate	Proof of medical qualification must be submitted every time you apply for a CLP, CDL, upgrade or renewal	dmv.sc.gov
Entry-level driver training	CLPs issued after 7 February 2022 need an FMCSA-approved ELDT programme before the CDL skills test	dmv.sc.gov
Also worth knowing	Retaking a failed skills test costs $25	dmv.sc.gov

5 official pages from SCDMV were read for this section. Nothing on it is estimated.

South Carolina CDL test questions

How many questions are on the South Carolina CDL test?

The South 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 South 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 South Carolina?

South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles gives the test. No appointment required; knowledge tests cannot be taken after 4 p.m. The test content itself comes from the FMCSA CDL manual.

How much does a CDL permit cost in South Carolina?

SCDMV lists the commercial learner's permit fee as $2.50 plus a $15 application fee. Fees change, so check the agency's fee page before you go.

Does PassRig have South Carolina CDL practice questions?

Yes. Pick South 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.