Take a free California CDL practice test online: a full 50-question paper with every answer explained, no sign-up, scored by topic. The full 124-question bank and the timed simulator are $14.99 for 30 days.
CDL General Knowledge (California): a 124-question practice bank for the real CDL Permit & Endorsement Exams standard, 2 full papers of 50 questions each with no repeats, every question written to the regulation it comes from.
Where these questions come from
Every question in this bank cites a source -- primarily FMCSA CDL Manual (77%) and 49 CFR (23%) of this exam's citations.
Take a full practice test free. 50 real questions built to the exam's domain weights, every answer explained, no sign-up required, with a domain-by-domain score at the end.
Want the whole bank for CDL General Knowledge (California)? One payment of $14.99 gives you 30 days of full access to this exam. It does not renew. No account needed to buy, and there is a 7-day money-back guarantee.
The knowledge tested here is federal (FMCSA) and identical nationwide -- what varies by state is who administers it and under what terms. Researched directly from California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)'s own site, verified 2026-09-03.
Aggregator sources (not confirmed on an official fee table) cite ~$100 for an original Class A/B CDL and a ~$46 retest fee; the official DMV CDL page itself does not list dollar amounts -- treat as UNVERIFIED until confirmed on the DMV fee calculator
Road/skills test fee
Not listed with a specific dollar figure on the official DMV CDL page; the page states the application fee generally covers three knowledge-test attempts and one skills-test attempt within 12 months, with a separate retest fee (~$46 per secondary sources) for additional attempts
Minimum CLP hold before road test
14 days (confirmed via official DMV page: 'After you hold a commercial learner's permit (CLP) for 14 days, you can apply to take the skills test')
CLP validity
180 days from issuance; renewable once for an additional 180 days if the expiration date is not more than one year from the initial application date (confirmed via official DMV page)
Retake wait after a failed knowledge test
No waiting period between knowledge-test attempts. The California Commercial Driver Handbook (Section 1, verified 2026-09-18) states: 'You are allowed 3 attempts to pass the knowledge test(s) and a total of 3 attempts to pass the entire skills test on a single application. If you fail any knowledge test(s) there is not a waiting period to retake.' The official DMV CDL page adds that failing the same knowledge test three times voids the application and you must reapply.
Spanish-language knowledge test
Available
CDL-specific confirmation: the California Commercial Driver Handbook (Section 1.1.1, verified 2026-09-18) states the commercial knowledge tests are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi, Russian and Spanish, and must be taken on the Automated Knowledge Testing Equipment (AKTE). This is the CDL list, which differs from the general Class C language list. It is a meaningful contrast to TX/FL, which both dropped Spanish CDL testing in 2026.
CARB (California Air Resources Board) truck and bus emissions regulations are real and commonly cited as a California-specific commercial trucking compliance issue, though not itself a CDL testing/licensing rule -- appropriate to mention as context, not as a licensing requirement.
5 real sample questions
Under the 30-minute break requirement in 49 CFR 395.3, a driver must take a break after accumulating how many cumulative hours of driving time?
A. 4 hours
B. 6 hours
C. 8 hours
D. 10 hours
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: C. 8 hours
A: 4 hours is shorter than the threshold that triggers the required break.
B: 6 hours is shorter than the threshold that triggers the required break.
D: 10 hours exceeds the threshold; the break is required before reaching that point.
Source: 49 CFR 395.3
What is the most important reason for performing a pre-trip inspection before every trip?
A. To satisfy your dispatcher that the truck left on time
B. To find problems that could cause a crash or breakdown before they happen on the road
C. To reduce the number of miles logged for the day
D. To avoid having to fill out any paperwork later
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: B. To find problems that could cause a crash or breakdown before they happen on the road
A: A pre-trip inspection has nothing to do with dispatch timing.
C: Inspection findings do not change logged mileage.
D: A pre-trip inspection actually creates required paperwork (the inspection report), not less of it.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual §2.1.1
A roadside inspector determines that a commercial motor vehicle has a safety defect serious enough to be an immediate hazard. What is the inspector authorized to do under 49 CFR 396.9?
A. Issue a warning only, since only the motor carrier can pull a vehicle from service
B. Declare the vehicle "out of service" until the defect is corrected
C. Impound the vehicle permanently
D. Fine the driver but allow the vehicle to continue to the next scheduled stop
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: B. Declare the vehicle "out of service" until the defect is corrected
A: 396.9 gives the inspector authority to declare the vehicle out of service, not merely to warn.
C: Out-of-service means repaired and released, not permanent impoundment.
D: An out-of-service order prohibits further operation until the defect is fixed, not a fine-and-continue arrangement.
Source: 49 CFR 396.9
Under the federal tire tread depth standard, what is the minimum tread depth allowed in any major tread groove on a steering axle tire?
A. 1/32 inch
B. 2/32 inch
C. 4/32 inch
D. 6/32 inch
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: C. 4/32 inch
A: 1/32 inch is below the federal minimum for any position.
B: 2/32 inch is the minimum for tires on axles other than the steering axle.
D: 6/32 inch is deeper than the regulation requires, though additional depth is never unsafe.
Source: 49 CFR 393.75
What is the minimum tread depth required on non-steering axle tires of a commercial motor vehicle?
A. 1/32 inch
B. 2/32 inch
C. 3/32 inch
D. 4/32 inch
Show answer and reasoning
Correct answer: B. 2/32 inch
A: 1/32 inch is too shallow to meet the federal standard for any tire position.
C: 3/32 inch is not the regulatory threshold; the rule specifies 2/32 inch for non-steering tires.
D: 4/32 inch is the steering-axle minimum, not the standard for other axle positions.
Where can I take a free California CDL practice test online?
Right here. CertQuestUSA's free California CDL practice test online is a full 50-question practice paper built to the real exam's domain weights, with every answer explained, with no sign-up and no credit card, and shows your score by topic at the end. The full 124-question bank, with every answer explained and cited to the regulation it comes from, is $14.99 for a 30-day pass that never renews.
How many questions are on the CertQuestUSA CDL General Knowledge (California) practice test?
124 questions total, split into 2 full papers of 50 each with no repeats across papers.
What topics does the CDL General Knowledge (California) test cover?
13 domains, with the heaviest weight on Vehicle Inspection (14%), Basic Control & Shifting (10%), and Emergency Maneuvers & Skid Control (10%).
Where do CertQuestUSA's CDL General Knowledge (California) questions come from?
Primarily FMCSA CDL Manual (77%) and 49 CFR (23%) of this bank's citations -- computed directly from this exam's own question sources, not a generic description.
Is there a free CDL General Knowledge (California) practice test?
Yes -- one full 50-question practice paper built to the exam's domain weights, free with no sign-up, with every answer explained and a domain-by-domain score at the end.
Still need a CDL school, a DOT physical, or tuition help?
CDL Schools USA, our sister site, lists FMCSA-registered schools by state, paid training programs, DOT physical clinics, and WIOA and GI Bill funding.
