Take a free Minnesota CDL Permit 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 (Minnesota): 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 (Minnesota)? 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 Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DPS-DVS)'s own site, verified 2026-09-03.
$26.75 (Class A, B or C instruction permit / CLP; official fee page notes it is 'available at driver exam stations only')
CDL license fee
Class A: $65 original / $60 renewal ($45/$40 if under 21); Class B: $57 original / $52 renewal; Class C: $50 original / $45 renewal; plus $4 School Bus processing fee where applicable
Road/skills test fee
Not itemized as a flat stand-alone fee (folded into the class application fee above). Confirmed separately: $40 no-show fee (missed appointment or cancel/reschedule <24 hrs before); $20 late-cancellation fee (24-72 hrs before); $10 retesting fee for 3rd+ written test after failing first two; $20 retesting fee for 3rd+ road test after failing first two.
Minimum CLP hold before road test
14 calendar days — official DVS CLP page lists this explicitly as step 3 of the CDL application process ('Hold the CLP for at least 14 calendar days')
Retake wait after a failed knowledge test
No explicit 'must wait N days' language found on official pages; what is confirmed is the fee escalation structure above (extra $10/$20 charges apply only from the 3rd attempt onward, implying no separate wait/fee penalty for the first two retakes)
Spanish-language knowledge test
Unconfirmed
UNRESOLVED even after direct fetches of the official DPS-DVS CDL hub, CLP page, fee page, and forms/resources page. Confirmed officially: the CDL manual (written and audio versions) is published in English only on DVS's own CDL forms/documents page, with no Spanish/Hmong/Somali version listed there — unlike the general DPS site, which offers Spanish/Hmong/Somali navigation chrome, and unlike Minnesota's separate Class D (regular) driver's test, which IS confirmed multilingual. No official DPS press release, FAQ, or policy page was found stating whether the CDL knowledge TEST itself is currently offered in Spanish at MN exam stations, and no dated 2025/2026 policy change was found either way. Do not publish a definitive answer for Minnesota without a direct call to DVS (651-284-1234) or a MN driver exam station.
Minnesota's general (Class D) driver knowledge test is offered in multiple languages including Spanish, Somali, and Hmong — a distinct policy from CDL testing that should not be assumed to carry over.
MN currently restricts non-domiciled CLP/CDL eligibility to H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visa holders with an unexpired foreign passport and unexpired I-94/94A, tested only at a specific list of DVS exam stations — directly relevant to the federal non-domiciled CDL crackdown context.
'K restriction' (intrastate-only) drivers must take their skills test in Minnesota; out-of-state results are not accepted for K-restricted drivers, per 49 CFR 391.11.
School bus and hazmat endorsement holders must retake the written knowledge test at every renewal.
5 real sample questions
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
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
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 Minnesota CDL Permit practice test online?
Right here. CertQuestUSA's free Minnesota CDL Permit 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 (Minnesota) 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 (Minnesota) 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 (Minnesota) 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 (Minnesota) 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.
