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  3. Commercial Driver's Licenses

CDL Knowledge Exams

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  • Commercial Driver's Licenses
    • Apply for a CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit
    • Renew Your Driver's License or CDL
    • Get a Replacement CDL or Commercial Learner’s Permit
    • Additional Documents for a CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit
    • Commercial Driver Improvement Clinic Program
    • Commercial Learner's Permit
    • CDL Classifications, Endorsements and Restrictions
    • Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual
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    • Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME)
    • CDL Knowledge Exams
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    • CDL Skills Test Eligibility Requirements
    • CDL Testing Locations
    • About CDL Driver Training Schools (including Three Failures)
    • Third-Party Tester Program
    • Virginia Community College CDL Course for Three Exam Failures
    • Virginia Community Colleges Offering a CDL Course for Three Exam Failures
    • Skills Performance Evaluation Program
    • Troops to Trucks℠

All commercial motor vehicle drivers (class A, B and C vehicles) must take the general knowledge exam.

General Test Information

The knowledge exams determine your familiarity with the operation of commercial vehicles, motor vehicle laws and safe driving techniques. Exam questions are taken from the information in the Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual, which is available at all DMV customer service centers.

To prepare for the knowledge exam, familiarize yourself with all information in the Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual. Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) must be completed before completing the HAZMAT knowledge exam.

To pass the exam, you must answer at least 80% of the general knowledge questions correctly. When taking the knowledge exams, select one best answer. Once you pass the required knowledge exams, you can take the CDL skills tests.

Except for the HAZMAT knowledge exam (given only in English), the CDL knowledge exams are offered in several languages. All exams are taken on a computer.

You may take the CDL knowledge exam(s) only once per business day. If you use a cell phone while taking an exam, the exam will be terminated and you must wait until the next day to re-test.

Additional Knowledge Tests

See the following chart to find out which exams you must take in addition to the general knowledge exam.

To drive this class of vehicleStudy these sections of the Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual
Class A, B and CSection 2-1: Driving Safely
Section 3-1: Transporting Cargo Safely
The Virginia Supplement to the CDL Manual
Vehicles with Air Brakes

Section 5-1: Air Brakes

If you do not take the air brakes exam, you will be restricted to driving vehicles without air brakes (K restriction)

Class A Combination VehicleSection 6-1: Combination Vehicles

In addition to the exams listed above, you must take special knowledge exams for EACH endorsement:

EndorsementStudy these sections of the Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual
H - Hazardous Materials

Section 9-1: Hazardous Materials
The Hazardous Materials section of the Virginia Supplement to the CDL Manual

The hazard materials endorsement test cannot be taken using a translator.

This test cannot be administered orally.

N - Tank Vehicle    Section 8-1: Tank Vehicles
P - Passenger VehicleSection 4-1: Transporting Passengers Safely
S - School BusSection 10-1: School Buses
The Virginia School Bus Drivers section of the Virginia Supplement to the CDL Manual
T - Double-Triple TrailerSection 7-1: Doubles and Triples

Three-Time Failure

If you have failed the general knowledge exam three times, before February 7, 2022, you must complete the classroom portion of a Virginia approved Driver Training School program for commercial motor vehicles and bring the certificate of completion to a customer service center to satisfy eligibility requirements for re-examination. You must have completed the course after the date of the third exam failure.

Notice

It is unlawful to:

  • Attempt to get or provide to others a copy of any knowledge exam or any questions or answers on the exams
  • Have assistance or assist others while taking an exam
  • Have unauthorized possession of an examination or exam answers.

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