The california cdl permit test is a set of written knowledge tests you take at a California DMV office to get a commercial learner's permit (CLP): general knowledge for everyone, plus air brakes, combination vehicles and endorsement tests depending on what you will drive. You get three attempts at each test, and federal rules require at least 80 percent to pass each one (49 CFR 383.135).
Quick answer
You need a California Class C driver license first, then you complete the online CDL application, visit a DMV office with your medical forms, pay the fee and take the knowledge tests. Pass them and you get a CLP valid for 180 days. After at least 14 days, required training and a skills test, you get your CDL. The California DMV (dmv.ca.gov) runs every step.
California CDL permit test requirements, step by step
- Hold a California Class C licenseA temporary or interim license is accepted.
- Apply online, then visit the DMVBring the Medical Examination Report (MCSA-5875) and Medical Examiner's Certificate (MCSA-5876), and form DL 939 if you held a license in another state in the last 10 years. Residency documents are needed if you never had a California license or ID.
- Pass the knowledge testsThree attempts per test. Fail the same test three times and your application is no longer valid.
- Get your CLPValid 180 days. It can be renewed for another 180 days if the new expiration is no more than one year from your first application.
- Finish ELDT and 15 behind-the-wheel hoursOriginal Class A or B applicants need entry-level driver training plus at least 15 hours behind the wheel, documented on form DL 1236. There is no grace period.
- Take the skills test after 14 daysBy appointment, in your own vehicle of the right class: vehicle inspection, basic control skills and road test. Three tries to pass.
Which California CDL written tests you need
- General knowledge: every applicant.
- Air brakes: if your vehicle has air brakes. Testing without them leaves a restriction on your CDL.
- Combination vehicles: for Class A.
- Passenger and school bus: for buses. A CLP with P or S cannot carry passengers other than approved personnel.
- Tank: the CLP allows only an empty tank, purged if it carried hazmat.
- Doubles and triples, and hazmat: these cannot be used on a CLP. Hazmat also needs ELDT before its knowledge test and a TSA security threat assessment.
California CDL permit test: how many questions?
The California DMV does not publish the number of questions on each CDL knowledge test on the pages we checked. Practice sites quote different numbers, so do not plan around one. What is fixed is the pass mark: at least 80 percent on each test under federal rules, and three attempts per test before you must reapply.
English language rules
The DMV's road test is conducted in English. California has also published 2026 emergency regulations on dmv.ca.gov that add an English language proficiency assessment for new CDL applicants before the skills test: 15 oral questions with at least 10 answered correctly, plus 4 traffic sign questions with at least 3 correct. The documents we read did not state an effective date, so ask the DMV whether it applies to your appointment.
California CDL permit test cost and timeline
| Item | California DMV fee or rule (2026) |
|---|---|
| Original Class A or B application | $100, valid 12 months |
| Original commercial Class C | $59 |
| Commercial skills retest | $46 each time |
| Adding tank, doubles and triples or hazmat | $59 |
| Adding passenger endorsement | $100 |
| CLP length | 180 days, one renewal within the first year |
| Minimum CLP time before skills test | 14 days |
The fee page does not list a separate CLP fee; you pay the application fee when you apply. Age rules: 18 for cargo that starts and ends in California, 21 for interstate commerce or hazmat. California has paused issuing non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs to applicants with limited legal presence, so check the DMV site first if that applies to you.
California CDL permit test study guide
Study from the California Commercial Driver Handbook on dmv.ca.gov, in this order: general knowledge, air brakes, then combination vehicles if you want Class A. In our experience training drivers at US Driving School, air brakes is the section students find hardest, so give it the most time.
- Read one handbook section a day and take a california cdl permit test practice set on it the same day.
- Write down every missed question and the rule behind it.
- For air brakes, learn the parts in the order air flows, then memorize the pressure numbers and leak limits.
- For combination vehicles, walk through coupling and uncoupling steps out loud.
- Take full mixed practice tests until you score well above 80 percent several times in a row.
Arrive early. The DMV does not give knowledge tests within 30 minutes of closing, and three or four tests in a row take time.
FAQ
California CDL permit test: how many questions?
The DMV does not publish question counts on its CDL pages. You need at least 80 percent on each knowledge test, and you get three attempts per test.
How much is the California CDL permit test?
The DMV lists $100 for an original Class A or B application, which is valid for 12 months. Commercial Class C is $59. Skills retests are $46.
How long is a California CLP valid?
180 days. It can be renewed once for another 180 days if the new date is within one year of your first application.
Do I need a Class C license first?
Yes. A temporary or interim Class C license is accepted.
Can I take the California CDL written test in another language?
The DMV pages we checked do not list language options for the CDL knowledge tests, and the road test is in English. Ask your DMV office before you go.
California rules changed several times in 2026. Confirm each step with the California DMV before you apply or pay for training. DMVZone is a study resource, not the DMV.
