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The CDL general knowledge test is required to be taken by all CDL applicants. The New York CDL test consists of 50 questions. To pass, you must correctly answer at least 40 questions (80%). The general knowledge test covers the contents of the New York CDL Manual.
All CDL applicants (Class A, B and C) must study the following sections: Driving Safely, Transporting Cargo Safely, Air Brakes (if you plan to operate vehicles equipped with air brakes), Vehicle Inspection Test, Basic Control Skills Test, Road Test. In addition, the Class A CDL test will include questions based on the Combination Vehicles section. Take this CDL practice test now to prepare for the actual NY general knowledge test!
To get your CDL, you must pass both the knowledge and skills tests. CDL knowledge tests include: General Knowledge, Passenger Transport, Air Brakes, Combination Vehicles, Hazardous Materials, Tanker Vehicles, Doubles/Triples, School Bus, Firefighter. Depending on what class of license (A, B or C) and endorsements you need, you must take one or more knowledge tests. A special endorsement is also required to drive certain types of vehicles. The following endorsements may be used with a Class A, B or C CDL: HazMat (H), Tank Vehicles (N), Tank Vehicles Transporting Hazardous Materials (X) and Passenger Transport (P). The School Bus endorsement (S) is only available for Class A or B CDL, and the Doubles/Triples endorsement (T) is only available for Class A driver's licenses.
1.
Before operating the vehicle, the driver should:
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review the last vehicle inspection report.
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should not review the vehicle inspection report and immediately try to find any vehicle defects.
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rely on the last vehicle inspection and skip the pre-trip inspection.
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None of the above.
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2.
You should reject a vehicle until which of the following gets rectified?
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Faulty headlights
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Faulty windshield wipers
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Faulty flashers
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All of the above.
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3.
Skids caused by acceleration can usually be stopped by:
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coming to a complete stop.
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taking the foot off the accelerator.
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applying the brakes firmly.
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speeding up.
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4.
Effects of distracted driving include:
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incorrect inputs to the steering.
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improved reaction time.
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increased following distance.
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reduction in braking distance.
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5.
Which of these is true about the radiator shutters and the winterfront?
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If the winterfront is left open, the engine may overheat.
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You should make sure the winterfront is closed tightly.
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You should remove ice from the radiator shutters.
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All of the above.
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6.
You should check air pressure and temperature gauges:
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at the end of each trip.
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as often as is practical.
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at the beginning of each trip.
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every time you stop.
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7.
You should signal your intention to turn at least ____ before turning or changing lanes.
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250 feet
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100 feet
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50 feet
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75 feet
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8.
To avoid becoming a distracted driver you should:
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plan your route before you begin driving.
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clear the vehicle of any unnecessary objects.
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avoid typing or reading a text message on a mobile device while driving.
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All of the above.
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9.
What is an important thing to remember about emergency braking?
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The more heavily loaded semitrailer trailer should be in the rear.
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You should never use stab braking.
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Pushing down on the brake pedal as hard as you can will only keep the wheels locked up and cause a skid.
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Your natural response (hitting the brakes) is never the right solution.
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10.
When checking the steering system for defects, you should look for:
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cut or cracked valve stems.
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missing or broken leaves in any leaf spring.
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bent, loose, or broken parts, such as tie rods.
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loose, broken, or missing tailpipes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To get a driver's license in New York, the initial step is obtaining a learner permit. You need to be 16 years or older to qualify for a junior learner permit. Once you've held the permit for six months and successfully passed the road test, you'll receive a junior operator license (class DJ). At the age of 17, you become eligible for a senior driver license (class D) if you already possess a junior driver license or limited junior driver license and have completed a state-approved high school or college driver education course.
You can take the test in three ways:
- Identify the New York DMV office closest to you and book an appointment for the written test.
- Complete your application online and take the permit test at home. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian must supervise your test and provide permission to capture photographs. After the test, your parent/guardian must accompany you to the DMV office and sign the Online Permit Test Parent/Guardian Certification.
- If you are a student who is at least 15 years old, you can take the written test through the DMV Online Knowledge Test Application (OKTA) program. After passing the test online, you'll receive a receipt to apply for a learner permit at 16 at any DMV office. Check if your high school participates in this program.
You must bring specific documents based on the type of license you are applying for. The Standard Permit is not sufficient for domestic flights in the US, but REAL ID and Enhanced Permits are acceptable for boarding a domestic flight. Additionally, Enhanced licenses can be used to cross into Canada, Mexico, and certain Caribbean countries. Generally speaking, here's what you'll need to take the permit in New York:
- A completed application for a permit.
- Proof of Social Security status.
- Proof of age.
- Proof of identification.
- Proof of residence (2 documents for a REAL ID Permit).
- Vision Test Report completed by an eye care professional if you don't take the vision test at a provider enrolled in DMV's Online Vision Registry.
If you can't provide two documents to prove your identity or residence, your parent/guardian must come with you to a DMV office to sign the Statement of Identity and/or Residence. Refer to this guide to determine all the required documents based on the type of license you are interested in.
The DMV written tests are available in various languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Yiddish. Individuals with a hearing disability may request an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter at no cost.
Read the New York Driver's Handbook and take our free practice tests to verify your knowledge. Topics covered on the DMV written test include road signs, parallel parking, turning, passing a vehicle, yielding the right of way, etc. Once your scores are good, you are ready for the real exam.
The written test consists of 20 questions. You can find the most common topics of the test in our free practice tests. These quizzes cover a variety of topics, including traffic control signs, intersections and turns, passing, parallel parking, defensive driving, alcohol and drugs, special driving conditions, and road signs.
To pass the New York DMV written test, you need to correctly answer at least 14 out of the 20 questions presented. Additionally, you must correctly answer two of the four questions related to road signs.
If you have a learner permit in New York, you cannot drive:
- Unless accompanied by a driver aged 21 or older.
- On any street within a park in New York City.
- On any bridge/ tunnel under the jurisdiction of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
- On the Cross County, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill River, or Taconic State parkways in Westchester County.
- In a DMV road test area.
If you have a junior operator license:
- You cannot transport more than one passenger under 21, unless they are siblings.
- Regarding curfew, regional restrictions apply:
- In New York City (5 Boroughs), you must drive under the supervision of a parent/guardian, driving teacher/instructor aged 21 or older, and you cannot drive between 9 pm and 5 am.
- In Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk), you must drive under the supervision of a parent/guardian, driving teacher/instructor, or anyone designated by your parent/guardian aged 21 or older, and you cannot drive between 9 pm and 5 am.
- In Upstate (all other counties), you must drive under the supervision of a driver aged 21 or older. Driving is permitted between 9 am and 5 pm if you are accompanied by a parent/guardian or instructor aged 21 or older.
A New York learner permit is valid for a maximum of 5 years. If it expires, you cannot renew it and you need to apply for a new permit at a DMV office and retake the written test. The only exception is for individuals who possess two permits, such as a class M (motorcycle) and a class D (operator). In this case, there is the option to renew the second permit for an additional year by submitting the expired permit at a DMV office. Depending on the date of the last written test, it may be required to retake it.
If you don't pass your online DMV written test in New York, you'll need to wait at least 6 hours before submitting the application and trying again. If you find the exam difficult, sign up for DMV Premium, which offers numerous resources and practice tests to improve your preparation.