VIRGINIA CDL PRACTICE TEST - GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

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The CDL general knowledge test is required to be taken by all CDL applicants. The Virginia 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 Virginia 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 VA 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. To avoid blinding other drivers, you should dim within ____ of an oncoming vehicle.
1000 feet
250 feet
500 feet
2. If you are caught in strong winds, you should:
immediately take your foot off the accelerator.
keep a strong grip on the steering wheel and slow down or pull off the roadway.
speed up while keeping a strong grip on the steering wheel.
3. If the air pressure gets too low:
the brakes will not work.
ABS will help maintain vehicle control.
the brakes will lock up.
4. To apply the parking brakes:
push the parking brake control knob in.
place the parking brake control knob in Neutral.
pull the parking brake control knob out.
5. When backing, as soon as you see the trailer getting off the proper path, you should:
turn the top of the steering wheel in the direction of the drift.
turn the top of the steering wheel in the opposite direction of the drift.
to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and continue backing.
6. When inspecting the cargo, make sure it is:
piled up.
secured properly for the first 50 miles after beginning a trip.
not overloaded.
7. Which of the following statements about backing is NOT true?
You should get out of the vehicle and check your path if you are unsure.
Backing toward the left side is very dangerous because you can't see as well.
You should use the lowest reverse gear.
8. If a load is 50 feet long, the minimum number of tie-downs required is:
5
4
10
9. When a tire fails, do NOT:
brake, unless you're about to run into something.
keep a firm grip on the steering wheel.
stay off the brake until the vehicle has slowed down.
10. If you become drowsy while driving, you should:
drink plenty of coffee.
open the windows to get some fresh air.
take a break.
 
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Frequently Asked Questions

You must be at least 15 ½ years old to apply for a learner’s permit. At 16 years and 3 months of age, you can obtain a driver’s license. However, your license will be restricted until you reach 18 years old.

You have to schedule your appointment online. Simply select dates and times according to your preferences and the available options at your chosen Virginia DMV office. Check if your school is enrolled in DMV's remote testing program to take the DMV written test directly in your school.

Make sure you have the following documents:
  • An application for a Virginia Driver's License signed by your parent/legal guardian unless you are over 18 or emancipated.
  • One proof of identity.
  • One proof of legal presence.
  • Two proofs of Virginia residency.
  • Proof of Social Security number (SSN).
You can refer to this guide to check the required documentation.

The DMV written test in Virginia is available in various languages, including English, Amharic (Ethiopian), Arabic, Chinese/Mandarin, Chinese/Mandarin (Traditional), Dari, Farsi, French, German, Haitian Creole, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Twi (Akan), Turkish, and Urdu. American Sign Language (ASL) is also available for people who are hearing impaired.

To prepare for the DMV written test, read the Virginia Driver's Handbook. Study road rules and safe driving practices. Verify your knowledge with our free practice tests or sign up for DMV Premium to access additional resources. Once you are satisfied with your score, you are ready for the exam.

The DMV written test in Virginia consists of two parts. The first part includes 10 questions specifically on road signs, while the second part contains 30 multiple-choice questions that verify your general knowledge about traffic laws.

The score required to pass the DMV written test is 80% or higher. You must answer all the questions correctly on the first part about road signs, and you can miss up to 6 questions on the second part. You can't proceed to the second part of the exam if you answer any question incorrectly in the first part.

With a learner’s permit, you may drive under the following conditions:
  • You can operate only with the supervision of a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old, or with a family member who is 18 or older and holds a driver's license, seated near you.
  • You cannot transport more than one passenger under 18, except for siblings.

After obtaining a driver's license, certain restrictions apply until you reach 18 years old:
  • Driving between midnight and 4 a.m. is not allowed, except for work or school activities, with a licensed parent or spouse aged 18 or older, or in case of emergencies.
  • For the first year, you may carry only one passenger under 21, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian seated near you. After one year, you can transport a maximum of three passengers under 21 for school activities or emergencies, or if accompanied by a licensed adult aged 21 or older seated near you.

You need to obtain a driver's license within one year after passing the DMV test, or you will have to retake it. If you're temporarily authorized to be in the U.S., the expiration date of your learner’s permit will match the expiration date shown on the document used to prove your legal presence.

If you're under 18 years old, you're required to wait 15 days while if you're 18 or older, you can retake the DMV written test the next day. However, regardless of age, if you fail the exam three times, you must complete an approved Driver Training School program. After completing the program, you'll need to present the Driver Education Certificate at a customer service center before making another attempt.

VA CDL Practice Test

Number of questions: 50
Correct answers to pass:40
Passing score:80%
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