CDL permit test passing score by state: what we can confirm

Quick version

• General knowledge: 50 questions in most states, and you need at least 40 correct, which is 80%. Some states use slightly different question counts (Compliant Drivers).
• Endorsements usually follow the same 80% line. Air brakes is 20 of 25, combination vehicles is 16 of 20 and hazmat is 24 of 30 (Compliant Drivers).
• Washington's licensing agency publishes these exact numbers on its own page (Washington DOL).
• Passing scores for ordinary car permit tests are different and do not apply to the CDL.
• Rules differ by state. Check your state's CDL manual before you book.

The short answer on CDL passing scores

The CDL general knowledge test has 50 questions in most states, and you must answer at least 40 correctly, which is 80%, to pass (Compliant Drivers). Check the math: 80% of 50 is 40. That page also says some states use slightly different question counts, so confirm your state's requirements.

We could not find one official source that lists every state's CDL written test score. So this article shows what we can confirm from an official state page, what a published guide says about the common pattern, and how to check your own state. If a site claims to give a verified 50-state CDL table, ask where each row comes from.

What an official state page shows: Washington

The Washington State Department of Licensing lists the question count and passing score for each knowledge test. This is a government page, so it is the strongest source we have. It covers Washington only.

All counts and passing scores in the table come from Washington's knowledge test page. The percentage column is our own division, shown so you can check it.

The table matches the numbers in the Compliant Drivers guide for general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles and hazmat. That guide is a third-party study site, not an agency, so treat it as a pattern and not as your state's rule.

Why other numbers you see are different

Searching for a permit test score often turns up tables for ordinary driver's permits. Those scores really do vary by state, but they belong to a different test. Driving-Tests.org is a beginner driver guide, and it lists examples like these:

• Maryland: 22 of 25 correct, which it lists as 88%.
• New York: 14 of 20 correct, which it lists as 70%.
• Texas: 21 of 30 correct, which it lists as 70%.
• Washington: 32 of 40 correct, which it lists as 80%.

Those are passenger car permit figures, not CDL figures. Compare Washington's car permit line of 32 of 40 from that guide with its CDL general knowledge line of 40 of 50 from the state's own page. Both land at 80%, but the question counts differ. Mixing the two tables is an easy way to study for the wrong target.

Our view: if a table shows one state at 70% and another at 88%, check whether it is about car permits. For a CDL, start from your state's CDL manual.

What else varies by state

The passing score is only part of the picture. These details also change, and the sources below say so.

• Retest waiting period. Most states set a minimum of 1 to 2 business days before you can retest after failing a knowledge section (Compliant Drivers).
• Fees. Test fees typically range from $5 to $30 per section depending on the state, and they apply each time (Compliant Drivers).
• How long a result lasts. In Washington, knowledge test scores are valid for 180 days from the date passed (Washington DOL).
• What the fee covers. In Washington, the test fee covers one attempt at each knowledge test taken within 90 days of receipt (Washington DOL).
• Permit validity. The commercial learner's permit is valid for 180 days in most states, and you must retest if it expires before you pass the skills test (Compliant Drivers).
• Minimum permit holding time. The permit must be held for at least 14 days before the CDL skills test, a federal requirement under 49 CFR 383.25 (Compliant Drivers).

These are the figures the sources give. Your state may differ, so confirm each one in its manual.

How to confirm your state's passing score

1. Find your state's official CDL manual on the licensing agency's website. Use the agency page, not a reposted copy.
2. Look for the section on knowledge tests. It should list the number of questions and the passing score for general knowledge.
3. Write down the count and passing score for each endorsement you need, such as air brakes, combination, hazmat, tanker or passenger.
4. Check the retest rules and fees on the same agency site.
5. Cross-check against a state-by-state reference if you like. CDL Help publishes a requirements page for all 50 states plus DC and says it draws on state agencies and federal rules in 49 CFR. It is a third-party site, so use it to point you to the right agency page, not as the final word.

Our CDL test facts by state page is a place to start looking, but the state manual is the rule.

How to use the 80% line when you study

If your state follows the common pattern, 80% is the minimum, not a target. Our view: a small miss on test day can cost you a fee and a wait, so it makes sense to practice above the line.

Our own practice tests are built from the official CDL manual. Our home page says the free practice test needs at least 80% to pass, and that the timed tests are scored at the 80% federal minimum (FirstTry CDL). The same page says our Readiness Score treats "ready" as 85 or higher, three full practice tests in a row at 85%, and 90% of the question bank seen (FirstTry CDL). That ready bar is our own choice, not a state rule.

You can try a set on our free CDL practice test page, or start with the General Knowledge practice test. The questions are exam-style questions built from the official CDL manual. Read how we write questions if you want the method. FirstTry CDL is not affiliated with any DMV, FMCSA or government agency.

Before you book

Pass marks are easy to misremember, and they can differ by state, test and endorsement. Write down your state's count and passing score for each test you plan to take. Then check how you score on a short set.

If you want a quick read on where you stand, Take the free 25-question CDL readiness check. It takes about 10 minutes and shows your three weakest topics, per our home page.