Checked against official Kansas sources on Oct 8, 2026
Kansas CDL practice test
Every state needs at least 80% on each CDL written test, and Kansas follows the same federal rule. Below are the fees, ages and rules we checked against the official Kansas source, and a free practice test.
FirstTry CDL is not affiliated with any DMV, FMCSA or government agency. Practice questions are exam-style questions built from the official CDL manual, not actual test questions.
Kansas CDL facts
| What | What Kansas says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Size rule for needing a CDL | You need a CDL to drive a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more, or a combination vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. | Official page |
| CDL permit fee | The Kansas fee chart lists a Regular CDL Permit at $13.00 total ($5.00 issuance fee plus $8.00 photo fee). | Official page |
| CDL fee, new issuance with testing | For a CDL of any class, age 21 or older, the chart total is $41.00. That is $18.00 issuance, $15.00 test fee and $8.00 photo. Each endorsement adds $10.00. | Official page |
| CDL fee, new issuance without testing | For a CDL of any class, age 21 or older, the chart total is $26.00 ($18.00 issuance plus $8.00 photo). Each endorsement adds $10.00. | Official page |
| CDL renewal fee | Renewing a CDL of any class costs $26.00 total ($18.00 issuance plus $8.00 photo). Each endorsement adds $10.00. A $1.00 late fee is added if you renew after the expiration date. | Official page |
| Skills exam and skills retest fees | The chart lists a CDL skills exam at $15.00 and a CDL skills retest at $10.00. | Official page |
| Knowledge test retest fee | A retest costs $1.50. Retests within 6 months of the last exam are $1.50. | Official page |
| Test abandonment fee | If you do not finish testing within 6 months, you pay a $3.00 abandonment fee when you come back, and not the $1.50 retest fee. | Official page |
| Hazmat renewal testing fee | If you test for hazmat on a hazmat renewal, the first try has no test fee. Any retest costs $1.50. | Official page |
| CDL validity | A CDL issued on or after July 1, 2018 expires on the fifth anniversary of your birthday nearest the application date. Renewals also expire every fifth birthday. | Official page |
| Knowledge tests for endorsements | The handbook lists these knowledge tests: general knowledge (everyone), passenger, air brakes, combination vehicles, hazardous materials, tank vehicle, doubles and triples, and school bus. | Official page |
| Skills test parts | The skills test has three parts: vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. You take them in that order and must pass each one before the next. | Official page |
| Skills test by appointment | Kansas CDL skills exams are by appointment only. You call the testing office you will visit to schedule your drive. | Official page |
| Skills testing offices | Kansas lists 11 CDL skills testing offices: Chanute, Colby, Dodge City, Edgerton, Garden City, Hays, Phillipsburg, Salina, Seneca, Topeka and Wichita. Edgerton and Topeka have limited staff, so call before you visit for written exams. | Official page |
| No memory aids in vehicle inspection | The Kansas handbook says Kansas does not allow memory aids during the vehicle inspection test. | Official page |
| Community and technical college skills tests | State law says the Secretary of Revenue must let a community college or technical college give the CDL skills test if the college asks. Third parties may also give the skills test under a state agreement. | Official page |
| Entry-level driver training | First-time Class A or Class B applicants, Class B to Class A upgrades, first-time hazmat applicants, and applicants adding S or P need training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Kansas must verify the training before you can take the skills test or the hazmat knowledge test. | Official page |
| Who is exempt from entry-level training | Kansas lists exemptions including farm owners who meet the farm rules and stay within 150 miles of the farm, firefighters, emergency vehicle drivers, seasonal CDL holders and military members using a skills waiver or even exchange form. | Official page |
| Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse check | Kansas law requires a check of the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before any CDL or CLP issuance or renewal. A prohibited driver cannot get a new issuance. | Official page |
| Medical examiner certificate | Since June 2, 2025, Kansas cannot enter your medical examiner certificate by hand. It must come electronically from the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. | Official page |
| K restriction | Drivers who certify for intrastate driving get a K restriction. They may drive CDL vehicles only inside Kansas and may not drive in interstate commerce. | Official page |
| Non-domiciled CDL | Kansas says a non-domicile CDL can be issued only to a person with an H2A, H2B or E2 visa, along with a valid passport and an I-94 or I-797A. | Official page |
| Hazmat endorsement and TSA | You cannot be tested for the hazmat endorsement until TSA approval is received. You need a vision screening and a hazmat knowledge exam, and you must go to a state driver license location. | Official page |
| School bus endorsement | Kansas has an S endorsement for school buses. You must pass an S knowledge test and a road test in a school bus. If you do not have the P endorsement, you must also pass the P knowledge test. | Official page |
| Military skills waiver | Eligible military applicants can use the CDL Military Skills Waiver Certification form or the Military Even Exchange Waiver. Forms go to any full service state driver license office. | Official page |
| Farm reciprocity | Kansas has reciprocity agreements with Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma that exempt farmers from CDL requirements in some cases. | Official page |
| New Kansas residents | A person who has lived in Kansas for 30 days may not drive a commercial motor vehicle with a CDL from another state. | Official page |
| Surrender of other state CDL | Kansas will not issue a CDL to a person who holds a CDL from another state unless that person first surrenders it. | Official page |
Fees and rules change. Confirm on the official Kansas CDL page before you go. Read the official Kansas CDL manual.
CDL test formats
We show the national defaults for question counts and time limits. Check the official Kansas manual for anything that differs.
| Test | Questions | To pass | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 50 | 40 (80%) | About 60 minutes |
| Air Brakes | 25 | 20 (80%) | 25 to 30 minutes |
| Combination Vehicles | 20 (25 questions in some states) | 16 (80%) | 20 to 25 minutes |
| Hazardous Materials | 30 | 24 (80%) | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Tanker | 20 | 16 (80%) | 20 to 25 minutes |
| Passenger | 20 | 16 (80%) | 20 to 25 minutes |
| School Bus | 20 (25 questions in some states) | 16 (80%) | About 25 minutes |
| Doubles/Triples | 20 | 16 (80%) | About 20 minutes |
Practice any of them: all CDL practice tests.