North Carolina General Knowledge Test
From the fog on I-40 through the mountains to the crosswinds on I-95, this test covers what you'll actually face on North Carolina roads.
Select Test Mode
This is the North Carolina General Knowledge Test. Study 50 questions and pass with 80% to get your CDL permit.
Key Topics
- •Pre-trip inspections & air brakes
- •Mountain grades & adverse weather
- •Cargo securement & backing
About the North Carolina General Knowledge Test
Topics Covered
- ✓Vehicle inspections — North Carolina examiners are strict about pre-trip procedures. They want you to check every light, tire, and brake component like you're about to haul a load of tobacco across the state.
- ✓Air brakes — Most heavy trucks in NC use air brakes. The test covers system components, brake lag, and what to do if your low-pressure warning comes on while descending a grade on I-40.
- ✓Basic control and backing — Tight loading docks are common at NC warehouses and distribution centers. You'll need to know proper backing techniques and how to use your mirrors.
- + 3 more topics
📘 Study Tips & State Info
North Carolina DMV examiners focus on three areas more than others: pre-trip inspection, air brakes, and hazardous materials awareness. When you study the NCDMV manual, pay special attention to the step-by-step inspection procedure. They'll ask you the proper order — you can't skip around. For air brakes, know the difference between spring brakes and service brakes, and memorize the minimum air pressure before moving the vehicle.
Practice with the NC-specific manual, not a generic one. The NCDMV publishes its own Commercial Driver License Manual, and it includes state-specific rules about things like farm vehicle exemptions and school bus endorsements. The test pulls questions directly from that book. I've seen students fail because they studied a national manual and missed the NC-only details about annual vehicle inspections and medical certification requirements.
Use our practice tests to get used to the format and timing. You have 60 minutes for 50 questions — that's plenty of time if you know the material. But don't rush. Read each question twice. North Carolina examiners sometimes word questions differently than the manual. If an answer sounds too simple, it's probably wrong.
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) handles all CDL testing. You'll take the General Knowledge test at a driver license office that offers CDL services. Major offices include Raleigh (New Bern Avenue), Charlotte (South Tryon), Greensboro, Asheville, and Wilmington. Appointments are strongly recommended — walk-ins wait hours. Schedule online at NCDMV.gov or call your local office.
To take the test, you need a valid North Carolina driver license, a completed CDL application, and a current Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT physical). You'll also pay a fee — currently $40 for the knowledge test, plus $15 for the learner's permit if you pass. Bring your social security card and proof of residency. If you're from out of state, you'll need to transfer your license first.
North Carolina requires a vision test before the knowledge exam. You need at least 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without correction. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring them. The test is computer-based at most offices, and you get your score immediately. You can retake the test after 7 days if you fail, but you'll pay the $40 fee again.
About the North Carolina General Knowledge Test
North Carolina's roads aren't the same from Murphy to Manteo. You've got the Blue Ridge Mountains on I-40 west of Asheville, the flat coastal plain on I-95, and the industrial corridors on I-85 through Greensboro and Charlotte. The General Knowledge test covers the federal rules every commercial driver needs, but we're going to connect those rules to the roads you'll actually drive.
This test is the first step for any Class A or Class B CDL applicant in North Carolina. You'll answer 50 multiple-choice questions on vehicle inspection, basic control, shifting, air brakes, and safe driving practices. You need 40 correct — that's 80% — to pass. The NCDMV administers this test when you apply for your commercial learner's permit.
North Carolina's economy runs on trucks. We're a top state for furniture, textiles, and agriculture. That means you'll haul everything from hogs to high-end cabinets. The test includes questions about cargo securement, weight limits, and hazardous materials that reflect the real loads moving through the state. Don't just memorize the manual — think about how you'd secure a load of lumber coming out of the mountains or a tanker of fuel heading to the coast.
Weather matters here, too. Fog in the mountains can drop visibility to zero in minutes. Hurricanes and tropical storms hit the coast regularly. The test covers adverse driving conditions, and you can bet examiners expect you to know how to handle reduced visibility and high winds. Study with that in mind.
Topics Covered
Study Tips
North Carolina DMV examiners focus on three areas more than others: pre-trip inspection, air brakes, and hazardous materials awareness. When you study the NCDMV manual, pay special attention to the step-by-step inspection procedure. They'll ask you the proper order — you can't skip around. For air brakes, know the difference between spring brakes and service brakes, and memorize the minimum air pressure before moving the vehicle.
Practice with the NC-specific manual, not a generic one. The NCDMV publishes its own Commercial Driver License Manual, and it includes state-specific rules about things like farm vehicle exemptions and school bus endorsements. The test pulls questions directly from that book. I've seen students fail because they studied a national manual and missed the NC-only details about annual vehicle inspections and medical certification requirements.
Use our practice tests to get used to the format and timing. You have 60 minutes for 50 questions — that's plenty of time if you know the material. But don't rush. Read each question twice. North Carolina examiners sometimes word questions differently than the manual. If an answer sounds too simple, it's probably wrong.
North Carolina Specific Information
The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) handles all CDL testing. You'll take the General Knowledge test at a driver license office that offers CDL services. Major offices include Raleigh (New Bern Avenue), Charlotte (South Tryon), Greensboro, Asheville, and Wilmington. Appointments are strongly recommended — walk-ins wait hours. Schedule online at NCDMV.gov or call your local office.
To take the test, you need a valid North Carolina driver license, a completed CDL application, and a current Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT physical). You'll also pay a fee — currently $40 for the knowledge test, plus $15 for the learner's permit if you pass. Bring your social security card and proof of residency. If you're from out of state, you'll need to transfer your license first.
North Carolina requires a vision test before the knowledge exam. You need at least 20/40 vision in each eye, with or without correction. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring them. The test is computer-based at most offices, and you get your score immediately. You can retake the test after 7 days if you fail, but you'll pay the $40 fee again.