West Virginia General Knowledge Test
You'll need to master mountain driving on I-64 and US 19 before hauling coal or logs out of the hollows.
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Get ready for your CDL knowledge test. This practice covers everything the WV DMV tests.
Key Topics
- •Vehicle inspection basics for WV roads
- •Air brake checks and mountain braking
- •Cargo securement for coal and timber
About the West Virginia General Knowledge Test
Topics Covered
- ✓Vehicle inspection — mandatory for all CDL drivers in WV. You’ll check brakes, lights, tires, and coupling devices before every trip over mountain passes.
- ✓Basic air brakes — most heavy trucks in West Virginia use air brakes. Know the components, slack adjusters, and how to test for air loss before descending a grade.
- ✓Safe driving techniques — downhill braking, managing speed on curves, and handling the fog that settles in the Monongahela Valley.
- + 3 more topics
📘 Study Tips & State Info
Use the official West Virginia CDL manual — you can download it from the DMV website or pick up a copy at any regional office. Focus Chapter 2 (Driving Safely) and Chapter 5 (Air Brakes). Those sections cover most of the test questions.
Take this practice test at least three times. Review the questions you miss and read the manual explanations. In West Virginia, you’ll also face a pre-trip inspection test later — start memorizing the inspection steps now. Practice saying them out loud.
You’ll take the General Knowledge Test at one of the WV DMV’s regional offices — locations in Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Beckley, Parkersburg, and others. Most offices require an appointment. Book online at transportation.wv.gov or call your local office. Walk-ins may be accepted but expect longer waits.
Bring your Social Security card, proof of residency (like a utility bill), and your current West Virginia driver’s license. The knowledge test fee is $30. If you fail, you can retake it the same day for an additional fee. The skills test costs $50 and requires a separate appointment.
Don’t forget: West Virginia has a 21-year-old minimum age for interstate CDL hauling. If you’re 18 you can drive intrastate only. Make sure you have the right medical card and self‑certification before the test.
About the West Virginia General Knowledge Test
West Virginia’s twisty two-lanes, steep mountain grades, and heavy coal truck traffic demand more than basic driving skills. The General Knowledge Test is your first step to earning a CDL in the Mountain State. You’ll prove you understand vehicle inspections, basic air brakes, and safe driving in our unique conditions.
Our roads — like I-77 through the New River Gorge and US 33 over the Alleghenies — see fog, ice, and sudden snow squalls. Coal trucks share the pavement with tourists heading to Seneca Rocks. This test covers the rules you’ll use every shift: weight limits, load securement, and how to avoid rollovers on tight mountain curves.
The WV DMV bases all questions on the current West Virginia Commercial Driver’s License Manual. You’ll answer 50 multiple-choice questions and need 80% to pass. We’ve built this practice test to match the real thing — same format, same topics, no surprises.
Passing the General Knowledge Test lets you move on to the skills test. Don’t waste time studying generic material. Use this practice test that’s built for West Virginia drivers.
Topics Covered
Study Tips
Use the official West Virginia CDL manual — you can download it from the DMV website or pick up a copy at any regional office. Focus Chapter 2 (Driving Safely) and Chapter 5 (Air Brakes). Those sections cover most of the test questions.
Take this practice test at least three times. Review the questions you miss and read the manual explanations. In West Virginia, you’ll also face a pre-trip inspection test later — start memorizing the inspection steps now. Practice saying them out loud.
West Virginia Specific Information
You’ll take the General Knowledge Test at one of the WV DMV’s regional offices — locations in Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Beckley, Parkersburg, and others. Most offices require an appointment. Book online at transportation.wv.gov or call your local office. Walk-ins may be accepted but expect longer waits.
Bring your Social Security card, proof of residency (like a utility bill), and your current West Virginia driver’s license. The knowledge test fee is $30. If you fail, you can retake it the same day for an additional fee. The skills test costs $50 and requires a separate appointment.
Don’t forget: West Virginia has a 21-year-old minimum age for interstate CDL hauling. If you’re 18 you can drive intrastate only. Make sure you have the right medical card and self‑certification before the test.