The New York CDL permit exam is not one universal test. NY DMV assigns knowledge tests based on the class of vehicle, brake system and endorsements you request. This page is only about what to study and how to practice. For eligibility, application documents, fees and the road-test process, use the New York CDL requirements guide.
Verified September 9, 2026: NY DMV’s current CDL-10 states that every commercial knowledge test uses multiple-choice questions with three answer choices and requires an 80% passing score. NY DMV does not publish a guaranteed live-exam question count on its application page, so this guide does not promise fixed counts.
Which New York CDL Knowledge Tests Do You Need?
| Planned operation | Knowledge test or subject | Practice module |
|---|---|---|
| Any CLP or CDL | General (Core) Knowledge | General Knowledge diagnostic |
| Class A combination vehicle | Combination Vehicles | Combination diagnostic |
| Vehicle equipped with air brakes | Air Brakes; required to avoid an air-brake restriction | Air Brakes diagnostic |
| Tank vehicle | Tank Vehicles | Tanker diagnostic |
| Double or triple trailers | Doubles and Triples | Doubles diagnostic |
| Placarded hazardous materials | Hazardous Materials plus background-check and ELDT requirements | HazMat diagnostic |
| Passenger or school bus | Passenger and, when applicable, School Bus | Study CDL-10 Sections 4 and 10 |
| New York metal-coil operation | Separate Metal Coil knowledge test | Study the official MV-79 manual |
The General (Core) Knowledge test is required for every applicant. CDL-10 says all test-takers should study Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 and 13; each additional test adds its own section. The New York handbook guide provides the section-by-section reading plan.
Passing Score and Test Format
- Every New York commercial knowledge test is multiple choice.
- Each question has three answer choices.
- The passing score for each knowledge test is 80%.
- Passing one test does not erase the need to pass the other tests required for the requested class and endorsements.
- Permit tests are administered at DMV offices; the practice questions on this site do not issue a CLP.
NY DMV states there is no fixed statewide limit on knowledge-test retakes, but the local District Director, Office Manager, County Clerk or Office Supervisor has discretion. Treat a failed module as a signal to return to the matching CDL-10 section rather than immediately repeating random questions.
New York’s Separate Metal Coil Test
MV-79 is not the main CDL handbook. It is the New York manual for safe securement of metal coils and other cargo. A New York-licensed CDL driver needs the M endorsement when operating a qualifying CMV and transporting metal coils that individually or together weigh 5,000 pounds or more within the state.
The rule has an important boundary: MV-79 says a CMV operator licensed by another state does not need New York’s M endorsement merely to transport coils through New York. New York license holders seeking M must already hold Class A, B or C and pass the written Metal Coil knowledge test.
Focus on:
- aggregate working load limit;
- friction and securement-system performance criteria;
- coils with eyes vertical, crosswise or lengthwise;
- blocking, bracing, chocks and cradles;
- rows of coils and coils inside sided vehicles or containers;
- definitions in MV-79 Sections 1 through 4.
At the test site, NY DMV provides a copy of the Working Load Limit Table from MV-79 for questions that require it. Practice applying the table; do not waste time memorizing every number.
Practice by Weak Area
- Take the diagnostic for the first required module.
- Record which concepts—not merely which question numbers—you missed.
- Read the matching official manual subsection.
- Retest that module until explanations make sense without memorizing answer position.
- Move to the next required module.
- Finish with mixed practice so switching topics does not lower accuracy.
For Class A with full air brakes, a sensible order is General Knowledge, Air Brakes, then Combination Vehicles. Add Tanker, Doubles/Triples or HazMat only when the planned work requires them. A first-time HazMat applicant must also complete ELDT theory from a registered provider before the state knowledge test.
High-Value Topics to Review
Air Brakes
Know the inspection sequence, warning devices, spring brakes, stopping-distance effects and the difference between hydraulic, air-over-hydraulic and full-air systems. The brake equipment used for the eventual skills test affects the restriction placed on the license.
Combination Vehicles
Review coupling inspection, trailer air supply, tractor protection, rollover risk, off-tracking, jackknife prevention and the correct sequence for connecting and disconnecting air and electrical lines.
Vehicle Inspection
The written material in Sections 11–13 supports the later skills test. NY DMV may randomize where the physical vehicle inspection begins. Learn component condition and safety purpose rather than a single memorized walk-around order.
Hazardous Materials
The New York HazMat knowledge test is available only in English. First-time H applicants must satisfy ELDT theory, and the endorsement also requires federal and New York background-check steps. Use the HazMat diagnostic for subject review, but follow NY DMV for the licensing process.
What Belongs on the Other New York Pages?
- Application documents, medical certification, fees, ELDT timing and road-test scheduling: New York CDL requirements.
- CDL-10 downloads, chapter selection, MV-79 and the A3/K restriction reading: New York CDL handbook.
Official Sources
- NY DMV: Commercial Driver’s Manual (CDL-10)
- NY DMV: CDL-10 Section 1 — test format, passing score and study sections
- NY DMV: MV-79 Metal Coil and Cargo Securement Manual
- NY DMV: Get a Commercial Driver License
Frequently Asked Questions
What score is required on a New York CDL knowledge test?
CDL-10 states that every commercial driver knowledge test requires 80%.
Are all New York CDL applicants given the same tests?
No. General Knowledge is required for everyone; the class, brake system and endorsements determine the additional tests.
Is MV-79 the New York CDL handbook?
No. CDL-10 is the main Commercial Driver’s Manual. MV-79 is the separate metal-coil and cargo-securement manual used for the M endorsement test.
Where do I take the actual permit test?
At a New York DMV office. Online diagnostics are study tools and do not issue a permit.