CD Practice Test

The Certified Detailer (CD) credential from the International Detailing Association is for people who detail vehicles professionally and want a recognized certification. This page gives you free practice sets by topic, worked answers to sample questions, the fees and retake rules published by the IDA, and a study plan. Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions.

CD Exam at a Glance

What changed for CD in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Number of questions changed to 10 exams, 10–20 questions each (previously 10 exams, 10–20 multiple-choice questions each).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Other (update 2026-03-31) changed to Effective March 31, 2026, completion of both Phase I (CD) and Phase II (SV) certification is required to be eligible for IDA specialty certification exams (Watercraft, Motorcycle, RV). (previously Since March 31, 2026, IDA specialty certification exams (Watercraft, Motorcycle, RV) require both Phase I (CD) and Phase II (SV) certification first; existing specialty holders are grandfathered.).^[2]
• Mar 31, 2026: Effective March 31, 2026, completion of both Phase I (CD) and Phase II (SV) certification is required to be eligible for IDA specialty certification exams (Watercraft, Motorcycle, RV).^[2]

What the CD is and how it works

According to International Detailing Association, “Phase I (the certification exams) consists of 10 exams, 10-20 questions each, in these subject areas: Equipment, Chemicals, Glass, Interior Detailing, Leather, Paint Correction & Protection, Wheels & Tires, Prep Wash/Engine Bay, Detailing Terminology, and Safety & Compliance.”^[1]

The CD is the International Detailing Association's certification for vehicle detailers. Phase I consists of 10 exams with 10–20 questions each. The subject areas include Equipment, Chemicals, Glass, Interior Detailing, Leather, Paint Correction & Protection, and Wheels & Tires, among others listed by the IDA.

You can take the exams online through IDA I.Q. or at an in-person event proctored by an IDA Recognized Independent Trainer (RIT). Online exams are available on demand once payment is received. You need an active IDA account to order exams. A dues-paying member or a free web user both qualify.

The full set of 10 exams costs $200 for members and $400 for non-members. Individual exams cost $25 for members and $45 for non-members. Each exam includes a free 2nd attempt. A 3rd attempt costs $10 per exam, and 3 attempts is the maximum. When you buy the 3rd attempt, you are told to connect with an RIT.

The certification runs on a 2-year cycle and requires 8 hours of detailing-related continuing education. Renewal is $100 for members and $150 for non-members. A late renewal costs $200 or $400 respectively.

We have not verified a passing score or time limit, so check those on the IDA's official CD page before you order.

Worked examples: how to reason through CD questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the recommended order of operations when performing a full exterior detail on a vehicle?

1. Polish, wash, clay, protect
2. Wash, clay, polish, protect
3. Clay, wash, polish, protect
4. Wash, polish, clay, protect

Answer: B. Wash, clay, polish, protect

Explanation:

The correct order is wash, clay, polish, protect. Washing removes loose dirt and grit so you do not drag it across the paint in later steps. Claying then pulls out bonded contamination that a wash leaves behind. Polishing works on a clean, smooth surface, which gives a more even result. Protection goes on last so it sits on corrected paint and is not removed by the other steps.

Polishing before washing grinds dirt into the finish. Claying before washing wastes clay and can scratch the paint. Washing, polishing and then claying leaves contamination under the polish and can undo your work. The rule to remember: clean, decontaminate, correct, then protect.

Example 2

Question: A professional-grade ceramic coating lists a hardness rating of 9H. What does this rating reference?

1. The Mohs mineral hardness scale
2. The pencil hardness scale
3. Shore durometer hardness
4. Rockwell hardness scale

Answer: B. The pencil hardness scale

Explanation:

The 9H rating refers to the pencil hardness scale. In that test, pencils of increasing hardness are pushed across the cured coating, and the rating is the hardest pencil that does not scratch it. That is why a coating can be described with an H number.

The Mohs scale ranks minerals by what scratches what, so it is the wrong reference for a coating. Shore durometer measures the softness of rubbers and plastics by indentation. The Rockwell scale measures indentation hardness in metals. None of these is used to label ceramic coatings. The rule to remember: an H rating on a coating is a pencil scratch rating, and it does not mean the coating cannot be damaged by washing, wrong technique or chemicals.

Example 3

Question: What is the importance of using an all-purpose cleaner (APC) in vehicle detailing?

1. It can be used for waxing.
2. It is effective for cleaning multiple surfaces
3. It is used only for glass cleaning.
4. It is applied only to leather.

Answer: B. It is effective for cleaning multiple surfaces

Explanation:

An all-purpose cleaner is useful because it cleans many different surfaces. It is formulated to lift common dirt, grease and stains from materials such as plastic, vinyl, fabric and rubber, and it can be used on painted surfaces when properly diluted. That versatility is why detailers keep it on hand.

It is not a wax or a protectant, so the claim that it is used for waxing is wrong. It is not limited to glass, because glass cleaners are separate products. It is not limited to leather, which usually needs gentler, dedicated care. The rule to remember: an APC is a general cleaner, so dilute it to suit the surface and test a small hidden area before using it more widely.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the IDA's CD page so you know how the exams are delivered, what they cost, and how retakes work. Then match your study to the subject areas listed there.

Next, take our practice sets one topic at a time. Begin with the areas you use least at work. If you mostly do interiors, try Vehicle Exterior Cleaning & Detailing and Chemical Safety & SDS Compliance. Then move to Detailing Tools & Equipment, Wheel & Tire Detailing and Machine Polishing & Compound Selection.

For every question you miss, write down why the right answer is right and why your choice was wrong. Look for patterns, such as order of operations, product choice for a surface, or safety steps. Return to those topics after a break and retry the set to see if the reasoning has stuck.

Remember that each exam allows a limited number of attempts, so do not rush to order until you can explain your answers without guessing. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to test understanding, not to memorize wording.

Sources & last verified

1. International Detailing Association — number of questions, exam fee, retake fee, retake policy (official source). “Phase I (the certification exams) consists of 10 exams, 10-20 questions each, in these subject areas: Equipment, Chemicals, Glass, Interior Detailing, Leather, Paint Correction &…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 22, 2026.
2. International Detailing Association — renewal, other (official source). “The cost for Certification Maintenance is $100 for IDA members and $150 for non-members. If you miss this deadline, you do have a full year…” Verified Oct 27, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.