The South Dakota Commercial Drivers License knowledge and skills tests are for people seeking a commercial driver license or applicable endorsements. This page brings together free SD CDL practice sets, official test topics, fees, scoring requirements, and retake rules. Use it to choose relevant practice, identify material to revisit in the official manual, and understand the difference between knowledge testing and the driving skills test.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (General Knowledge Test) | 50 multiple-choice questions[1] | South Dakota Department of Public Safety · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (Basic Control Skills Test) | 30 minutes[1] | South Dakota Department of Public Safety · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Passing score (Knowledge tests) | 80%[1] | South Dakota Department of Public Safety · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Exam fee (CDL Application & Endorsement Tests) | $43 application fee plus $20 per endorsement test[2] | sdlegislature.gov · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Skills Test) | $150 plus tax[3] | South Dakota Department of Public Safety · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Retake policy (Knowledge tests) | Once per day; retest next business day[1] | South Dakota Department of Public Safety · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Validity (CDL) | 5 years[4] | sdlegislature.gov · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Validity (CLP) | 1 year[5] | sdlegislature.gov · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Validity (Passed knowledge tests) | 6 months[1] | South Dakota Department of Public Safety · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Delivery | Knowledge tests at driver exam stations; skills tests at third-party test sites[3] | South Dakota Department of Public Safety · Oct 26, 2026 |
According to South Dakota Department of Public Safety, “The General Knowledge Test is required to be taken by all applicants. This test consists of 50 multiple choice questions.”[1]
The SD CDL testing process assesses commercial driving knowledge and skills. The General Knowledge Test is required for all applicants and contains 50 multiple-choice questions. You must score 80% or better on each knowledge test. The official content areas also cover vehicle systems, specialized operations, Vehicle Inspection, Basic Vehicle Control, and the On-road Test.
Knowledge tests take place at driver exam stations. South Dakota Driver Licensing locations do not administer commercial driving skills tests; those are taken at third-party test sites. The Basic Control Skills Test has a 30-minute limit. That limit applies to that test, not to the entire testing process.
The application fee is $43, with a $20 fee for each endorsement knowledge test administered. The driving skills test costs $150 plus tax. Knowledge tests are given once per day. If you need to retest, return to an exam station the next business day.
Passed knowledge tests and fees remain valid for 6 months. A commercial learner's permit cannot be issued for longer than 1 year. A CDL expires on your birthday in the fifth year after issuance. These are separate validity rules.
For eligibility requirements and which tests apply to your intended driving, consult the South Dakota Department of Public Safety's CDL manual and licensing guidance. Use its driving skills test guidance for delivery details and South Dakota statutes for the application and endorsement fees.
The content areas below are copied from the official SD CDL content outline published by South Dakota Department of Public Safety. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| air brakes test[7] | SD CDL - South Dakota Commercial Drivers L... Practise identifying air brake components, interpreting warnings, and explaining system checks. |
| Basic Vehicle Control[7] | SD CDL - South Dakota Commercial Drivers L... Practise reasoning through vehicle positioning, backing, and controlled movement. |
| combination vehicles test[7] | SD CDL - South Dakota Commercial Drivers L... Practise combination vehicle handling and coupling procedures alongside the official manual. |
| doubles/triples test[7] | Mixed practice tests above Study the official manual's doubles and triples material because this page has no dedicated practice set for that area. |
| general knowledge test[7] | SD CDL Safe Driving Practices & Hazard Awa... Practise safe driving decisions and hazard awareness, then use the manual to cover general knowledge topics beyond this set. |
| hazardous materials test[7] | SD CDL - South Dakota Commercial Drivers L... Practise recognizing hazardous materials requirements and checking the reasoning against the official material. |
| On-road Test[7] | SD CDL Safe Driving Practices & Hazard Awa... Use hazard-awareness questions to discuss driving decisions, while treating practical driving preparation as a separate task. |
| passenger transport test[7] | SD CDL - South Dakota Commercial Drivers L... Practise passenger safety decisions and operating precautions. |
| school bus test[7] | Mixed practice tests above Study the official school bus material because this page has no dedicated school bus practice set. |
| tank vehicle test[7] | SD CDL - South Dakota Commercial Drivers L... Practise tank vehicle handling concepts and the effects of moving cargo. |
| Vehicle Inspection[7] | SD CDL - South Dakota Commercial Drivers L... Practise identifying inspection items and explaining what makes a condition unsafe. |
Prepare for the SD CDL - South Dakota Commercial Drivers License exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: Sample question 4 for Safe Driving Practices & Hazard Awareness?
Answer: B. Answer B
Explanation:
This placeholder question cannot teach or assess a driving rule. Its answer key labels B as correct, but the stem supplies no driving situation and the options contain no actual actions. There is therefore no factual reason to choose B over A, C, or D, and no basis for explaining why those alternatives are wrong. The existing explanation assumes safety information that the question never provides. Do not use this item to judge your readiness. The rule to remember is that a useful practice explanation must connect a specific situation to a specific rule; an answer letter alone tells you nothing about safe driving.
Question: A driver is operating a truck with a dual air brake system. The low air pressure warning light and buzzer activate. What is the most likely pressure range in one of the systems?
Answer: C. Below 60 psi
Explanation:
The supplied key selects C, but the wording does not establish a unique answer. The accompanying explanation says the warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi. That statement does not establish that pressure is already below 60 psi when the warning activates. A and B give higher pressure ranges, but the question supplies no precise activation point with which to evaluate them. D also overlaps C because 20-45 psi is below 60 psi. It therefore cannot be dismissed solely on the pressure range. Remember to distinguish a warning's activation threshold from a pressure reading observed afterward. Check the official air brake material before relying on this item's answer key.
Question: A driver is about to begin their pre-trip inspection for the day. Before inspecting any components, what is the very first step they must legally take according to 49 CFR 396.13?
Answer: C. Review the previous driver's Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR).
Explanation:
The supplied key selects C, but its claim about a legally required first step is not established by the verified material here. C concerns reviewing a previous inspection report. A concerns building air pressure, B concerns checking fluids, and D concerns cleanliness. Those differences explain what each option addresses, but they do not establish a legally mandated order. The existing explanation asserts a report-review requirement without showing that it must precede every component inspection. It therefore does not justify rejecting A, B, or D on the question's stated legal basis. Remember to distinguish a required action from a required sequence. Consult the applicable official inspection guidance before using this item as a rule to memorize.
Start with the South Dakota Department of Public Safety's CDL manual. Identify the material relevant to your intended vehicle and endorsements, then use the topic table to choose practice. Where the table has no dedicated set, work directly from the official material.
Begin with Safe Driving Practices & Hazard Awareness and Laws, Endorsements & Regulations. For each missed or uncertain answer, write down the rule you need to check. Read the corresponding manual passage, then explain why the alternatives do not fit before trying related questions again.
Move into relevant vehicle and endorsement sets, such as Air Brake Systems or Tank Vehicle Rules. Use inspection and control questions to identify practical skills that need attention beyond written practice.
Before test day, revisit unresolved topics and check official testing arrangements. Keep the 6-month validity of passed knowledge tests and fees in mind when planning skills testing. These practice questions are written with AI tools and are not real exam questions. If an item is a placeholder or its explanation does not support its answer, return to the official material.
Take knowledge tests at a driver exam station and the driving skills test at a third-party test site. South Dakota Driver Licensing locations do not administer commercial driving skills tests or endorsement driving skills tests. The Department of Public Safety's driving skills test guidance explains this separation.
The General Knowledge Test contains 50 multiple-choice questions and is required for all applicants. You must score 80% or better to pass each knowledge test. The stated question count applies to General Knowledge; it should not be treated as the question count for every endorsement test.
The CDL application fee is $43, and each endorsement knowledge test administered costs $20. The driving skills test costs $150 plus tax. These are separate charges, so the listed amounts should not be presented as a flat fee covering every applicant's testing.
No. Knowledge tests are given once per day. If you need to retest, you must return to an exam station the next business day. The official retake wording specifies a business day, so it does not promise a retest on the next calendar day.
Passed knowledge tests and fees are valid for 6 months. A commercial learner's permit cannot be issued for longer than 1 year. These are separate validity periods: the permit's maximum duration does not extend the stated validity of your passed knowledge tests and fees.
The verified limit is 30 minutes for the Basic Control Skills Test. You are scored on your ability to perform its exercises properly. This limit applies specifically to Basic Control Skills; the supplied official facts do not state an overall time limit for the entire driving skills test.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.