Indiana CDL General Knowledge Practice Test 2025

The Indiana CDL General Knowledge test has 50 questions. You need 40 correct (80%) to pass. The BMV also offers endorsement tests: HazMat (30 questions), Tanker (30 questions), Passenger (20 questions), School Bus (20 questions), Doubles/Triples (20 questions), and Air Brakes (25 questions). Each endorsement test has its own 80% passing requirement.

Indiana CDL holders in a commercial motor vehicle face the federal 0.04% BAC limit. Indiana's standard DUI threshold is 0.08%, but CDL holders in a CMV are out-of-service at 0.04%. A DUI conviction in any vehicle — a CMV or personal vehicle — triggers FMCSA CDL disqualification: 1 year for first offense, lifetime for second. Indiana BMV reports all DUI convictions to the national CDL database within 10 days.

Indiana CDL skills tests (pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, on-road driving) are administered at BMV-approved Third Party Testing (TPT) sites. TPT sites must use FMCSA-standardized test routes and scoring criteria. Knowledge tests can be taken at most BMV branches. Indiana has TPT sites in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Evansville, and other major cities.

Indiana's Habitual Traffic Violator designation (10 major violations in 10 years) creates serious CDL employment barriers. Most commercial insurance carriers exclude HTV-designated drivers from fleet coverage — making them uninsurable in a CMV. Even if the FMCSA has not separately disqualified the driver, HTV status appears on motor vehicle record (MVR) checks and disqualifies the driver from most CDL jobs. The only path out of HTV status is a successful petition to the court after serving the suspension period.

Indiana oversize/overweight (OS/OW) permits are issued by INDOT. Standard legal dimensions: 8.5 feet wide, 13.5 feet tall, 53 feet long (trailer), 80,000 lbs GCVW. Loads exceeding these require INDOT permits. Indiana's I-70/I-65/I-74 freight corridors have specific curfews for wide loads during peak traffic hours. Some Indiana bridge weight postings are below federal legal limits — CDL drivers must know the weight capacity of bridges on their planned route.

A Class A CDL allows you to operate any combination of vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 lbs or more, provided the towed unit exceeds 10,000 lbs — this includes tractor-trailers and double/triple trailer rigs. A Class B CDL covers single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more, or any such vehicle towing a unit not exceeding 10,000 lbs — this includes straight trucks and large buses. A Class C CDL is required for vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver) or for vehicles transporting hazardous materials that require placarding, when those vehicles do not qualify for Class A or B.

CDL fees vary by state and by the class and endorsements you obtain. Most states charge separate fees for the CDL knowledge test ($10–$30 per attempt), the CDL skills test ($50–$150), and the CDL license itself ($50–$100). Additional fees apply for each endorsement (HazMat, Tanker, Passenger, etc.). The HazMat endorsement also requires a TSA security threat assessment fee of approximately $86. Check your Indiana DMV website for current fee schedules.

Federal regulations (49 CFR 383.133) require that CDL applicants be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to understand highway traffic signs and signals and to respond to official inquiries. Many states offer CDL knowledge tests in Spanish and other languages for non-commercial knowledge questions, but the actual CDL test must be taken in a language that allows the driver to meet the English proficiency requirement. Check with the Indiana DMV for available language options.

In most states, a CDL is valid for 4–8 years (commonly 4–5 years). To renew your Indiana CDL, you typically need to visit a DMV office, pass a vision test, pay the renewal fee, and update your medical certification (DOT physical). If you hold a HazMat endorsement, your TSA background check must also be current. CDLs cannot generally be renewed online due to federal requirements for in-person verification of medical certification.

If you fail the CDL General Knowledge test in Indiana, you are typically required to wait a specified period (commonly 1–7 days) before retaking it. Most states allow 2–3 attempts before requiring additional waiting periods or study requirements. There is usually a retest fee for each attempt. Focus on the areas you missed — most states provide a score sheet showing which topic areas you need to review.