CDL Passenger Practice Test 2026
Free CDL Passenger (Bus / P endorsement) practice β required to drive a vehicle designed to seat 16+ people including the driver. Real test is in English; native-language explanations + English-term glossary. ~20 questions on the real test, 80% to pass.
π What to Bring
- β
Existing CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit
- β
Proof of identity & required documents
Bring the documents your state DMV lists for adding an endorsement.
- β
A representative bus for the skills/road test
The P endorsement also requires a skills test in a bus for the vehicle class β not just this knowledge test.
π How to Schedule
- 1
Study Section 4 (Transporting Passengers) β and Section 2
The P knowledge test draws on Sections 2 and 4 (plus Section 5 if the bus has air brakes). Cover inspection, loading & the standee line, hazmat limits on buses, on-road rules, railroad crossings, drawbridges, and the brake-door interlock.
- 2
Pass the Passenger knowledge test (in English) at your DMV
About 20 questions, 80% to pass. Fees and scheduling vary by state.
- 3
Pass the bus skills/road test
The endorsement is issued only after you also pass the in-bus skills test for the vehicle class.
π‘ Test Day Tips
- β’Learn the key English terms even if you study in Chinese/Spanish: standee line, emergency exit, drawbridge, brake-door interlock, recapped/regrooved tires.
- β’Master the high-stakes safety facts: never drive with an open emergency exit; at railroad crossings stop 15-50 ft before the nearest rail with four-way flashers and never change gears (manual) while crossing β and stop whether or not you have passengers; stop 50 ft before a drawbridge with no signal/attendant.
- β’Know the hazmat limits on a bus: never carry Division 2.3 poison gas or more than 500 lb total of allowed hazmat (and no more than 100 lb of any one class); and the brake-door interlock is never a substitute for the parking brake.
π Study Handbook
All practice questions are based on the sections below. Click any to read the official source.
π― Practice by Topic
Vehicle Inspection
Inspecting a bus before driving: the endorsement prerequisites, service/parking brakes, steering, lights, tires (no recapped/regrooved front tires), the bus interior (aisles, handholds, seats), emergency exits (never drive with one open), roof hatches, and the driver's seat belt.
Loading and Trip Start
Loading the bus and starting the trip: keeping the aisle clear, hazardous materials allowed/forbidden on a bus (the specific quantity limits), the standee line (no rider forward of it), and announcing stops at the destination.
On the Road
Driving with passengers: supervising riders, common bus accidents (intersections, pulling out from stops), speed on curves, railroad-highway crossings (stop 15-50 ft, four-way flashers, no gear change, stop whether or not carrying passengers), and drawbridges (stop 50 ft, draw closed).
After-trip Inspection and Rules
End-of-shift duties and prohibited practices: after-trip inspection and written report (interstate carriers), reporting rider damage, no fueling with riders aboard (never in a closed building), no distracting activity while driving, no towing a disabled bus with riders, and the brake-door interlock (never used in place of the parking brake).
π Official Resources
π New to US road signs? See all road signs and their meanings β
β Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the CDL Passenger test, and how many do I need to pass?
The CDL Passenger knowledge test has 20 questions. You must answer 16 correctly (80%) to pass.
How many questions can you miss on the CDL Passenger test?
You can miss up to 4 of the 20 questions and still pass.
What should I bring to the CDL Passenger test?
Existing CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit Proof of identity & required documents β Bring the documents your state DMV lists for adding an endorsement. A representative bus for the skills/road test β The P endorsement also requires a skills test in a bus for the vehicle class β not just this knowledge test.
How do I schedule and take the CDL Passenger test?
1. Study Section 4 (Transporting Passengers) β and Section 2: The P knowledge test draws on Sections 2 and 4 (plus Section 5 if the bus has air brakes). Cover inspection, loading & the standee line, hazmat limits on buses, on-road rules, railroad crossings, drawbridges, and the brake-door interlock. 2. Pass the Passenger knowledge test (in English) at your DMV: About 20 questions, 80% to pass. Fees and scheduling vary by state. 3. Pass the bus skills/road test: The endorsement is issued only after you also pass the in-bus skills test for the vehicle class.