Licensing, Demerits & Penalties — California

California CDL practice test: 392 free practice questions (20 official sample questions · Official driver handbook). The official format is not yet verified; check the official site before your test. Licensing, Demerits & Penalties: 6 questions. Updated

Graduated licensing conditions, demerit points, suspensions, insurance and fines.

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Topic / MetricValue
TopicLicensing, Demerits & Penalties
License testCalifornia CDL permit (CLP) knowledge tests
Topic questions6 (2% of 392 total)
Review statusThis topic page is still being reviewed against the official handbook. Until review is finished it is hidden from search engines.

Official handbook

Not yet verified State CDL manual (based on the AAMVA model manual) link not yet collected

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Questions (6)

1. During the driving test, the examiner will be scoring you on:
  1. Attitude.
  2. How quickly you arrive to your destination.
  3. Your general driving behavior. ✓

Answer: C. Your general driving behavior.

The examiner scores your general driving behavior, along with specific driving maneuvers. The handbook says that during the road test the examiner scores specific driving maneuvers and your general driving behavior. That makes general driving behavior the listed answer. The examiner gives directions with enough time, and you are not asked to drive unsafely, so the test is about how you handle the vehicle and traffic, not about attitude or speed of completion. A negative attitude can lead to failure under the handbook's list of failure factors, but it is not the scoring category named in the question.
Official handbook: Texas Commercial Driver License Handbook (DL-7C), Section 13 – On-Road Driving, p. 185
2. If your license to operate a personal vehicle is revoked or suspended:
  1. You can get a hardship license to operate a CMV.
  2. You cannot get a hardship license to operate a CMV. ✓
  3. Your CDL will not be affected.

Answer: B. You cannot get a hardship license to operate a CMV.

Official handbook: Official handbook
3. During a basic vehicle controls skills test exercise, your vehicle's final position should be:
  1. In the general area that was described by the examiner.
  2. In the exact final position described by the examiner. ✓
  3. Within three feet of the final position described by the examiner.

Answer: B. In the exact final position described by the examiner.

Your vehicle's final position should be exactly the final position described by the examiner. Your vehicle's final position should be exactly the final position described by the examiner. The handbook says you must finish each exercise exactly as instructed, and final position is scored on the straight-line backing and reverse offset backing exercises. It also warns that failing to maneuver the vehicle into the final position described by the examiner leads to a penalty and failure of the Basic Control Skills test. The handbook tells you to ask for clarification if you do not understand the instructions, so there is no need to guess at the target.
Official handbook: Texas Commercial Driver License Handbook (DL-7C), Section 12 – Basic Control Skills Test, p. 173
4. When asked to make a lane change during the driving test, you should:
  1. Make the change as soon as the examiner asks, without looking.
  2. Use your turn signal and change lanes when safe. ✓
  3. Make the lane change as quickly as possible, even if that means cutting off another driver.

Answer: B. Use your turn signal and change lanes when safe.

You should use your turn signal and change lanes when it is safe, after making the necessary traffic checks. The handbook's on-road driving section says that during lane-change portions of the test you will be asked to move left and then back right. It tells you to make the necessary traffic checks first, then use proper signals and change lanes smoothly when it is safe. The driving-safely section adds that lane changes are a special situation and that you check mirrors before changing lanes to make sure there is room. That supports signaling and waiting for a safe gap rather than moving immediately or rushing.
Official handbook: Texas Commercial Driver License Handbook (DL-7C), Section 13 – On-Road Driving, p. 186
5. Violation points for major violations are retained on a driving record for:
  1. Three years.
  2. 10 years.
  3. 55 years. ✓

Answer: C. 55 years.

Official handbook: Official handbook
6. Broken suspension parts:
  1. Should be repaired immediately. ✓
  2. Should be repaired, but not immediately.
  3. Cannot be identified.

Answer: A. Should be repaired immediately.

Broken suspension parts should be repaired immediately. The handbook says the suspension holds up the vehicle and its load and keeps the axles in place, so broken suspension parts can be extremely dangerous. It also lists broken leaf springs, coil springs, U-bolts, spring hangers, and other axle positioning parts as things you must inspect for and find not broken, cracked, missing, or damaged. Because a broken part makes the vehicle unsafe, it needs to be repaired before the vehicle is used, not put off until later.
Official handbook: Texas Commercial Driver License Handbook (DL-7C), Section 2 – Driving Safely, p. 29
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