New York CDL knowledge test: what is different
New York writes its own CDL manual, gives three answer choices per question instead of four, offers the test in four languages, and has a Metal Coil endorsement test.
New York test facts
| Fact | New York | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answer choices | Three per question | New York State Commercial Driver's Manual, Section 1 | 2026-10-24 |
| Pass mark | 80% | New York State Commercial Driver's Manual, Section 1 (CDL-10, 2/26) | 2026-10-25 |
| Question counts | Published only for School Bus (20) and Metal Coil (20) | New York DMV manual and endorsements page | 2026-10-25 |
| Language | English, Spanish, Chinese or Russian. HazMat is in English only | New York DMV, Get a CDL | 2026-10-24 |
| New York-only test | Metal Coil (M) endorsement written test | New York DMV manual | 2026-10-25 |
| Manual | CDL-10, posted as separate section files; Section 1 dated 2/26 | New York DMV manual index | 2026-10-25 |
Where each chapter is in the New York manual
Pages in the New York manual (PDF page numbers, checked 2026-10-27).
| Examlane chapter | New York page |
|---|---|
| 1 Section 1: introduction, tests and disqualifications | Section 1 PDF, p. 1 |
| 2.1 Vehicle inspection | Section 2 PDF, p. 1 |
| 2.2 Basic control of your vehicle | Section 2 PDF, p. 11 |
| 2.3 Shifting gears | Section 2 PDF, p. 12 |
| 2.4 Seeing | Section 2 PDF, p. 14 |
| 2.5 Communicating | Section 2 PDF, p. 16 |
| 2.6 Controlling speed | Section 2 PDF, p. 19 |
| 2.7 Managing space | Section 2 PDF, p. 22 |
| 2.8 Seeing hazards | Section 2 PDF, p. 25 |
| 2.9 Distracted driving | Section 2 PDF, p. 28 |
| 2.10 Aggressive drivers | Section 2 PDF, p. 29 |
| 2.11 Driving at night | Section 2 PDF, p. 31 |
| 2.12 Driving in fog | Section 2 PDF, p. 33 |
| 2.13 Winter driving | Section 2 PDF, p. 33 |
| 2.14 Hot weather | Section 2 PDF, p. 35 |
| 2.15 Railroad crossings | Section 2 PDF, p. 37 |
| 2.16 Mountain driving | Section 2 PDF, p. 39 |
| 2.17 Driving emergencies | Section 2 PDF, p. 41 |
| 2.18 Antilock brakes | Section 2 PDF, p. 44 |
| 2.19 Skids | Section 2 PDF, p. 47 |
| 2.20 Crashes | Section 2 PDF, p. 48 |
| 2.21 Fires | Section 2 PDF, p. 49 |
| 2.22 Alcohol and drugs | Section 2 PDF, p. 51 |
| 2.23 Staying alert | Section 2 PDF, p. 53 |
| 2.24 Hazardous materials basics | Section 2 PDF, p. 55 |
| 3 Section 3: transporting cargo | Section 3 PDF, p. 1 |
| 4 Section 4: passenger | Section 4 PDF, p. 1 |
| 5 Section 5: air brakes | Section 5 PDF, p. 1 |
| 6 Section 6: combination vehicles | Section 6 PDF, p. 1 |
| 7 Section 7: doubles and triples | Section 7 PDF, p. 1 |
| 8 Section 8: tank vehicles | Section 8 PDF, p. 1 |
| 9 Section 9: hazardous materials | Section 9 PDF, p. 1 |
| 10 Section 10: school buses | Section 10 PDF, p. 1 |
What Examlane does for New York
- Our questions have four answer choices, so New York's three-choice test will look a little different.
- Examlane has a New York Metal Coil (M) pack, written from New York's own metal coil manual (MV-79, December 2024). The mock test matches New York's: 20 questions, 16 right to pass.
Practice and choose New York when asked.
Changes
- 2026-10-25: manual sections and endorsement counts checked.
- 2026-10-28: Metal Coil (M) pack added, written from New York's MV-79 manual; its mock test uses the 20 questions New York publishes.
Checked by the Examlane team. If New York's own site differs, it wins; tell us at [email protected].