North Carolina CDL knowledge test: what is different

North Carolina allows one attempt a day at each knowledge test, and one $51.50 application fee covers three tries at General Knowledge. Test scores last 90 days, so get your permit before they run out.

North Carolina test facts

Fact	North Carolina	Source	Checked
Question counts	Not published in the North Carolina manual or on the NCDMV CDL pages	North Carolina CDL manual	2026-10-27
Pass mark	80% on each knowledge test	North Carolina CDL manual, Section 1.1.1	2026-10-27
Attempts	One attempt a day at each knowledge test; after three failed General Knowledge tests you pay the application fee again	North Carolina CDL manual, Section 1.1.1	2026-10-27
Fees	$51.50 application (covers three General Knowledge attempts); $25.50 a year for the CDL; $5 a year for each endorsement	NCDOT fee table, revised 9 May 2024	2026-10-27
Permit and scores	A learner's permit lasts 180 days and can be renewed once. Knowledge test scores are valid for 90 days	NCDMV Commercial Driver License page; manual Section 1.1.1	2026-10-27
North Carolina rule	School bus applicants get at most two training attempts and six testing attempts a calendar year	NCDMV School Bus Endorsements	2026-10-27

Where each chapter is in the North Carolina manual

Pages in the North Carolina manual (PDF page numbers, checked 2026-10-27).

Examlane chapter	North Carolina page
1 Section 1: introduction, tests and disqualifications	p. 16
2.1 Vehicle inspection	p. 25
2.2 Basic control of your vehicle	p. 32
2.3 Shifting gears	p. 33
2.4 Seeing	p. 34
2.5 Communicating	p. 35
2.6 Controlling speed	p. 37
2.7 Managing space	p. 40
2.8 Seeing hazards	p. 42
2.9 Distracted driving	p. 45
2.10 Aggressive drivers	p. 47
2.11 Driving at night	p. 48
2.12 Driving in fog	p. 51
2.13 Winter driving	p. 51
2.14 Hot weather	p. 53
2.15 Railroad crossings	p. 54
2.16 Mountain driving	p. 56
2.17 Driving emergencies	p. 57
2.18 Antilock brakes	p. 59
2.19 Skids	p. 60
2.20 Crashes	p. 62
2.21 Fires	p. 62
2.22 Alcohol and drugs	p. 64
2.23 Staying alert	not in this manual
2.24 Hazardous materials basics	p. 66 (their 2.23)
3 Section 3: transporting cargo	p. 69
4 Section 4: passenger	p. 73
5 Section 5: air brakes	p. 77
6 Section 6: combination vehicles	p. 87
7 Section 7: doubles and triples	p. 99
8 Section 8: tank vehicles	p. 103
9 Section 9: hazardous materials	p. 107
10 Section 10: school buses	p. 129

What Examlane does for North Carolina

North Carolina does not publish its test lengths, so the mock tests use the usual lengths: 50 for General Knowledge, 25 for Air Brakes, 20 for most endorsements.
The North Carolina manual is the older 2005 edition; the table above shows where each of our chapters sits in it.

Practice and choose North Carolina when asked.

Changes

2026-10-27: pass mark, attempts, fees and permit rules checked against the NCDMV manual, the NCDMV CDL and school bus pages and the 2024 NCDOT fee table.

Checked by the Examlane team. If North Carolina's own site differs, it wins; tell us at [email protected].