Minnesota CDL practice test

Minnesota CLP and knowledge tests

Minnesota’s CDL manual says a CLP applicant must be at least 18 and hold a valid Minnesota driver’s license. The CLP is valid for 180 days and may be renewed, but its total validity cannot exceed one year from its initial issue. A CLP holder must practice with a licensed driver who has the same class and necessary endorsements or higher, and hold the permit for 14 calendar days before the skills test. The manual says each knowledge test may be attempted once per day and is offered in English on paper or computer.

Choose tests for the vehicle and endorsements

Minnesota requires general knowledge and adds tests based on the vehicle, equipment, and endorsements sought. Air brakes apply to a test vehicle equipped with air brakes or air-over-hydraulic brakes; combination, passenger, school-bus, tank, doubles/triples, and HazMat tests each apply to their relevant operations. Minnesota DVS also allows some current or former CDL holders to skip applicable tests they have already passed and held when obtaining a school-bus CLP; first-time endorsement tests still apply.

Skills-test sequence

The Minnesota CDL skills test has three segments in order: vehicle inspection, basic control skills, and road test. Applicants test in a vehicle representative of the license sought and must provide vehicle weight documentation (and passenger capacity for a bus), valid inspection stickers, and current insurance when applicable. Check DVS instructions and the latest manual before scheduling.