What's the Passing Score on the Hawaii CDL General Knowledge Test?
40 out of 50 — 80% — passes Hawaii's CDL General Knowledge test. The threshold is federal; the delivery method and fees around it are Hawaii's own.
A federal bar, delivered electronically at the county level
49 CFR Part 383 sets the CDL general knowledge test at 50 questions and 80% nationwide, with each of Hawaii's four county licensing divisions administering that standard rather than writing its own.
The test itself runs electronically rather than on paper, and costs $15 per attempt.
A retake costs the same as the first try
Since the $15 fee applies per test, a failed attempt means paying it again to retest — there's no discount for a second try.
Once you pass, your CLP holds for 180 days, and a mandatory 14-day wait still applies before the skills test, no matter how quickly you passed the written portion.
The material that actually costs points
Air brake PSI thresholds and hours-of-service caps are memorization, not intuition — get the exact number wrong and the question is wrong, no partial credit for being close.
Cargo securement's 50-mile-then-150-mile recheck sequence is a common one to reverse under pressure.
A missed practice question is only useful if you read the full explanation — the correct letter alone teaches nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Hawaii require a higher passing score than 80% for the CDL test?
No. 49 CFR Part 383 fixes the CDL general knowledge test at 50 questions and an 80% passing threshold nationwide — Hawaii's county licensing divisions administer that federal standard rather than setting their own.
Does a failed knowledge test attempt cost extra to retake?
Yes — the $15 fee applies per attempt, so a retake means paying it again.
What score should I aim for on practice tests?
Aim for 90% or higher consistently before your appointment. That buffer above the 80% minimum accounts for first-attempt nerves.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Hawaii cdl practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-24