What's the Passing Score on the Maryland CDL General Knowledge Test?
40 out of 50 — 80% — passes Maryland's CDL General Knowledge test. Oddly, that's an easier bar than the 88% the MVA itself sets for a plain car learner's permit, since Washington, not Annapolis, writes the CDL rulebook.
Two different rulebooks, two different numbers
The car permit's 88% is a Maryland MVA policy choice. The CDL test's 80% comes from 49 CFR Part 383, a federal regulation every state administers identically — the MVA has no authority to raise or lower it.
That's why a new CDL applicant who already struggled through Maryland's tough car permit test sometimes finds the CDL knowledge test comparatively more forgiving, at least on the raw percentage.
What a retake actually costs you
Maryland's CLP runs $90 and bundles the CDLIS check with the skills-test fee, so a failed knowledge test doesn't just cost a do-over exam — it means another MVA office visit before training can even start.
Since the CLP is only good for 6 months, a slow start caused by a failed first attempt eats directly into your training window.
Where the extra 10 points of margin actually go
Air brakes and hours-of-service questions hinge on exact numbers — PSI thresholds, hour caps — that intuition alone won't get you to, unlike judgment-based car-permit questions.
Cargo securement's specific mile and hour thresholds (an initial check within 50 miles, then every 150 miles or 3 hours) are a frequent source of near-misses under time pressure.
Read every explanation, not just the ones you missed — the goal is closing gaps in understanding, not pattern-matching your way to a lucky guess.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Maryland CDL test really easier to pass than the car permit test?
By raw percentage, yes — 80% versus 88% — though the CDL test covers denser, more technical material spread across 50 questions instead of 25.
Can the MVA raise the CDL passing score above 80%?
No. 49 CFR Part 383 fixes it nationwide at 80% — the MVA administers that federal standard rather than setting its own, unlike the car permit test.
What score should I aim for on practice tests?
Aim for 90%+ before your appointment. The federal floor is 80%, but a real test under time pressure tends to run a few points below your practice average.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free Maryland cdl practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-21