How Many Questions Are on the South Carolina CDL General Knowledge Test?
50 questions. That count comes from 49 CFR Part 383, applied the same in South Carolina as in every other state — the SCDMV administers the federal test rather than designing its own.
What's federal, what's South Carolina's own
The General Knowledge test's 50 questions and 80% threshold are set nationally. South Carolina's own contribution to the process is the fee structure — a $15 application charge, $2 per knowledge test taken, and $2.50 for the CLP itself, an itemized breakdown rather than one flat fee.
Depending on the class and endorsements you're pursuing, additional tests — like Air Brakes or Combination Vehicles — may also apply on top of the General Knowledge test, each incurring its own $2 test fee.
Out-of-state CLPs don't transfer
An out-of-state CLP isn't directly transferable to South Carolina — the applicant must pass the general knowledge test and any other applicable tests before an SC CLP is issued, even if a different state's CLP is still valid.
That means relocating mid-process doesn't preserve your progress; plan to retest if you move to South Carolina with an existing CLP from elsewhere.
How our practice tests are structured
Our practice tests break results down by topic immediately, so a weak spot doesn't stay hidden inside an otherwise decent overall score.
Each question includes an explanation and a source reference, so you learn why an answer is correct instead of just memorizing a letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on South Carolina's CDL General Knowledge test?
50 questions, the federally standard length used nationwide, not a South Carolina-specific number.
What does the South Carolina CLP cost?
$15 for the application, $2 for each knowledge test taken, and $2.50 for the CLP itself.
Can I transfer an out-of-state CLP to South Carolina?
No — you must pass the general knowledge test and any other applicable tests before an SC CLP is issued, regardless of an existing out-of-state CLP.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free South Carolina cdl practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-21