How Many Questions Are on South Dakota's CDL General Knowledge Test?
50 questions. That count is fixed by 49 CFR Part 383, the same across every state — South Dakota administers the federal format through its Department of Public Safety rather than writing its own.
One base fee, extra per endorsement
The federal government owns the question count and 80% threshold. South Dakota's own fee structure charges $33 for the CDL application, plus $15 for each additional endorsement knowledge test.
A commercial learner's permit is valid for six months, and a CLP holder must hold it at least 14 days before scheduling the skills test.
Three classes, one test format
South Dakota offers Class A, B, and C CDLs, each built on the same 50-question General Knowledge test plus any additional endorsement tests your training vehicle or cargo requires.
Original documents or certified copies are required for every supporting document; a photocopy isn't accepted.
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 Dakota's CDL General Knowledge test?
50 questions, the federally standard length used nationwide, not a South Dakota-specific number.
What does South Dakota charge for the CDL application?
$33, plus $15 for each additional endorsement knowledge test.
How long must I hold my CLP before the skills test?
At least 14 days.
Ready to put this into practice?
Start a free South Dakota cdl practice testLast reviewed: 2026-07-24