Georgia CDL Exam Prep

Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) is the state agency responsible for issuing Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) in Georgia. A CDL is required to legally operate commercial motor vehicles covered by 49 CFR Part 383, including large trucks, buses, and other vehicles above the federal weight and passenger thresholds. DDS administers the knowledge and skills testing process, working within the framework set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), while applying its own state-specific fees, scheduling, and administrative rules.

Every CDL applicant must first hold a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), pass the applicable knowledge test or tests, and wait at least the federal minimum 14 days after CLP issuance before attempting the skills test. Anyone applying for a first-time Class A or Class B CDL, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or applying for the P, S, or H endorsement for the first time must also complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) through a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before testing, a federal requirement in effect since February 7, 2022. Third-Party Tester and Examiner applicants must submit certified motor vehicle records from every state they held a license in over the past 5 years. Georgia moved to electronic-only medical certificate transmission on June 18, 2025, ahead of the federal June 23, 2025 date.

Georgia issues the three federal CDL classes defined in 49 CFR 383.91:

• Class A - Any combination of vehicles with a combined gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the vehicle(s) being towed have a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.
• Class B - A single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or such a vehicle towing a unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
• Class C - A vehicle that does not meet the Class A or B definition but is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or is used to transport hazardous materials requiring placards under 49 CFR 383.5.

Endorsements can be added to any class as needed: H (hazardous materials), N (tank vehicle), P (passenger), S (school bus), T (doubles/triples), and X (combined tank vehicle and hazmat).

Georgia offers both DDS-direct road tests and a CDL Third-Party Testing Program, in which DDS-certified training schools or boards act as Third-Party Testers and their CDL-holding staff become Third-Party Examiners (a $10,000 surety bond is required per test site). Question counts are not stated in the official Georgia CDL Study Guide text reviewed for this guide, so confirm the current format before your test date.

Georgia requires a score of at least 80 percent to pass each CDL knowledge test (general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles, and each endorsement test). This matches the federal minimum set in 49 CFR 383.135(a)(1). The Georgia CDL Study Guide states verbatim that the passing score for all knowledge tests is 80 percent.

Typical requirements to obtain a CDL in Georgia include:

• Minimum age 18 for intrastate-only driving; minimum age 21 for interstate operation, hazmat (H or X endorsement), or passenger and school-bus (P or S) transport.
• A valid DOT medical certificate from an examiner listed on FMCSA's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
• Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) through a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, required since February 7, 2022, for first-time Class A or B applicants, Class B-to-A upgraders, and first-time P, S, or H endorsement applicants (anyone who already held the relevant credential before that date is grandfathered).
• A Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), held for a federal minimum of 14 days before the skills test may be scheduled. In Georgia, the CLP is valid for 365 days, within the federal one-year ceiling.
• Passing the applicable knowledge test (general knowledge, plus air brakes and combination vehicles if applicable) and the skills test (vehicle inspection, basic controls, and road test).
• For the H or X hazmat endorsement, a TSA Security Threat Assessment (fingerprint-based background check) under 49 CFR Part 1572, in addition to the age-21 minimum.

Requirements can change. Always confirm current licensing rules with DDS before applying.

Georgia DDS publishes these CDL fees: a CDL of any class is a flat $32 (8-year term); a CLP is $10 (365-day validity, within the federal one-year ceiling); the CDL Application Fee (CAP) is $35 and covers up to 4 attempts; the Road Skills Test is $50 per attempt; endorsements are $5 each flat (free if added at initial issuance, including Hazmat); the For-Hire endorsement is $15. Always confirm current fee amounts on the official DDS fee page before paying.

A focused 6 to 8 week study plan works well for most Georgia CDL candidates:

• Week 1-2: Learn the CDL class definitions (A, B, C), the endorsement letter codes (H, N, P, S, T, X), and the restriction codes (E, L, Z, K, O, M, N, V) from 49 CFR 383.153.
• Week 3-4: Study general knowledge topics: vehicle inspection, basic control, safe driving practices, and air brakes.
• Week 5: Focus on the combination vehicles section (coupling and uncoupling, doubles and triples basics) if you are pursuing a Class A license.
• Week 6: Review any endorsement-specific content you need (hazmat, tank vehicle, passenger, school bus) and confirm ELDT training provider requirements if this is your first Class A or B CDL.
• Week 7-8: Take full-length practice tests, review missed questions, and confirm the current knowledge and skills test format with DDS before your test date.