CDL Prep Apps (2026): 10 CDL Practice Test Apps

The written CDL tests trip up plenty of people who are already good drivers. The questions lean on the commercial driver's manual, with air brake systems, cargo rules and vehicle inspection details that you won't have met behind the wheel of a car.

The apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the provider's own App Store listing, read this week. If you're also weighing up driving work, my guide to apps that pay you to drive covers the gig side of the road.

CDL practice test apps at a glance

I checked the free plan column on each provider's own App Store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the listing names a free version, a free tier, free lessons or tests, or a free daily set of questions. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the listing I read named neither, even where there's a download button, so check the provider's own page before you subscribe.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
CDL DMV Written Test by Infinity Loop	Multi-state CDL practice exams	Unlimited free practice tests	Yes
CDL Exam Prep 2026 by Easy Pass	AI-explained CDL practice app	AI explanations of tricky questions	Yes
CDL Help	Class A and B question bank	A large bank of explained questions	Not stated
CDL Permit Prep Test 2026 by Chintan Kavathiya	State and class study path app	A study path for your licence class	Yes
CDL Practice Test 2026 by The PATG Group	Manual-referenced CDL question bank	Checking answers against the manual	Yes
CDL Prep - Practice Test 2026 by Best Fun Games	Exam-style CDL quiz app	Realistic exam-style quizzes	Not stated
CDL Prep by Jeffrey Diaz	CDL knowledge and endorsement app	Endorsement tests beyond general knowledge	Not stated
CDL Prep Practice Test Genie	Endorsement practice app	Hazmat and every endorsement test	Not stated
CDL Prep: All 50 States by Prince Verma	State-specific CDL app	Practice matched to your state's test	Yes
CDL Test Prep 2026 Class A B by Hanh Le	Ad-supported CDL prep app	Plain-English reasons for wrong answers	Yes

Ten CDL practice test apps worth a look

CDL DMV Written Test by Infinity Loop

Best for: Thrifty learners who want unlimited free practice tests for their class across all states before deciding on anything extra.

CDL Exam Prep 2026 by Easy Pass

Best for: Students who want an AI explanation of every tricky question and a free tier of basic practice tests before paying.

CDL Help

Best for: Future truckers working towards Class A or Class B who want thousands of practice questions with detailed explanations.

CDL Permit Prep Test 2026 by Chintan Kavathiya

Best for: Applicants who want the app to build a study path around their own state, licence class and endorsements, free with a daily limit.

CDL Practice Test 2026 by The PATG Group

Best for: Careful learners who like every question tied back to the federal CDL manual, with free practice and an optional exam mode.

CDL Prep - Practice Test 2026 by Best Fun Games

Best for: Last-minute revisers who want realistic exam-style quizzes that closely simulate the written test and show where they're still weak.

CDL Prep by Jeffrey Diaz

Best for: Drivers who need more than the general knowledge test, with question sets for air brakes, combinations and other endorsements in one place.

CDL Prep Practice Test Genie

Best for: Drivers adding hazmat or other endorsements who want exam-level practice questions for each endorsement test, including the permit test itself.

CDL Prep: All 50 States by Prince Verma

Best for: Applicants who know their state runs its own knowledge test and want the general knowledge section free, with endorsements bought once.

CDL Test Prep 2026 Class A B by Hanh Le

Best for: Learners who want a plain-English breakdown every time they miss a question, in an app that's free to use with ads.

Which app for which driver

• You want to pay nothing to start: CDL DMV Written Test by Infinity Loop, CDL Test Prep 2026 Class A B by Hanh Le.
• You're adding hazmat or other endorsements: CDL Prep Practice Test Genie.
• You want answers checked against the manual: CDL Practice Test 2026 by The PATG Group.
• Your state's test is what worries you: CDL Prep: All 50 States by Prince Verma.
• You like AI explanations: CDL Exam Prep 2026 by Easy Pass.

The three-attempt rule and the 14-day permit wait

Rules vary by state, so check your own DMV, but California DMV gives a clear picture of how strict the written stage is. You have three attempts to pass each required knowledge test. Fail the same test three times and your application is no longer valid, so you need to reapply and start again.

Once you pass, you get a commercial learner's permit. California DMV says you must hold it for at least 14 days before you can take the skills test, and the permit is valid for a maximum of 180 days. Your application stays valid for 12 months, so the clock is running from the day you apply.

Why the endorsement tests catch people out

Most learners spend their time on general knowledge and then rush the endorsement tests they need for their job. Air brakes, combination vehicles, tankers and hazmat each have their own test and their own vocabulary, and a weak score on one can hold up the whole licence.

That's why the best way to use any app here is by topic. Work out which tests your licence class and your future job need, practise those topic by topic, and only then move on to mixed mock exams.

Three weeks from manual to mock exams

1. Week 1: read the general knowledge section of your state's CDL manual and answer its questions in the app every day.
2. Week 2: switch to the endorsement tests you need, one topic at a time, and note every question you miss.
3. Week 3: take full mock exams for each test until you pass them comfortably, then book.
4. The day before: one calm mock, then rest.

Four things to look for in a CDL app

• Your licence class. Class A and Class B learners need different combinations of tests.
• Endorsements covered. Make sure the app has every endorsement your job needs.
• State coverage. Some apps match questions to your state's manual, which helps.
• Explanations. An app that tells you why an answer is wrong teaches you far more than a score.

Do you make CDL prep, trucking or driver training apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on CDL prep apps

Start with a free app and your state's CDL manual, and treat the endorsement tests as seriously as general knowledge. Don't book until you're passing every mock you need with room to spare, because a third failure means starting the application over.

Looking after a vehicle matters once you're licensed, too. My guide to car care tips all drivers need to know covers the basics every driver should check.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best app for CDL practice tests?

There's no single best one: choose an app that covers your licence class, your endorsements and your state, with an explanation for every answer.

Are there free CDL prep apps?

Yes, several apps here name free practice, a free tier or free use with ads, so check the free plan column.

How many times can you take the CDL knowledge test?

In California you get three attempts at each required knowledge test before you need to reapply. Other states set their own rules.

How long do you hold a CDL permit before the skills test?

California DMV says you must hold your commercial learner's permit for at least 14 days before the skills test.

What tests are on the CDL written exam?

Everyone takes general knowledge, then extra tests depending on your class and endorsements, such as air brakes, combinations, tankers and hazmat.

How long is a commercial learner's permit valid?

In California the permit is valid for a maximum of 180 days, and it can be renewed for another 180 days if that's within a year of your application.