Nevada CDL practice tests
Nevada concentrates its own skills testing in just four offices out of thirteen CDL locations statewide, so most of this large, sparsely populated state depends on a third party certifier rather than the DMV to actually administer the drive test.
The written exams themselves are federal. Nevada decides the permit rules, the fees and who runs the skills test, but the knowledge you are tested on comes from 49 CFR Part 383 and is the same in every state, which is why the 145 questions here work wherever you apply.
What changes in this state
Commercial learner permit
Nevada issues the commercial learner permit for 180 days and requires an applicant to hold it at least 14 days before the skills test can be scheduled.
Nevada DMV, Commercial Learner Permits, checked 2026-08-28
Fees
Issuing a commercial learner permit costs $141.50, the same transaction fee charged for an original CDL that requires both knowledge and skills testing.
Nevada DMV, CDL Offices and Fees, checked 2026-08-28
Where you test
Only four Nevada DMV offices, in Elko, Winnemucca, Reno, and North Las Vegas, administer the driving skills test, and applicants elsewhere in the state typically test through an authorized third party certifier or school instead.
Nevada DMV, CDL Offices and Fees, checked 2026-08-28
Every knowledge area
General Knowledge
Required of every applicant: inspection, control, space and speed management, hazard perception, emergencies and hours of service.
Air Brakes
Fail this and an L restriction bars you from any vehicle with air brakes, which is most of them.
Combination Vehicles
Coupling, the fifth wheel, off tracking and trailer swing. Needed for Class A.
Hazardous Materials
Placards, shipping papers, segregation and the security threat assessment.
Tank Vehicles
Liquid surge, baffles, outage and why a tanker rolls over so readily.
Doubles and Triples
Rearward amplification, converter dollies and coupling a second or third trailer.
Passenger Transport
Bus inspection, standee lines, passenger supervision and railroad crossings.
School Bus
Danger zones, loading and unloading, student crossing and evacuation.