District of Columbia Passenger CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the Passenger portion of the District of Columbia Commercial Driver's License knowledge exam. Questions are pulled from a pool of 58 drawn from the AAMVA CDL Manual, which is the source document the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles uses to write its actual exam.

How it works: Click an answer. The correct choice highlights in green, and you'll see a short explanation. Aim for 85% or better before you sit for the real test in District of Columbia.

Question 1 of 20

After a trip, you should leave the bus:

Clean and ready for the next driver
Untouched
With trash everywhere
With doors open

Correct. Sweep, check for lost items, secure the bus, and complete the post-trip inspection report.

Question 2 of 20

The "standee line" on a bus marks:

Where standees may not pass while the bus is in motion (typically 2 feet behind the driver)
The middle aisle
The rear emergency exit
The fuel-fill location

Correct. On buses with a standee line, passengers may not stand forward of the line while the bus is moving. The line keeps standees clear of the driver and exit doors.

Question 3 of 20

When approaching a school bus on the same side of the road with red lights flashing:

Stop
Pass slowly
Pass quickly
Honk the horn

Correct. Drivers (including bus drivers) approaching a school bus loading or unloading children must stop until red lights are off and the bus moves.

Question 4 of 20

You discover an emergency exit that does not function. You should:

Carry passengers anyway
Place the bus out of service until the exit is repaired
Tape it shut
Ignore it

Correct. A non-functional emergency exit puts passengers at risk. The bus is out of service until repaired.

Question 5 of 20

Which of the following is part of the bus pre-trip inspection?

Passenger seat condition, emergency exits, signaling devices, kneeling mechanism, wheelchair lift if equipped
Only the engine
Only the brakes
Only the lights

Correct. Bus inspection includes all standard items plus passenger-area items: seats, emergency exits, signaling devices, kneeling/lift equipment, fire extinguisher.

Question 6 of 20

A "passenger vehicle" requiring a P endorsement is generally:

Any commercial vehicle
A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more people, including the driver
A vehicle that carries cargo
A school bus only

Correct. The P endorsement is required for any commercial motor vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver.

Question 7 of 20

You may NOT carry which of the following on a passenger bus?

Small-arms ammunition, hospital supplies in emergency
Class 2.3 (poison gas) or Class 7 (radioactive) above small quantities, tear gas, explosives other than small arms ammunition
Driver's personal luggage
Mail

Correct. Buses cannot carry Class 2.3 poison gases, most Class 7 radioactive materials, tear gas, or most Class 1 explosives. Small-arms ammunition and certain emergency shipments may be allowed.

Question 8 of 20

Discharging passengers should be done:

Only at safe locations — paved curb, off the road, away from traffic
Anywhere
In the middle of an intersection
Only on highways

Correct. Stop at designated stops or safe pull-offs. Never discharge into a travel lane.

Question 9 of 20

When fueling a bus:

Generally without passengers aboard; follow carrier policy if passengers must remain
Always with passengers
Always with smokers
Only at high speed

Correct. Most carriers require passengers to deboard during fueling for safety. Follow company policy.

Question 10 of 20

Buses must stop at every railroad crossing:

Yes, with limited exceptions (industrial switching tracks in city traffic, abandoned tracks, streetcar tracks)
No, never
Only at night
Only if a train is in sight

Correct. Buses, school buses, and placarded hazmat vehicles must stop at every railroad crossing 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail, with narrow exceptions.

Question 11 of 20

You should report any safety concerns about the bus:

Immediately to the carrier — never delay
Only at the end of the day
Only weekly
Never

Correct. Report safety issues immediately. Document with the daily driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR).

Question 12 of 20

A bus driver must never:

Refuse to allow standees forward of the standee line
Use turn signals
Honk the horn
Wear a uniform

Correct. You should always enforce the standee line and prohibit standing or sitting in stairwells where they could be ejected in an emergency stop.

Question 13 of 20

A bus driver should:

Refuse boarding to obviously intoxicated passengers if they pose a danger
Carry any passenger
Carry only adults
Only carry seated passengers

Correct. Carriers may refuse boarding for safety reasons (intoxication, weapons, threatening behavior). Document and report such refusals.

Question 14 of 20

Bus drivers must check:

Brake condition before every shift
Only annually
Only when problems are noticed
Only at the dealership

Correct. Pre-trip inspection — including brake condition — is required before every shift, regardless of how recently the bus was driven.

Question 15 of 20

Brake retarders or "Jake" brakes on a bus:

Help control speed on long downgrades; some are noisy and locally regulated
Are illegal everywhere
Replace the foot valve
Are decorative

Correct. Engine brakes / retarders help slow the rig on downgrades. Some areas regulate noise from compression brakes.

Question 16 of 20

When approaching a drawbridge, a bus must:

Stop at least 50 feet before the draw — unless there is a traffic light or attendant — and proceed only when you can do so safely
Cross at full speed
Honk the horn
Reverse

Correct. Stop at least 50 feet before any drawbridge. The exception is if there is a traffic-signal light or an attendant directing traffic, or the bridge has been closed and locked.

Question 17 of 20

Carry-on baggage on a bus may be:

Stored anywhere
Stored in overhead racks or under seats — never blocking aisles or emergency exits
Stored in the aisle
Held in your lap

Correct. Carry-on must not block the aisle, the emergency exit, or the doorway. Use overhead racks or under-seat space.

Question 18 of 20

Passenger fatalities are most often caused by:

Single-vehicle rollovers and collisions; speed and seat belts (where required) are common factors
Mechanical failure
Bad weather only
Cargo

Correct. Single-vehicle rollover and head-on/angle collisions account for most passenger fatalities. Speed control and where applicable, seatbelt use, reduce risk.

Question 19 of 20

Passenger areas on the bus must:

Be free of obstructions, with clear access to emergency exits
Be packed full
Have blocked exits
Have loose cargo

Correct. Aisles and exits must remain clear during travel. Cargo or carry-on must not block these paths.

Question 20 of 20

When stopping at a railroad crossing, the bus must stop:

On the rails
Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
Anywhere within 100 feet
Only if a train is heard

Correct. Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail. Look both ways and listen before proceeding.

About the District of Columbia Passenger exam

Most states administer 20 Passenger questions and require 80% to pass. The exam covers passenger safety, vehicle inspection, loading and unloading, prohibited cargo, emergency exits, and conduct expected of a passenger-vehicle operator. A separate skills test in a representative passenger vehicle is also required.

The District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles follows the federal CDL standards established by FMCSA. To earn the Passenger credential, you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. Many candidates score lower the first time because the test pulls from a large pool — refreshing this page will give you a different mix of questions, drawn from the same authoritative source.

Want more practice? Try the full Passenger question bank or browse all District of Columbia CDL practice tests.