New Hampshire Passenger CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the Passenger portion of the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division 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 New Hampshire.

Question 1 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 2 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 3 of 20

When you stop a bus, you should:

Stop smoothly to avoid throwing standing passengers off-balance
Stop suddenly
Use only the parking brake
Stop on a hill always

Correct. Smooth stops protect standing passengers and reduce surge for seated ones. Plan stops in advance.

Question 4 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 5 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 6 of 20

Where must hazardous materials that are allowed on a bus be carried?

Inside the passenger area
Only in the baggage compartment, never in the passenger area
On the dashboard
In the cab with the driver

Correct. When allowed at all, the small quantities of hazmat permitted on buses must be in the baggage compartment, separated from passengers.

Question 7 of 20

A bus driver who is convicted of using the bus to commit a felony or driving under the influence with passengers aboard faces:

No penalty
Permanent disqualification or extended disqualification
A fine only
A warning

Correct. Federal rule: certain offenses (using the CMV in a felony, DUI with passengers) bring extended or permanent disqualification.

Question 8 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 9 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 10 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.

Question 11 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 12 of 20

When approaching a stop where passengers will board, you should:

Slow gradually, signal, stop at the curb, set the parking brake, open the door
Stop suddenly
Drive past
Honk the horn

Correct. Plan the stop, signal, decelerate smoothly, stop at the curb, set the parking brake before opening the door — interlock should prevent door opening unless brake is set.

Question 13 of 20

Speed control on a long downgrade in a bus is critical because:

Brake fade can occur, and braking distance grows quickly with passenger load
Speed is irrelevant
Buses cannot go downhill
Speed is the same as a car

Correct. Heavy passenger load + long downgrade = brake fade risk. Select a lower gear before starting down and use intermittent firm braking.

Question 14 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 15 of 20

A passenger vehicle drove with people standing forward of the standee line. This is:

Acceptable
Prohibited — standees may not be forward of the line while the vehicle is in motion
Required
Encouraged

Correct. Standees forward of the line are at risk in emergency stops or sudden braking. Enforce the line.

Question 16 of 20

On a bus with a wheelchair lift, you should:

Verify the lift is operating and stowed correctly during pre-trip
Ignore it
Operate it only after passengers complain
Skip the lift

Correct. Test lift operation during pre-trip; verify it stows correctly so it does not interfere with door operation or hit cars during the route.

Question 17 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 18 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 19 of 20

Most bus injuries during a trip happen because of:

Driver hitting another vehicle
Sudden stops, sharp turns, and quick lane changes throwing passengers
Engine failure
Fuel issues

Correct. Standing or unbelted passengers are vulnerable to abrupt motion. Smooth driving prevents most in-bus injuries.

Question 20 of 20

Stops requiring extra caution:

School zones, construction zones, intersections, slick roads
None of the above
Empty highways
Long straightaways

Correct. Anywhere with pedestrians, reduced visibility, or reduced control demands extra attention.

About the New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Division 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 New Hampshire CDL practice tests.