The fee for renewal is $12.50.
CDL Knowledge Test
You will take one or more knowledge tests, depending on what class of license and what endorsements you may need. The CDL knowledge tests include:
General Knowledge Test, taken by all applicants.
Combination Vehicles Test, which is required if you want to drive Class A combination vehicles.
Air Brakes Test, which you must take if your vehicle has air brakes. Drivers not taking this test will be restricted to driving vehicles without air brakes ("K" restriction).
Passenger Transport Test, taken by all bus driver applicants.
Hazardous Materials Test, required if you want to haul hazardous materials or waste requiring placarding.
Tanker Test, required if you want to haul liquids or gaseous materials in bulk (1,000 gallon capacity or more).
Doubles/Triples Test, required if you want to pull double or triple trailers.
The type of CDL written knowledge tests you need to pass depends on the type of commercial motor vehicle you drive and the cargo you haul. Illustrations of typical vehicle configurations are shown below.
CDL Skills Test
If you pass the required knowledge tests, you can take the CDL skills test. There are three parts to the CDL skills test: the pre-trip inspection test, the basic control skills test, and the on-road test. You must take these tests in the type of vehicle for which you wish to be licensed. To be eligible for a CDL, all three parts of the CDL skills test must be passed at one time.
Pre-trip Inspection. The purpose of the pre-trip inspection is to see whether the vehicle is safe to drive. You will be required to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle and to explain to the examiner what you would inspect and why. The examiner will mark on a scoring form each item that you correctly inspect and explain.
Basic Control Skills Test. The purpose of the basic control skills test is to evaluate your basic skills in controlling the vehicle. You will be asked to perform four maneuvers: The Stop Line, Straight Line Backing, Forward Serpentine, and the Alley Dock.
Road Test. The purpose of the road test is to evaluate your ability to drive safely in a variety of on-road situations. You will drive a test route following the instructions given by the examiner. The test route will include left and right turns, intersections, railroad crossing, curves, up and down grades, interstate, city and rural roads. The examiner will score specific areas of the test route. The examiner will not ask you to do anything dangerous or illegal.
Although there is no charge for first time skills tests, a $25.00 fee will be charged for all repeat commercial driver license skills testing. This includes pre-trip inspection, basic control skills and on-road demonstration.
South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
