Bus Driver Testing | California 2025 #2

Train for FREE online with our CA bus CDL test. The official exam test consists of several obligatory parts, with all of them checking your knowledge of different blocks of road rules. If you need to obtain a license in California in 2025, learn how to become a bus driver and then practice as much as possible. Free sample tests published on our website will help you check and improve your knowledge and boost your grades. Please bear in mind that DMV requirements for a bus driver may vary from state to state.

Number of Question 20

Passing Score 16

Number of Tests 20

1 . For a basic vehicle control skills test, you are expected to be able to:

Alley dock.

Weave between a line of cones.

Complete an emergency stop.

Maneuvers that may be included in the basic vehicle control skills test include straight line backing, offset back/right parking, offset back/left parking, driver side parallel parking, conventional parallel parking, and alley docking.

2 . If equipped, a bus's flashing lights should be activated at least _____ in advance of a bus stop.

50 feet

100 feet

200 feet

If equipped, a bus's flashing lights should be activated at least 200 feet in advance of a bus stop. Depending on the speed of travel, this is often approximately five to ten seconds before the stop.

3 . An encroachment is when:

A driver does not appear for their scheduled basic skills test.

A vehicle touches an exercise boundary line during the basic skills test.

A driver fails one section of the basic skills test.

An encroachment during the basic vehicle control skills test is when an exercise boundary line is touched or crossed by any portion of the applicant's vehicle. Every encroachment will be counted as an error.

4 . After students unload at the school, a driver should:

Not be concerned with the students' whereabouts.

Leave after the students have entered the school building.

Walk through the bus to check for any sleeping students.

After students unload at school, a school bus driver should walk through the bus to check for sleeping students, hiding students, and items that students may have left behind. Students should exit the bus in an orderly fashion with the driver supervising.

5 . Before a trip, you should make sure that:

The brake pedal sticks.

The gas pedal is loose.

The grooved pedal surface has not been smoothed out.

When checking your vehicle's pedals during a pre-trip inspection, you should ensure that there is nothing under or around the pedals that will obstruct their use. Make sure the pedals are in proper working condition and that the surfaces of the pedals are grooved, if applicable.

6 . A school bus's danger zones are located:

Only to the front of the bus.

Only to the rear and left side of the bus.

To the front, sides, and rear of the bus.

The danger zones of a school bus are areas in which children are most likely to be hit, either by another vehicle or by the bus itself. Such areas are located to the front, sides, and rear of a bus. Danger zones can extend 10 feet from every side of a bus.

7 . Bus stops may be changed by:

The driver.

Parents.

The school district.

Official school bus routes and stops are established by the local school district. Drivers should never change a stop location without the written approval of an appropriate district official.

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2025 California | Frequently Asked Questions

A CDL Class B license in California allows drivers to operate single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or tow a vehicle not heavier than 10,000 pounds. This includes buses, farm labor vehicles, and any vehicle towing a vehicle not exceeding a GVWR of 10,000 pounds.

A Class B CDL license in California allows the operation of single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not exceeding 10,000 pounds GVWR. This includes buses, dump trucks, delivery trucks, tow trucks, garbage trucks, and other similar vehicles.

To acquire a Class B CDL license in California, you must be at least 18 years old (21 for interstate driving), possess a valid non-commercial driver's license, pass a vision test, complete a medical examination, and successfully complete written and skills tests. You must also have a clean driving record and be able to demonstrate the ability to operate a Class B vehicle.

To qualify for a Class B CDL license in California, you must be at least 18 years old. However, you must be 21 years old or older to operate commercial vehicles across state lines or to transport hazardous materials or waste.

Yes, specific endorsements may be necessary for a Class B CDL license in California depending on the type of vehicle you plan to drive or cargo you plan to carry. For example, endorsements are required for passenger vehicles, school buses, tank vehicles, double/triple trailers, and for carrying hazardous materials.

The Class B CDL skills assessment in California includes three parts: pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, and on-road driving. You must show you can inspect your vehicle to ensure it's safe to drive, demonstrate that you can control the vehicle in various situations, and finally, drive safely in normal traffic conditions.

Class B CDL license holders in California are restricted to driving single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, or towing a vehicle not heavier than 10,000 pounds. They cannot operate a Class A combination vehicle unless they have the appropriate endorsement.

Yes, it is possible. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers the written Class B CDL test in multiple languages, including Spanish. However, federal regulations require that all CDL holders understand English to a level that allows communication with the general public, comprehension of traffic signs and signals, and responses to official inquiries.

Yes, you can request accommodations for the Class B CDL written exam in California if you have a disability. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides reasonable testing accommodations according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This can include extended time, a quiet room, or a sign language interpreter. Contact your local DMV to discuss your needs and arrange accommodations.

Yes, you can retake the Class B CDL written test if you don't pass on your first attempt. In California, you're allowed three attempts to pass the written test within 12 months of paying the application fee. If you fail all three attempts, you must start the process over and pay a new application fee.