Indiana CDL practice test

The CDL general knowledge test follows federal standards, so these questions apply in Indiana just as they do nationwide. Below the test you'll find the Indiana-specific steps to actually get licensed.

Indiana CDL General Knowledge Question 1 of 10

Posted speed limits on highway ramps and interchanges:

Getting your CDL in Indiana

In Indiana, apply through the state licensing agency (IN DMV / DOT). The core steps are the same across states:

  1. Get a valid IN driver's license and provide required identity documents.
  2. Pass the DOT physical with a certified medical examiner and carry your medical card.
  3. Pass the written knowledge tests (general knowledge plus any endorsements you need).
  4. Hold your commercial learner's permit (CLP) for the required waiting period.
  5. Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a registered provider, if required.
  6. Pass the skills test — pre-trip inspection, basic controls, and road test.

Exact fees, permit hold times, and document requirements are set by Indiana. Confirm the current details with the IN licensing agency before you go.

What is different in Indiana

Licensing in Indiana runs through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The part that catches people out is not the test — it is the medical certificate, because the way it reaches the state changed in 2025.

Indiana has not published its own transition date, and the BMV describes the flow rather than a cutover: your certified physician sends the Medical Examiner’s Certificate to the National Registry, and the Registry submits the information electronically to your state of record, where it is applied to your driving record. To hold a CDL in Indiana you must have a valid MEC on file with the BMV.

There is a phone line just for certificate processing status

Drivers and companies can check where a Medical Examiner’s Certificate is in processing by calling 888-692-6841 and choosing option three. Most states make you read your driving record and guess; Indiana staffs the question.

The Indiana DOT physical page has the rest — what the exam checks, what happens if your certification lapses, and the BMV contacts worth having.

Don't forget the DOT physical

A valid medical certificate is required before you can be licensed. Read our DOT physical guide to know what the exam checks and how to pass it the first time.