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ArticleCDL Passenger Endorsement Exam Guide 2026: P Endorsement Study Plan12 min read
Exam Review

Key Facts: SC CDL Passenger Exam

$2.00

Fee per knowledge test

SCDMV Commercial Fees

80%

Minimum passing score

49 CFR 383.135

14 days

Minimum CLP holding period before skills testing

49 CFR 383.25

15-50 ft

Railroad grade crossing stop distance

S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2720

SCDMV administers a Passenger knowledge examination and requires at least 80% to pass; the agency does not publish a question count or time limit. Adding the endorsement also requires federal ELDT for a first-time P applicant, holding an SC CLP for at least 14 days, and passing skills tests in a representative passenger bus.

Sample SC CDL Passenger Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the SC CDL Passenger exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 214+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under South Carolina law and federal CDL standards, what minimum vehicle passenger design capacity requires a commercial driver to hold a Passenger (P) endorsement?
A.Any vehicle designed or used to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver
B.Any vehicle designed to transport 12 or more passengers, excluding the driver
C.Any commercial bus with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 10,000 pounds
D.Any vehicle transporting 24 or more passengers in intrastate commerce
Explanation: Under 49 CFR 383.5 and Section 4 of the South Carolina Commercial Driver License Manual, a commercial motor vehicle requiring a Passenger endorsement is any vehicle designed or used to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
2For the 20-inch steering wheel example in Section 4 of the South Carolina CDL Manual, how much free play may indicate excessive steering play?
A.Approximately 2 inches (or about 10 degrees of steering wheel movement)
B.Approximately 4 inches before the front steer tires begin to turn
C.No more than 0.5 inches under any mechanical condition
D.Up to 3 inches when the power steering fluid is at operating temperature
Explanation: According to the vehicle inspection standards in the South Carolina Commercial Driver License Manual, steering wheel play should not exceed approximately 10 degrees, which is about 2 inches of movement on a 20-inch steering wheel.
3What minimum tread depth is required on the front steering tires of a commercial passenger bus?
A.4/32 inch in every major tread groove
B.2/32 inch in every major tread groove
C.1/32 inch across the center tread
D.6/32 inch on all steer and drive axles
Explanation: Federal regulations and Section 4 of the South Carolina CDL Manual mandate at least 4/32 inch of tread depth in every major groove on front steering axle tires. Non-steer tires require a minimum of 2/32 inch.
4Which tire condition is strictly prohibited on the front steering axle of a commercial bus?
A.Recapped, retreaded, or regrooved tires
B.Radial ply tires matching the manufacturer's speed rating
C.Tubeless tires inflated to maximum cold operating pressure
D.All-weather highway tread commercial tires
Explanation: Under 49 CFR 393.75 and the South Carolina CDL Manual, recapped, retreaded, or regrooved tires are prohibited on the front steering axle of any bus.
5What emergency safety equipment must be verified as present and operable during a passenger bus pre-trip inspection?
A.Properly charged and rated fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses, and three reflective red triangles
B.First aid kit, blanket, flares, and a tow chain
C.Tire repair kit, tire pressure gauge, jumper cables, and a spotlight
D.Spill kit, emergency hazard placards, and a chemical decontamination mask
Explanation: Federal regulations (49 CFR 393.95) and Section 4 of the South Carolina CDL Manual require a commercial passenger bus to carry a fully charged, properly rated fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses (unless equipped with circuit breakers), and three red reflective warning devices.
6When inspecting passenger bus emergency exit windows and roof hatches, what must the driver confirm?
A.That they operate smoothly, open freely, latch securely, and have functional warning buzzers if equipped
B.That they are sealed tightly with security tape to prevent unauthorized passenger opening
C.That they are screwed shut during interstate highway transit
D.That they open outward only when the vehicle engine is turned off
Explanation: Drivers must verify that emergency windows and roof escape hatches open freely, latch securely, and that any required warning buzzers sound in the driver compartment when an exit is unlatched with the ignition on.
7What is the primary purpose of the standee line painted on the floor of a commercial passenger bus?
A.To mark the forward boundary behind which all standing passengers must remain while the bus is in motion
B.To show where passengers must stand while paying their fare to the driver
C.To separate priority seating for elderly passengers from general coach seating
D.To indicate the vehicle center of gravity for balanced passenger loading
Explanation: Under 49 CFR 392.62 and the South Carolina CDL Manual, no passenger may stand forward of the standee line (located behind the rear of the driver's seat) while the bus is in motion.
8Before a South Carolina passenger bus departs, which baggage arrangement satisfies the Section 4 loading rules?
A.Secured so that it cannot shift, fall, or block any doorway, aisle, or emergency exit
B.Piled in the rear vestibule as long as it does not touch the ceiling
C.Stacked in the center aisle provided passengers can step over it
D.Placed directly against the rear emergency exit door to save cabin space
Explanation: Section 4 of the South Carolina CDL Manual dictates that all baggage and freight must be secured to avoid shifting and must never block aisles, doors, or emergency exits.
9Which hazardous material does the South Carolina CDL Manual say a passenger bus must never transport?
A.Division 2.3 poison gas
B.Properly packaged small-arms ammunition
C.Emergency hospital supplies
D.A permitted material kept within the bus weight limits
Explanation: Section 4 of the South Carolina CDL Manual says a bus must never carry Division 2.3 poison gas, liquid Class 6 poison, tear gas, or more than 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poison. It separately permits some materials, including small-arms ammunition and emergency hospital supplies, subject to the applicable packaging and weight rules.
10After excluding materials that a bus may never carry, what total permitted hazardous-material weight limit does Section 4 state?
A.500 pounds total, with no more than 100 pounds of any one permitted class
B.1,000 pounds total, provided all packages carry hazard warning labels
C.250 pounds total, restricted strictly to consumer cleaning supplies
D.There is no weight limit if the material is stowed in the underfloor baggage bays
Explanation: Federal regulations (49 CFR 177.870) and Section 4 of the South Carolina CDL Manual limit permitted hazardous materials on passenger buses to 500 pounds total, with no more than 100 pounds in any single class.

About the SC CDL Passenger Exam

The South Carolina CDL Passenger endorsement knowledge test is administered by the SCDMV for drivers operating commercial vehicles designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver. It covers Section 4 of the South Carolina Commercial Driver License Manual, including pre-trip inspection, passenger loading and baggage securement, standee lines, prohibited practices, railroad grade crossing stops under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2720, and emergency response. OpenExamPrep provides independent English-language four-option practice for these topics, informed by the manual and South Carolina statutes. This bank is not an official translation, format simulation, or substitute for hands-on vehicle training.

Exam sponsor: South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

An SCDMV knowledge examination, available in written or oral form, based on Sections 2 and 4 of the South Carolina Commercial Driver License Manual. A driver of an air-braked passenger bus must also pass the Air Brakes test. A first-time Passenger (P) endorsement applicant must complete federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT), hold a South Carolina Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) for at least 14 days, and pass vehicle-inspection, basic-control, and on-road skills tests in a representative passenger vehicle.

Time Limit

Not published

Passing Score

80%

Exam / Certification Fees

$2.00 per knowledge test attempt. Depending on the transaction, SCDMV also charges a $15.00 CDL application fee, $2.50 for a CLP, and $25.00 for an eight-year CDL; a repeat skills test after a failed attempt is $25.00.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Core Section 4 area

Passenger Vehicle Inspection

Pre-trip and post-trip bus inspection, steering play, tires, emergency exits, emergency equipment, and interior safety.

Core Section 4 area

Loading and Baggage Securement

Baggage stowage, aisle clearance, standee lines, weight limits, and hazardous materials restrictions on passenger vehicles.

Core Section 4 area

Passenger Management and On-Road Safety

Passenger behavior, unruly passengers, safe stops, doors closed while in motion, following distance, and turning clearance.

Core Section 4 area

Railroad Grade Crossings and Drawbridges

Mandatory stops 15 to 50 feet from nearest rail under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2720, drawbridges, emergency braking, and vehicle evacuation.

State/federal licensing area

South Carolina CDL Licensing Rules

SCDMV branch testing procedures, 14-day CLP holding period, passenger CLP restrictions (no passengers except designated officials/trainees), and ELDT requirements.

Preparing for the SC CDL Passenger Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 80%
  • Assessment: An SCDMV knowledge examination, available in written or oral form, based on Sections 2 and 4 of the South Carolina Commercial Driver License Manual. A driver of an air-braked passenger bus must also pass the Air Brakes test. A first-time Passenger (P) endorsement applicant must complete federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT), hold a South Carolina Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) for at least 14 days, and pass vehicle-inspection, basic-control, and on-road skills tests in a representative passenger vehicle.
  • Time limit: Not published
  • Exam / certification fees: $2.00 per knowledge test attempt. Depending on the transaction, SCDMV also charges a $15.00 CDL application fee, $2.50 for a CLP, and $25.00 for an eight-year CDL; a repeat skills test after a failed attempt is $25.00. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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SC CDL Passenger: Suggested Study Strategy

1Thoroughly review Section 4 (Transporting Passengers Safely) of the South Carolina Commercial Driver License Manual.
2Memorize the hazardous materials limitations for passenger vehicles: buses may never transport explosives, radioactive materials in passenger spaces, or tear gas, and permitted hazardous materials cannot exceed 100 pounds for any one class or 500 pounds total.
3Remember that under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2720, buses carrying passengers must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks at all railroad crossings and must not change gears while crossing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the South Carolina CDL Passenger test?

SCDMV and the current South Carolina CDL Manual do not publish a question count or time limit. The manual requires a score of at least 80% on each required knowledge examination.

Who is required to have a Passenger (P) endorsement in South Carolina?

Any commercial driver operating a vehicle designed or used to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver, must hold a Commercial Driver's License with a Passenger endorsement issued by the SCDMV.

What is the stopping distance rule at railroad grade crossings for buses in South Carolina?

Under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2720, a bus transporting passengers must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail, listen and look in both directions, and must not shift gears while crossing the tracks. The statute separately defines which vehicles count as buses for this rule.

How much does the CDL Passenger knowledge test cost at the SCDMV?

SCDMV charges $2.00 for each knowledge test attempt, in addition to a $15.00 application fee and a $2.50 fee for the Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP).

What happens if an applicant fails a CDL knowledge test in South Carolina?

Under SCDMV rules, applicants who fail a knowledge test must wait until the next business day before retesting. Branch offices do not administer knowledge tests after 4:00 PM.