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Based on official Virginia exam questions

Free Virginia CDL Air Brakes Test 2025

  • Perfect for first-time and renewal CDL/CLP applicants, and those adding endorsements.

Securing a CDL without an air brake restriction is vital for expanded job opportunities in Virginia. Most semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, and commercial buses rely on air brakes for safe navigation. If you don’t pass the Virginia DMV CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test, your CDL will include the restriction “L,” prohibiting you from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with air brakes. The steep grades of the Appalachian Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway, and the rolling hills of the Piedmont, demand air brakes on heavy CMVs. The coastal plains and tidewater region are prone to flooding and slick road conditions, and winter’s ice and snow add additional hazards. Failing the air brakes test in Virginia results in a one-day waiting period (and retest fee) should you decide to retake the test. Our Virginia DMV CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests help you pass your knowledge exam on the first attempt.

The stop-and-go traffic of Virginia’s urban areas and major highways compounds the need for reliable air brakes. Major transportation routes include I-81 (running through western Virginia, I-64 (connecting the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coast), I-95 (running north-south along the east coast), and US-58 (running east-west).

The Old Dominion relies on drivers with the air brake qualification in key industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, defense, and energy. Major companies requiring this qualification include Newport News Shipbuilding and Northrop Grumman in the manufacturing and heavy equipment sector and FedEx Freight, UPS Freight, and XPO Logistics in the freight and logistics industry. Smithfield Foods, Perdue Farms, and Southern States Cooperative also rely on air brake-qualified drivers in the agriculture industry, as do Dominion Energy and Alpha Metallurgical Resources in energy and mining. Greyhound Lines and Virginia Motorcoach use air brake-equipped buses, as do the state school districts on full-size school buses. The “L” restriction makes the above-listed jobs unattainable.

Our CDL Air Brakes Practice Tests cover all essential knowledge for the official DMV Air Brakes Knowledge Test. The information you learn will also aid your preparations for your skills test. The written Air Brakes knowledge test features 25 multiple-choice questions based on the state’s CDL manual (Virginia CDL Handbook 2025) and requires a minimum passing score of 80%.

Our Practice Tests mimic the official knowledge test and offer real-time feedback on all responses. This helps you learn faster and ensures you pass the test.

9 min to complete
Available in EN and ES
VA commercial driver's license
Real exam-style pitfalls you’ll practice:
Common Traps
Distractors
Trick Wording
Double Negatives

Authored and curated by Steven Litvintchouk, M.S.

Chief Educational Researcher (ACES member)
Methodology & Editorial Policy
Last verified for accuracy: October 2025 (reviewed weekly)

What to expect on the actual VA permit test

25

questions

20

correct answers to pass

80%

passing score

We know what it takes to pass. And we’ve got the proof.

Driver’s Ed is - nobody wants to set foot inside the DMV. That’s why millions of learners trust us for simple, visual, effective prep.

An Official & Trusted Partner in Driver Education

We are an officially recognized FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training provider and a proud partner to over 2,500 libraries. We work with safety organizations like GHSA and the National Safety Council to help create safer roads for everyone.

A Smarter Way to Study

Challenge Bank™

Our trademarked system automatically saves questions you miss, creating personalized tests that target your weak spots until you’ve mastered the material.

AI-Powered Feedback

Get smarter as you study. Our new AI-powered feedback provides detailed, question-level insights to help you understand the why behind each answer.

Interactive Handbook

Go beyond the boring black-and-white manual. Our interactive handbook lets you read, listen with an MP3 audio version, or even chat with it to find the information you need, faster.

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