CDL state requirements
CDL Requirements by State (2026)
Last UpdatedJuly 27, 2026State guide facts, source links, and DMV-day reminders are reviewed for learner permit prep.
While the federal government sets minimum CDL standards, each state controls its own fees, test locations, licensing offices, renewal rules, and some administrative steps. Use the sortable table below to find your state, then open the state CDL page before you apply or schedule testing.
Quick answer
Most CDL applicants start with age, license, medical, and knowledge-test requirements
In general, CDL applicants need a valid regular driver license, must meet state domicile rules, and must be at least 18 for intrastate commercial driving or 21 for interstate driving. The General Knowledge test is commonly 50 questions with an 80% passing score, but state fees, locations, retake rules, and appointment steps must be verified with your state licensing agency.
All 50 states
Sortable CDL requirements table
Click a column heading to sort. Important: CDL fees, testing vendors, endorsement rules, office steps, and retake policies can change. Major state rows include specific fee references and planning notes where official state schedules publish clear figures, but you should verify the linked state CDL page and official licensing source before paying, scheduling, or choosing an endorsement path.
| State | Min Age (Intrastate) |
Min Age (Interstate) |
General Knowledge Questions |
Passing Score | CLP Fee | CDL Fee | State note | State CDL Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Alabama |
| Alaska | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Alaska |
| Arizona | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Arizona |
| Arkansas | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Arkansas |
| California | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | Commercial application fee shown on CA DMV fee chart; verify current class/transaction amount | Original commercial Class A/B fee listed by CA DMV; renewal/correction varies | California CDL applicants should verify medical certification, commercial knowledge tests, and approved skills-test options before scheduling. | Open California |
| Colorado | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Colorado |
| Connecticut | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Connecticut |
| Delaware | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Delaware |
| Florida | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | Fee handled under FLHSMV CDL issuance/testing schedule | $75 original/renewal CDL; endorsements commonly listed separately | Florida CDL applicants should verify FLHSMV commercial driver license office steps and any endorsement/TSA requirements. | Open Florida |
| Georgia | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | $35 CLP fee listed by Georgia DDS CDL fee guidance | Commercial license fee listed by Georgia DDS; verify class and term | Georgia DDS handles CLP, CDL, endorsements, medical certification, and skills testing through state CDL procedures. | Open Georgia |
| Hawaii | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Hawaii |
| Idaho | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Idaho |
| Illinois | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | $50 commercial learner permit fee listed by Illinois SOS | $60 original CDL fee listed by Illinois SOS | Illinois Driver Services lists separate fees for CLP, original CDL, renewal, correction, and endorsements. | Open Illinois |
| Indiana | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Indiana |
| Iowa | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Iowa |
| Kansas | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Kansas |
| Kentucky | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Kentucky |
| Louisiana | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Louisiana |
| Maine | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Maine |
| Maryland | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Maryland |
| Massachusetts | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Massachusetts |
| Michigan | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | Michigan SOS fee schedule varies by CDL transaction and testing path | CDL group/designation and endorsement fees are listed separately by Michigan SOS | Michigan applicants should confirm CDL group designation, endorsement tests, medical certification, and skills-test scheduling with SOS. | Open Michigan |
| Minnesota | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Minnesota |
| Mississippi | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Mississippi |
| Missouri | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Missouri |
| Montana | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Montana |
| Nebraska | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Nebraska |
| Nevada | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Nevada |
| New Hampshire | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open New Hampshire |
| New Jersey | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open New Jersey |
| New Mexico | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open New Mexico |
| New York | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | $10 CDL permit test fee; road test fee is listed separately by NY DMV | CDL license fee varies by license class, expiration, and transaction | New York applicants should check permit test, road test, medical certification, and endorsement requirements before booking. | Open New York |
| North Carolina | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | NCDMV fee schedule varies by commercial transaction | Commercial license fee depends on term and state fee schedule | North Carolina applicants should verify CDL manual guidance, medical certification, office steps, and current fee table before applying. | Open North Carolina |
| North Dakota | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open North Dakota |
| Ohio | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | BMV fee schedule varies by permit/license transaction | CDL/license fee depends on term, age, and transaction type | Ohio applicants should verify BMV fee schedules and whether a state or third-party CDL skills tester is used. | Open Ohio |
| Oklahoma | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Oklahoma |
| Oregon | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Oregon |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | $30 commercial learner permit fee listed by PennDOT schedules | 4-year CDL fee commonly listed separately; verify current PennDOT schedule | Pennsylvania fees can split by CLP, CDL class, endorsements, upgrades, and skills-test transactions. | Open Pennsylvania |
| Rhode Island | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Rhode Island |
| South Carolina | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open South Carolina |
| South Dakota | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open South Dakota |
| Tennessee | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Tennessee |
| Texas | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | $25 CLP listed by Texas DPS fee schedule | $97 8-year CDL listed by Texas DPS fee schedule | Texas separates CLP, CDL, endorsement, and medical certification steps; DPS is the final source before payment. | Open Texas |
| Utah | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Utah |
| Vermont | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Vermont |
| Virginia | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Virginia |
| Washington | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Washington |
| West Virginia | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open West Virginia |
| Wisconsin | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Wisconsin |
| Wyoming | 18 | 21 | 50 | 80% | State fee schedule | State fee schedule | Open the state CDL guide and official licensing source for current fees, office steps, retake rules, endorsements, and medical certification details. | Open Wyoming |
Note: Federal CDL rules create a national baseline, but state offices control final forms, fees, office steps, appointment systems, retake rules, endorsements, and renewal details. Fee schedules can change, so treat this table as a planning guide and verify with the official state page before payment.
Next steps
Use the table with the CDL study path
Start with your state row, then review the full CDL process and practice the General Knowledge test before scheduling.
FAQ
CDL requirements by state questions
Can I get a CDL in a state I do not live in?
Usually no. CDL rules are tied to your state of domicile, and you generally cannot hold CDLs from more than one state. Use your home state licensing agency for final instructions.
Do I need a regular driver license before getting a CDL?
Yes. CDL applicants generally need a valid non-commercial driver license before applying for a Commercial Learner’s Permit or CDL.
Is the CDL test the same in every state?
Federal CDL standards create a common baseline, but states control testing locations, fees, appointment steps, manuals, and some administrative rules. Always verify with your state CDL page.
How long does a CDL last before renewal?
CDL renewal periods vary by state and by license type. Check your state licensing agency for the renewal term, medical certification rules, and renewal fee.
What happens if I fail the CDL knowledge test?
Retake rules, waiting periods, fees, and attempt limits vary by state. Review your missed topics, check your state retake rules, and practice the General Knowledge test again before retesting.
Official sources
Verify state CDL rules before applying
US Permit Prep is independent and is not affiliated with FMCSA, any DMV, or any state licensing agency. Use these official federal sources and your state page for final requirements.
Was this helpful?
