CDL Requirements by State (2026)

State-by-state CDL requirements, verified against FMCSA and state licensing agencies. Pick your state for the exact steps, fees, and testing rules.

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255

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Getting a CDL, in short

The path: CLP (pass knowledge tests) → ELDT training → DOT physical → skills test → CDL
Minimum age: 18 to drive within your state; 21 to drive interstate or haul hazmat
Typical cost: Roughly $3,000–$10,000 all-in (mostly training) — some carriers train you for “free” on a contract
Typical timeline: About 3–8 weeks through a full-time school, longer with waits
Same everywhere: ELDT, the 14-day permit hold, medical certification, and disqualifications are federal

A commercial driver’s license follows the same federal backbone everywhere — but the fees, wait times, testing setup, and license term are set by your state. This guide keeps both layers straight, verifies every requirements page against official sources, and shows the date it was checked.

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Every state at a glance

Tap a state for the full guide with steps, costs, testing rules, and official sources.

CDL basics by state
State	Min age (intra/inter)	Permit hold	License fee	Third-party testing?
Alabama	18/21	14 days	$66.25 (Class A); $56.25 (Class B); $36.25 (Class C)	Yes
Alaska	18/21	14 days	$100 ($120 REAL ID)	Yes
Arizona	18/21	14 days	Presented as permit + skills fees (~$50 Class A/B); no separate card-issuance fee listed	Yes
Arkansas	18/21	14 days	$50 (5-year CDL)	Yes
California	18/21	14 days	$100 (Class A/B original); $59 renewal	No
Colorado	18/21	14 days	$35	Yes
Connecticut	18/21	14 days	$70	No
Delaware	18/21	14 days	$55	Yes
District of Columbia	18/21	30 days	$117	No
Florida	18/21	14 days	$75	Yes
Georgia	18/21	14 days	$32	Yes
Hawaii	18/21	14 days	$5 per year (about $40 for an 8-year Oahu license)	No
Idaho	18/21	14 days	$40 (4-year) or $60 (8-year, ages 21-62)	Yes
Illinois	18/21	14 days	$60 (classified CDL)	Yes
Indiana	18/21	14 days	$35	Yes
Iowa	18/21	14 days	$8 per year of validity (about $64 for an 8-year term)	Yes
Kansas	18/21	14 days	$41	Yes
Kentucky	18/21	14 days	$18.75–$45 prorated original CDL add-on (Standard); $88 for a full 8-year renewal	No
Louisiana	18/21	14 days	$61.50 ($76.50 for New Orleans residents)	Yes
Maine	18/21	14 days	$34 (5-year, under age 65; $59 REAL ID)	Yes
Maryland	18/21	14 days	$106 CLP transaction; $64 for an 8-year renewal	No
Massachusetts	18/21	14 days	$75 (5-year)	No
Michigan	18/21	14 days	$25 (standard CDL, 4-year)	Yes
Minnesota	18/21	14 days	$65 (Class A, 4-year; $57 Class B, $50 Class C)	No
Mississippi	18/21	14 days	$55	Yes
Missouri	18/21	14 days	~$40 license transaction (part of the ~$83 first-time CDL cost)	Yes
Montana	18/21	14 days	$41.72 interstate / $35.54 intrastate (age 21–71, 4-year term)	Yes
Nebraska	18/21	14 days	$60	Yes
Nevada	18/21	14 days	$57.50 (completion of learner permit) / $141.50 bundled original	Yes
New Hampshire	18/21	14 days	$60	No
New Jersey	18/21	14 days	$42	No
New Mexico	18/21	14 days	$34 (8-year) or $18 (4-year)	Yes
New York	18/21	14 days	Prorated/variable (a secondary source lists roughly $164.50 for a full 8-year CDL, ~$180.50 with the MCTD supplement) — confirm with NY DMV	Yes
North Carolina	18/21	14 days	$25.50 per year ($127.50 for a 5-year CDL)	Yes
North Dakota	18/21	14 days	$15	Yes
Ohio	18/21	14 days	$46.50	Yes
Oklahoma	18/21	14 days	$81.50 (Class A, 4-year credential) or $138.00 (8-year)	Yes
Oregon	18/21	14 days	$160 (8-year CDL issuance)	Yes
Pennsylvania	18/21	15 days	$43.50–$109.50 initial; $127.50 for a 4-year renewal	Yes
Rhode Island	18/21	14 days	$103.50	No
South Carolina	18/21	14 days	$25 (8-year CDL license fee)	Yes
South Dakota	18/21	14 days	$43	Yes
Tennessee	18/21	14 days	$70	Yes
Texas	18/21	14 days	$97	Yes
Utah	18/21	14 days	$52	Yes
Vermont	18/21	14 days	$108 (4-year) or $72 (2-year)	No
Virginia	18/21	14 days	$64	Yes
Washington	18/21	14 days	$163 (6-year) or $217 (8-year), which bundles the renewal and CDL charges	Yes
West Virginia	18/21	14 days	$26.25–$61.25 (varies with the term issued)	Yes
Wisconsin	18/21	14 days	$74	Yes
Wyoming	18/21	14 days	$55	Yes

51 of 51 jurisdictions published so far; 39 of them allow approved third-party skills testers. We’re expanding to all 50 states + DC.

Why some rules are the same in every state

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets the parts of CDL law that don’t change when you cross a state line:

ELDT training — required nationwide since Feb 7, 2022 for new CDLs and certain endorsements. How ELDT works →
The DOT physical and medical certification. The DOT physical →
Disqualifications — the offenses that cost you your CDL. Disqualifications →
Endorsements like hazmat (with its TSA background check). Endorsements →
The 14-day permit hold and the CDL class definitions. CDL classes →

Your state sets the fees, the testing logistics (including whether a third-party school can give your road test), the license term, and the renewal process.

Start here

How to get a CDL — the full national walkthrough.
CDL classes: A, B & C — which license you actually need.
What a CDL costs — fees, training, medical, and endorsements.
CDL training paths — private school, college, and company-sponsored, compared honestly.
Free practice test — questions written from the official CDL manual.

Common questions

What do you need to get a CDL?

In every state: a regular license first, then a Commercial Learner’s Permit (pass the knowledge tests), federally required ELDT training for first-time Class A/B drivers, a DOT medical exam, a 14-day permit hold, and a skills test (pre-trip inspection, basic control, and a road test). Fees, testing logistics, and license terms vary by state — pick yours above.

How much does a CDL cost?

State fees are usually modest (often under $150). The real cost is training: private CDL schools commonly run $3,000–$10,000, community colleges are often cheaper with longer waits, and company-sponsored programs are "free" up front but tie you to a work contract with real strings attached. Add a DOT physical (~$79–$150) and, for hazmat, a TSA background-check fee.

What is ELDT and do I need it?

Entry-Level Driver Training is a federal rule in effect since February 7, 2022. If you’re getting a Class A or B CDL for the first time, upgrading Class B to A, or adding a first hazmat, passenger, or school-bus endorsement, you must train with a provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry — or your training won’t count. See our plain-English ELDT guide.

What’s the difference between Class A, B, and C?

Class A covers combination vehicles (like a tractor-trailer) over 26,001 lb with a towed unit over 10,000 lb. Class B is a single heavy vehicle 26,001 lb or more. Class C is smaller vehicles that carry 16+ passengers or placarded hazmat. A Class A generally lets you drive B and C vehicles too (with the right endorsements).

How old do you have to be?

You can usually get a CDL at 18 to drive within your own state (intrastate). To drive across state lines (interstate) or haul hazardous materials, federal rules require you to be 21.