Reference
CDL cost by state
What each state charges for the commercial learner’s permit, the license itself, the skills test and endorsements, taken from the agency’s own fee page, with a link to the source and the date it was checked.
All 51 state agencies checked against their own fee page in September 2026.
30 publish a permit fee, 25 a CDL issuance fee, 20 a skills-test fee and 26 an endorsement fee.
Permit fees run from $2.50 in South Carolina to $141.50 in Nevada.
A blank column means the agency does not publish a single figure for it: testing is often left to third-party examiners who set their own price, and some states charge for the license on a scale that depends on class and term.
| The commercial learner’s permit you hold before the skills test. | The written tests, where the state charges for them separately. | The license itself, first issue rather than a renewal. Terms differ, so the agency’s own wording is shown under each amount. | Where a state uses third-party examiners, they set their own price. | What the state charges to add an endorsement. | Background checks, photo fees, corrections, renewals, transfers and retests. | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36.25 Commercial learner license | $25 Testing fee (knowledge tests; no checks) | $66.25 Class A license | $20 Skills test fee | Not published. Check Alabama Law Enforcement Agency | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Alaska | Not published. Check Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Arizona | $25 CLP, Class A or B | Not published. Check Arizona Motor Vehicle Division | $25 CDL, Class A or B (new or transfer) | $25 Road test, Class A or B vehicle | $10 each Passenger, Tank, HazMat, or Doubles/Triples endorsement | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Arkansas | Not published. Check Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration | Not published. Check Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration | Not published. Check Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration | Not published. Check Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration | Not published. Check Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| California | Not published. Check California Department of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check California Department of Motor Vehicles | $100 Original Class A or B CDL application | Not published. Check California Department of Motor Vehicles | $100 Adding a passenger endorsement | $59 CDL renewal $46 each retake Commercial driving or skills retest $44 Replacement CDL | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Colorado | Not published. Check Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles | $275 (fee set by DMV rule) Third-party skills test or retest | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Connecticut | $20 Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) | $16 General knowledge test | $70 CDL (new) | $30 Skills test | $5 each Endorsement tests | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Delaware | $5 at issuance CDL learner's permit | Not published. Check Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | $78 CDL learner permit | $10 per test CDL knowledge test | Not published. Check District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles | $10 per attempt CDL road skills test | $20 Endorsement | $117 CDL, first-time or renewal $20 CDL duplicate or downgrade | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Florida | Not published. Check Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles | set by the tester (commonly $500 to $600) Third-party skills test | $7 Each endorsement | $75 CDL, original or renewal $48 School board CDL, original or renewal $10 Knowledge retest $20 Skills retest (state) | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Georgia | Not published. Check Georgia Department of Driver Services | $10 CDL permit (CLP), paid before the knowledge exams | Not published. Check Georgia Department of Driver Services | $50 per attempt, paid in advance CDL road skills test | Not published. Check Georgia Department of Driver Services | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Hawaii | $30 CDL permit application | $15 General knowledge test (Honolulu) | Not published. Check Hawaii county driver licensing offices | Not published. Check Hawaii county driver licensing offices | $5 Each endorsement test | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Idaho | $29 Commercial learner's permit (1 year) | $5 each Written knowledge tests | $40 CDL, 4-year | up to $190 per test (set by Idaho Code) Third-party examiner skills test | Not published. Check Idaho Transportation Department | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Illinois | $50 Commercial learner's permit (added to an Illinois non-CDL license) | Not published. Check Illinois Secretary of State | Not published. Check Illinois Secretary of State | Not published. Check Illinois Secretary of State | Not published. Check Illinois Secretary of State | $60 CDL renewal or out-of-state transfer | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Indiana | $35 Commercial learner's permit | Not published. Check Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles | $25 Commercial driver's license | $200 first attempt, $150 second, $100 each additional Third-party skills exam (BMV maximum, vehicle rental extra) | $19 Add or remove a CDL endorsement | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Iowa | $12 Commercial learner's permit (1 year) | Not published. Check Iowa Department of Transportation | $8 per year (8-year license) CDL, Class A, B, or C | Not published. Check Iowa Department of Transportation | $10 Passenger or School Bus endorsement | $10 HazMat and Tank combination $10 each Removing an air-brake, manual transmission, or tractor-trailer restriction | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Kansas | $13 CDL permit (issuance, test, and photo fees) | Not published. Check Kansas Department of Revenue | $41 Original CDL, age 21 and over (issuance $18 + test $15 + photo $8) | Not published. Check Kansas Department of Revenue | $10 Each endorsement | $26 CDL renewal (any class) | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Kentucky | $11 ($14 REAL ID) Commercial learner's permit (CLP) | Not published. Check Kentucky Transportation Cabinet | $18.75 to $50 depending on class and term CDL issuance | Not published. Check Kentucky Transportation Cabinet | $5 HazMat endorsement test | $3 NCIC background check before the written test $60 plus issuance CDL transfer from another state $138.25 HazMat fingerprint background check | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Louisiana | Not published. Check Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles | $76.50 to $84.50 Class A, B, or C CDL (6 years): application $15 + license $61.50, plus a service fee of up to $8 | Not published. Check Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles | $7.50 Each endorsement (except motorcycle) | $5 to $13 Duplicate or address change | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Maine | Not published. Check Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles | $70 Class A, B, or C CDL examination (written and road test) | $34 ($59 REAL ID) Commercial license, under 65 (5-year) | Not published. Check Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles | $20 Each endorsement examination | $70 application + $34 license + endorsements Out-of-state CDL conversion | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Maryland | $106 CDL learner's permit | Not published. Check Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration | Not published. Check Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration | Not published. Check Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration | $30 CDL with HazMat endorsement (5-year) | $64 CDL renewal (8-year) $109.25 HazMat background check $64 Out-of-state CDL conversion $20 CDL skills retest $30 CDL duplicate or correction | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Not published. Check Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles | $30 General knowledge test (with the CLP) | Not published. Check Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles | $35 CDL road test | Not published. Check Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Michigan | Not published. Check Michigan Department of State | Not published. Check Michigan Department of State | Not published. Check Michigan Department of State | Not published. Check Michigan Department of State | $5 per endorsement Each endorsement (group endorsement fee) | $9 CDL correction after passing the skills test (added to your standard license) $18 ($33 enhanced license) New photo license, when required | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Minnesota | $26.75 Class A, B, or C instruction permit (CLP) | Not published. Check Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services | Not published. Check Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services | Not published. Check Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services | $2.50 each Endorsement examination | $10 Written retest, third attempt and beyond $20 Road retest, third attempt and beyond | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Mississippi | $16 CDL learner's permit (valid 6 months) | Not published. Check Mississippi Department of Public Safety | $55 CDL, 5-year license | Not published. Check Mississippi Department of Public Safety | $5 Endorsements | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Missouri | $44 Commercial learner's permit (includes $25 written-test fee, $10 permit fee, $9 processing) | Not published. Check Missouri Department of Revenue | about $83 First CDL, 3- to 6-year term (includes $25 skills-test fee, $40 license fee, $18 processing) | Not published. Check Missouri Department of Revenue | Not published. Check Missouri Department of Revenue | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Montana | Not published. Check Montana Motor Vehicle Division | Not published. Check Montana Motor Vehicle Division | Not published. Check Montana Motor Vehicle Division | Not published. Check Montana Motor Vehicle Division | Not published. Check Montana Motor Vehicle Division | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Nebraska | Not published. Check Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Nevada | $141.50 Commercial learner permit | Not published. Check Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles | $141.50 Original or transfer CDL with knowledge and skills tests | $30 plus $3.50 photo fee Driving skills test | $14 plus $3.50 photo fee Each endorsement | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | $20 Commercial driver learner permit | Not published. Check New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles | $20 Road test retake | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| New Jersey | Not published. Check New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission | $125 CDL knowledge test (examination test receipt) | $42 Four-year CDL | Not published. Check New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission | $2 Each endorsement | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| New Mexico | Not published. Check New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division | Not published. Check New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division | $18 CDL, 4-year | Not published. Check New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division | Not published. Check New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division | $15 Out-of-state transfer surcharge (one time) $127 HazMat background check and fingerprinting | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| New York | $10 CDL permit application (covers all knowledge and endorsement tests taken together) | Not published. Check New York Department of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check New York Department of Motor Vehicles | $40 Road test | Not published. Check New York Department of Motor Vehicles | $5 Each required test not passed at the first visit | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| North Carolina | $25.50 Learner permit | Not published. Check North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles | $51.50 Application for a commercial driver license | Not published. Check North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles | $5 per year each Endorsements H, N, P, S, T, X | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| North Dakota | $15 ($20 non-domiciled) Commercial learner permit | $5 per attempt (one attempt per day) Knowledge test | Not published. Check North Dakota Department of Transportation | $5 Road test | $3 each Endorsements | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Ohio | $31.50 CDL temporary instruction permit (CLP) | Not published. Check Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles | $46.50 First CDL, 4-year | $50 per attempt State skills test: pre-trip $10 + basic skills $10 + road test $30 | Not published. Check Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles | $49.25 (4-year) or $97.40 (8-year) CDL renewal | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | Not published. Check Oklahoma Service Oklahoma | Not published. Check Oklahoma Service Oklahoma | $81.50 Class A, 4-year (application $25 + credential $56.50) | Not published. Check Oklahoma Service Oklahoma | Not published. Check Oklahoma Service Oklahoma | $138 Class A, 8-year $128 Class B, 8-year $108 Class C, 8-year | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Oregon | Not published. Check Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services | $40 plus DMV issuance fee Certificate of Test Completion (third-party route) | Not published. Check Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services | $145 DMV skills test | Not published. Check Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | $65 Commercial learner's permit ($30 permit + $35 knowledge test) | Not published. Check Pennsylvania Department of Transportation | Not published. Check Pennsylvania Department of Transportation | set by the tester (commonly $150 to $500) Third-party skills test | $21.50 Upgrading a CDL class or endorsement, or removing a restriction | $43.50 to $109.50 depending on months left on your current license Upgrade from a non-commercial license to a CDL, single permit with photo | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | $73.50 Commercial learner's permit (new) | $23.50 (additional tests $10 each) Knowledge test | Not published. Check Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles | $103.50 CDL renewal, 5-year $59.50 Out-of-state CDL transfer $23.50 CLP update or duplicate | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| South Carolina | $2.50 Commercial learner's permit (1 year) | $2 Each knowledge test | $15 CDL application | Not published. Check South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles | $25 Skills retest | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| South Dakota | Not yet verified. See South Dakota Driver Licensing Program | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 | |||||
| Tennessee | $8 plus $6 application Class A learner permit (1 year) | Not published. Check Tennessee Driver Services | $64 plus $6 application Class A CDL (8 years) | Not published. Check Tennessee Driver Services | $2.50 each Tank, Passenger, HazMat, or Doubles/Triples endorsement | $4 County clerk administrative fee | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Texas | Not published. Check Texas Department of Public Safety | Not published. Check Texas Department of Public Safety | $15 new, $16 to an existing CDL Adding motorcycle to a CDL | Not published. Check Texas Department of Public Safety | Not published. Check Texas Department of Public Safety | $25 (valid 180 days) Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), original or renewal $97 (8 years) CDL, age 18 to 84, new or renewal $61 (5 years) CDL with HazMat endorsement, new or renewal $11 Replacement CDL or CLP | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Utah | Not published. Check Utah Driver License Division | $52 CDL with written knowledge test (Class A, B, or C, 5-year) | Not published. Check Utah Driver License Division | $78 CDL with driving skills test (Class A, B, or C, 5-year) | $9 CDL endorsement | $52 Retake of the driving skills test | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Vermont | $18 Commercial learner's permit (1 year) | $39 CDL knowledge test | $72 CDL, 2-year | $39 CDL road test | $17 CDL endorsement test | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Virginia | $3 Commercial learner's permit | $50 Missed skills-test appointment | Not published. Check Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles | Not published. Check Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles | $64 ($8 per year) Standard CDL, no endorsements (8 years) | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Washington | $40 Commercial learner's permit (180 days) | Not published. Check Washington Department of Licensing | Not published. Check Washington Department of Licensing | $175 Truck or passenger skills test, DOL or TPE | Not published. Check Washington Department of Licensing | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| West Virginia | Not published. Check West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles | $25 CDL knowledge testing fee (general knowledge, air brakes, combination) | $7.50 License upgrade | $100, paid to the examiner Road skills test | Not published. Check West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | $30 Commercial learner permit, Class A, B, or C (180 days) | Not published. Check Wisconsin Department of Transportation | $74 Original CDL, Class A, B, or C | Not published. Check Wisconsin Department of Transportation | $10 first time, $5 at renewal School bus endorsement | $74 CDL renewal (8 years, includes Class D) | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
| Wyoming | Not published. Check Wyoming Department of Transportation | Not published. Check Wyoming Department of Transportation | Not published. Check Wyoming Department of Transportation | $85 Driving skills test | Not published. Check Wyoming Department of Transportation | None listed | Fee page | Sep 16, 2026 |
How this table is put together
Every figure is copied from the issuing agency’s own published fee schedule (the page linked in the Source column), and nothing is estimated, averaged, or carried over from another state. The Checked column is the date we last read that page.
A state shows Not published in a column when its fee schedule does not give a single figure for it. That is common for the skills test, which many states leave to third-party examiners who set their own price, and for the license itself in states where the fee depends on the class and on how long your current license has left to run. We would rather show you the gap and the link than a number that is not the one you will pay.
Amounts carry the agency’s own wording underneath, because a CDL fee is rarely just a number: the same $97 can buy eight years in one state and four in another. Read the label before comparing two rows.
Fees change, and agencies do not always announce it. If a figure here no longer matches the agency’s page, tell us and we will correct it. Please include the state and a link.
BeginCDL.com is independent and is not affiliated with any state licensing agency. This page is a reference, not legal or licensing advice.