Getting a California Commercial Driver's License in 2026

The three commercial classes

The DMV's classes page defines them. Commercial Class A: any legal combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the towed vehicle or vehicles exceed 10,000 pounds GVWR. Commercial Class B: any single vehicle over 26,000 pounds GVWR, such a vehicle towing one of 10,000 pounds GVWR or less, or a three-axle vehicle over 6,000 pounds. Commercial Class C: a Class C vehicle with a hazardous materials, passenger vehicle or tank vehicle endorsement. Every class comes as a REAL ID or federal non-compliant card. Every commercial driver also self-certifies the type of operation on form DL 694: non-excepted interstate, which the DMV recommends whenever there is any chance of interstate commerce, or non-excepted intrastate, which puts an intrastate-only restriction on the card; California issues no excepted licenses.

The commercial learner's permit

A first commercial license, or a class, endorsement or restriction change that needs a skills test, starts with a commercial learner's permit held for at least 14 days, per the DMV's commercial license page. You need a standard California Class C license (a temporary one is acceptable), the online commercial application, and an office visit to submit a 10 Year History Record Check (DL 939) if you held a license elsewhere in the last 10 years, the Medical Examination Report (MCSA 5875) and Medical Examiner's Certificate (MCSA 5876), an identity document matching your current name, residency documents if you have never held a California license or ID, the nonrefundable application fee (valid 12 months), a thumbprint scan and a photo, and to pass the knowledge tests: three attempts at each, a third failure voids the application, and no tests within 30 minutes of closing. A REAL ID permit needs proof of identity and two proofs of residency.

The permit is valid for up to 180 days and can be renewed for another 180 if the expiration is not more than a year from the first application. With it you must be accompanied by a California commercial license holder with the right class and endorsements; the permit is limited to the tank, passenger and school bus endorsements; a tank must be empty, and purged if it held hazardous material; and no passengers may be carried other than auditors, inspectors, examiners, other trainees and the accompanying driver. Everything must be completed within 12 months of applying or the application lapses.

The skills test and the training rules

After 14 days on the permit you schedule the skills test by appointment or by calling 1-800-777-0133 weekdays 8 am to 5 pm, bring the type of vehicle for the class you want, and pass a vehicle inspection, a basic control skills test and a road test; a failure in any part postpones the rest, three tries are allowed, and each retake carries a retest fee. The DMV waives the skills test for a valid or recently expired (under two years) out-of-state commercial license of equivalent class, a Certificate of Driving Skill (DL 170 ETP) from an authorized employer, a Commercial Military Waiver (DL 965), or a skills test passed in another state after training there. After the pass the DMV issues an interim license valid 60 days and says to call 1-800-777-0133 if the card has not arrived after 45 days.

Entry Level Driver Training. Federal rules require training from a provider on the Training Provider Registry for anyone who, on or after February 7, 2022, gets a first Class A or B license, upgrades from B to A, or adds a first school bus, passenger or hazardous materials endorsement; the DMV verifies completion electronically before the skills test or the hazardous materials knowledge test. California adds a minimum of 15 hours behind the wheel, 10 of them on a public road, with no simulator, certified by the training provider on the California Commercial Driver Behind The Wheel Training Certification (DL 1236) and submitted through the DMV's Virtual Field Office before the license is issued. The theory part has no minimum hours but needs an 80 percent score. A permit issued before February 7, 2022 is exempt as long as the license is obtained before it expires; an expired license of the same class is exempt with proof; military waiver applicants file the DL 965 instead; the DMV says there is no grace period otherwise.

The medical certificate

Drivers of Class A, Class B and commercial Class C vehicles must meet federal medical standards and certify it when they apply and every two years, per the DMV's medical eligibility page. Since July 27, 2026, the medical examiner files the report and certificate electronically through the National Registry for interstate drivers, within 24 hours of the exam, and the DMV posts the result within one business day; intrastate drivers may still file the paper MER and MEC in person, by mail or through the Virtual Field Office. The exam is done by a doctor, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse or a clinically competent chiropractor, with an optometrist allowed for the vision part. Noncommercial Class A and B drivers file a Physician's Health Report (DL 546A); firefighters and drivers hauling hazardous agricultural material file a Health Questionnaire (DL 546). The federal standards cover vision (20/40 in each eye with or without lenses, a 70 degree field in each eye, and recognizing red, green and amber), hearing (a forced whisper at five feet in the better ear, with a hearing aid worn while driving if needed), insulin-dependent diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory and blood pressure conditions, seizures, mental and functional disorders, drugs and alcoholism; a driver who does not meet them may be reexamined, refused, or licensed with restrictions such as no passengers or placarded materials, or intrastate only.

The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

Since November 18, 2024 the DMV checks the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before issuing, replacing, renewing, upgrading or transferring a commercial license or permit, and may not do any of those for a driver with a prohibited status; it also removes the commercial privilege of a driver who becomes prohibited until the return-to-duty process under 49 CFR part 40 is complete. The license still works for non-commercial vehicles and need not be surrendered. A driver whose license is expiring, lost or needs an update while prohibited can complete the return-to-duty process and act 24 hours after the status changes, or downgrade to a non-commercial license (an upgrade back requires the knowledge and skills tests). The clearinghouse links commercial license numbers across states, notifies drivers by mail or email when records change, and registration at clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov is required to consent to employer queries and to see one's own record.

The hazardous materials endorsement

Anyone applying for or renewing a commercial license with a hazardous materials endorsement must pass a Transportation Security Administration security threat assessment, per the DMV's TSA background check page. The applicant must be at least 21, starts the commercial application, pays the federal fees, and after passing the knowledge tests pre-enrolls with the TSA online or at 1-855-347-8371 and visits a Universal Enrollment Services center with fingerprints, identity and citizenship or immigration documents and the fees; the DMV's permit or temporary license says Not valid for carrying hazardous materials meanwhile. The DMV mails the endorsed license when the TSA clears the applicant and the tests are done; a TSA finding of ineligibility produces a license without the endorsement, and appeals go to the TSA, not the DMV. For a renewal the DMV sends a reminder about 90 days before the endorsement expires and says to start the TSA process at least 30 days before. The TSA page lists the disqualifying offenses and the status rules for non-citizens.

Commercial license fees

Source: the DMV's licensing fees page; the endorsement fees and the rest of the schedule are on the California DMV fees page. A renewal can be started on the DMV's online CDL renewal with a clean driving record, the license and a residency document, but not with a hazardous materials endorsement and not while suspended. The DMV also notes on every commercial page that, until further notice, it cannot issue, reissue or renew limited-term legal presence (non-domiciled) commercial licenses.

Questions about the California commercial driver's license

How long must I hold the commercial learner's permit?

At least 14 days before the skills test, according to the DMV. The permit is valid for up to 180 days and can be renewed once for another 180 days if that stays within one year of the first application.

What is Entry Level Driver Training?

Federal training from a provider on the Training Provider Registry, required since February 7, 2022 for a first Class A or B license, an upgrade from B to A, and a first school bus, passenger or hazardous materials endorsement. California adds 15 hours of behind-the-wheel training, 10 of them on a public road, certified on form DL 1236.

What does a commercial license cost?

On the DMV's fee schedule an original Commercial Class A or B license is $100, a renewal $59, a replacement $44, and an original or renewal of Commercial Class C $59.

Can I take the skills test in another state?

Yes. The DMV says a holder of a California permit who completes training and passes the skills test in another state has the results sent to California and finishes the application at a DMV Commercial Driving Test Office.

What does a prohibited status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse mean?

The DMV cannot issue, replace, renew, transfer or upgrade a commercial license or permit while the status is prohibited, and removes the commercial privilege until the federal return-to-duty process is complete; the license still works for non-commercial vehicles.

Can I renew a commercial license online?

The DMV's online renewal requires a clean driving record and cannot be used for a license with a hazardous materials endorsement; a suspended driver cannot use it either.