Commercial Driver's License

A Commercial Driver's License may be issued, with the following classifications, endorsements, and restrictions; the holder of a valid commercial driver's license may drive all vehicles in the class for which that license is issued, all lesser classes of vehicles, and vehicles which require an endorsement, if the proper endorsement appears on the license

CDL Classes

CDL Endorsements

CDL Restrictions

Entry Level Driver Training ​(ELDT) Applicability for CDL Applicants​

A commercial driver's instruction permit (CDL instruction permit) may be issued to an applicant who holds a valid operator's or class D license who has passed the vision and/or physical standards, and knowledge tests required for issuance of a CDL.

The CDL instruction permit may not be issued for a period to exceed one year. A one-year CDL Instruction Permit cannot be renewed.

The holder of a CDL instruction permit may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highway only when accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license valid for the type of vehicle who occupies a seat beside the individual for the purpose of giving instruction or testing. The permit must be valid for the type of vehicle being driven also.

A CDL instruction permit may only be issued to an applicant who is at least 18 years of age and has previously held a Level 3 Graduated Driver's License, or a Class E license.

Upon completion of all tests, the person will receive a CDL instruction permit. When operating a commercial vehicle you must have your CDL instruction permit and regular operator's license.

Applicants must hold a CDL instruction permit for a minimum of 14 days before they are eligible to take the road skills test. Applicants whom are ready to take the road skills test must contact a Third-Party Examiner to schedule an appointment.

You must be at least 18 years of age and have at least one (1) year​ driving experience to qualify for a CDL or CDL instruction permit. Federal Motor Carrier Rules requires that drivers subject to those rules meet specific physical qualification standards and carry evidence of such qualification in the form of a medical certificate.

All drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in NON-EXCEPTED INTERSTATE (NI) commerce are subject to having a DOT physical completed by a certified medical examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's National Registry web​site, located at: nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov.

School bus drivers or applicants who work for a city, state, or federal government agency, in which a CDL is required for their employment, are considered operating in EXCEPTED INTRASTATE or EXCEPTED INTERSTATE and are exempt from meeting the FMCSA requirements. School bus drivers will be required to present their current School Bus Certification card. Applicants who work for a city, county, state, or federal government agency must provide written verification, on agency letterhead, verifying employment with their city, state, or federal government agency.

If you cannot be medically certified, you may be eligible for a medical waiver.​

If you wish to be able to operate a commercial motor vehicle interstate (all 50 states) you must apply and be granted a waiver from the Federal Highway Administration. Contact (304) 347-5935 for further information.

If you wish to operate a commercial motor vehicle in WV only, please call (304) 926-3801 for information on obtaining a medical waiver.

Applications and study manuals are available at any DMV Exam Centers, Regional Office, or on the Forms page of this website.

The CDL Manual (State and Federal) is available for download here.

For FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL assistance with reading, call 1-866-262-5348

1. Complete in full, front and back, of the Application for Commercial Driver's License and/or Endorsements (CDL-1).
2. You must have previously taken all required tests.
3. Indicate in the transaction area that you are applying for a license update. The fees required for upgrading your license is $7.5​0.
4. Upon receipt, the Division will then issue a CDL instruction permit. A skills test is required to upgrade from one class to another.
5. If combination or air brakes tests are needed, you must complete these tests before you can take the road skills test.

Complete in full, front and back, of the Application for Commercial Driver's License and/or Endorsements (CDL-1) and pay appropriate fees:

1. Required fees are $10.00 for each endorsement and $7.50 for the duplicate license.
   (For one endorsement the fee would be $17.50. For two endorsements the fee would be $27.50. etc.)
2. To add air brakes or combination after you have been issued your commercial driver's license, which will require a road skills test, the fee is:
   Air Brakes/Combination $25.00
   + Duplicate Fee $7.50
   = Total Fee would be $32.50
   
   
3. When a person already has a CDL license in the system and they are only updating or adding a passenger endorsement and must take the road skills test, when the CDL is updated, it is done as a duplicate issuance. We are only updating the system, not changing the expiration date.

A HAZMAT endorsement holder renewing their CDL will receive 3 attempts to test and pass the HAZMAT endorsement on a valid no expired license. If your CDL license is expired then you must obtain a HAZMAT test card from the CDL office in Charleston before you can test for HAZMAT.

Once you have received your CDL renewal notice form, you should visit the DMV office to start the renewal process. You must bring the required documents to renew your CDL. For information on Documents required to renew, click here.

If you currently are employed by a city, county, state, or federal government, and your job requires a valid CDL, you are exempt from the DOT physical requirements; however, you must provide a letter from your employer stating you are currently employed and exempt from the DOT physical requirements. If you did not receive a renewal notice in the mail, then you must complete a CDL-1 application at the Regional office, plus pay an additional fee of $5.00 for an expired license. If your license has been expired for more than 6 months you must pass the written and road skills tests for both a regular Class E license and all examination requirements for a commercial driver's license.

To retain a Hazardous Material Endorsement, you must first complete a fingerprint, and background check from the TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. You should contact the Universal Enrollment Services (UES) Help Desk at 1-855-347-8371, or visit their website at universalenroll.dhs.gov to pay the $86.50 fee to start the fingerprint/background check process. All fees are non-refundable. After contacting UES and scheduling an appointment you must visit one of the locations that provide fingerprinting, these locations are listed on their website. When visiting the UES office you must provide proof of identity and citizenship. Visit the UES website for a complete list of acceptable proof documents. Once you have received your approval letter in the mail from TSA stating you have passed the background check then you can return to the DMV office to test for HAZMAT and renew your CDL. Please bring your approval letter from TSA when you renew. If you do not wish to maintain your HAZMAT endorsement you can go directly to a DMV office to renew your license and complete a surrender form, surrendering your HAZMAT endorsement.

A HAZMAT endorsement holder renewing their CDL will receive 3 attempts to test and pass the HAZMAT endorsement on a valid no expired license. If your CDL license is expired then you must obtain a HAZMAT test card from the CDL office in Charleston before you can test for HAZMAT.

To drive a commercial vehicle in West Virginia, you must apply to transfer your CDL within 30 days of establishing residence. The DMV will obtain driving information through the Commercial Driver's license System (CDLIS), the National Driver Register (NDR) and from each state in which you have been licensed to drive. You must surrender your out-of-state driver's license in order to be issued a WV CDL.

You must bring the following documents to be issued a WV CDL:

1. Visit the New Licensing Requirements page for details on new required documentation.
2. Valid DOT Medical/Physical (Long Form) and DOT Medical card (valid for 30 days or more). If you work for a city, county, state or federal government and your job requires a CDL, then you are exempt from the DOT physical requirements. You must submit a letter from your employer on agency letterhead indicating your exempt status.
3. Your out-of–state license or a certified driving record.

If you have a HAZMAT endorsement on your out-of-state license then you must pass the TSA background check first before you can transfer. You should contact Universal Enrollment Services (UES) Help Desk at 1-855-347-8371, or visit their website at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov to pay the $86.50 fee to start the fingerprint/background check process. All fees are non-refundable. After contacting UES you must contact one of the locations that provide fingerprinting to schedule an appointment. The locations are listed on the UES website https://universalenroll.dhs.gov. When visiting the UES office you must provide proof of identity and citizenship. Visit the UES website for a complete list of acceptable proof documents. Once you have received your approval letter in the mail from TSA stating you have passed the background check you can then return to the DMV office test for HAZMAT and transfer your out-of-state CDL. Please bring your letter of approval from TSA when you transfer. If you do not wish to maintain your HAZMAT endorsement you can go directly to a DMV office to transfer your license.

Knowledge Exam

The knowledge test, written or oral, must be taken and passed, with at least an 80% score by all applicants. You must test for the endorsements listed on the test card at the time as when you test for general knowledge. At a later date you can get a test card for other endorsements. If you fail any portion of the knowledge examination, you must wait 7 days before you may retest. You may test 3 times on the original fees paid.

Hazardous Materials Testing

Hazardous Materials testing must be written.

Skills Test

Applicants must hold a CDL instruction permit for a minimum of 14 days before they are eligible to take the CDL Road Skills Test. The skills tests are administered by certified third party examiners trained. The road skills test will not be given until you have passed all other parts of the examination and have in your possession a commercial driver's license instruction permit for the type of vehicle for which you are testing. Each section of the skills test (pre-trip, basic control and road test) must be passed.

The examiner cannot give the skills test unless your vehicle is in safe condition and legally equipped. Your vehicle must first be checked to make sure it complies with registration, vehicle inspection and equipment laws.

Any person applying to renew a CDL which has been expired for 6 months or more must follow the procedures for an initial issuance of a CDL license, including the knowledge and skills testing.

If not expired over 6 months, the person can renew and pay an additional $5.00.

When a person wishes to voluntarily surrender his/her CDL license, he/she must complete a voluntarily surrendered letter. By signing this letter, the applicant knows he/she will have to start all over with knowledge and skills testing before receiving a CDL license again.