CDL Requirements in California
Verified against California Department of Motor Vehicles ·
Compiled and verified against primary state DMV/DPS/BMV sources by GetCDLLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
California publishes its own Commercial Driver Handbook and issues only non-excepted CDLs — it does not issue the excepted-interstate or excepted-intrastate categories that most states offer. It also layers a state-specific behind-the-wheel training minimum on top of the federal ELDT curriculum, and its own DMV holds independent authority to issue a state medical certificate form alongside the federal Medical Examiner's Certificate.
California's CDL requirements — including a $100 CDL fee and an intrastate minimum age of 18 — are verified against California Department of Motor Vehicles (see California DMV — Commercial Driver's License Fees), current as of 2026-07-25.
California CDL Requirements at a Glance
This is the fee, age, and testing detail for Californiaspecifically — for the full step-by-step process see how to get a CDL, and for what Class A, B, and C each permit see CDL classes.
| Commercial learner’s permit (CLP) | |
|---|---|
| CLP fee | — |
| Minimum holding period before skills test | 14 days |
| CLP validity | 6 months |
| Age minimums | |
| Intrastate minimum age | 18 |
| Interstate minimum age | 21 (federal floor) |
| Fees | |
| Application fee | — |
| Initial CDL fee | $100 |
| Renewal fee | $59 |
| Renewal period | — |
| Knowledge test fee | — |
| Skills test fee | — |
| Testing rules | |
| Third-party testers allowed | Yes |
| Retest waiting period | — |
Other published fees
- Original application, Class C: $59
- Skills retest fee (any class): $46
- Replacement CDL/CLP: $44
- Change of DL/ID information: $37
- Remove air brake/automatic-transmission restriction (driving test required): $100
- School Bus/SPAB/Youth Bus Driver certificate, original: $25
- School Bus/SPAB/Youth Bus Driver certificate, renewal: $12
Valid 180 days from issuance; may be renewed once for an additional 180 days, not to exceed 12 months total from the original application date, matching (not exceeding) the federal 14-day minimum holding period. Endorsements addable to a CLP: Tank (N), Passenger (P), and School Bus (S) only.
California states its interstate/hazmat minimum age (21) matches the federal standard; intrastate minimum is 18.
California runs its own Employer Testing Program (ETP), allowing qualified commercial employers to administer the skills/driving test on DMV-approved routes; examiners must have held a CDL with the relevant class/endorsements for 3+ years, complete paid DMV training, and pass a background check. DMV re-validates a sample of ETP results within 30 days. Candidates get up to 3 attempts at the knowledge test(s) and 3 attempts total at the skills test; a retest fee applies to a subsequent skills-test attempt. The Commercial Driver Handbook states explicitly there is no waiting period to retake either the knowledge test or the basic control skills test.
California CDL Endorsements
| Endorsement | Available | Fee | Knowledge test | Skills test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazardous materials (H) | Yes | $59 | Yes | — |
| Tank vehicle (N) | Yes | $59 | Yes | — |
| Doubles/triples (T) | Yes | $59 | Yes | — |
| Passenger (P) | Yes | $100 | Yes | Yes |
| School bus (S) | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
Hazardous materials: Requires the federal TSA security threat assessment (fingerprint-based, via TSA enrollment services) in addition to the state knowledge test; applicant must be 21+ and already hold a CDL.
Tank vehicle: Grouped with Hazmat/Doubles-Triples at $59 on DMV's fee schedule.
Doubles/triples: Available for Class A/B only; grouped with Tank/Hazmat at $59 on DMV's fee schedule.
Passenger: $100 for Class A/B, $59 for Class C — notably higher than the Tank/Doubles/Hazmat group on DMV's fee schedule. The Commercial Driver Handbook confirms both tests directly: "Applicants applying for a 'P' endorsement are required to complete the skills test," in addition to a special knowledge examination on passenger-safety considerations.
School bus: The Commercial Driver Handbook states school-bus applicants "must pass a special knowledge examination on safety considerations when transporting passengers in a school bus and must pass skills tests in a school bus." DMV's fee schedule does not list a distinct CDL school-bus (S) endorsement fee. A separate $25 (original) / $12 (renewal) 'School Bus/SPAB/Youth Bus Driver' certificate exists, and the handbook confirms it is additional to, not a substitute for, the S endorsement: "A school bus driver must also have an 'S' endorsement on their CDL."
For what each endorsement permits, the federal knowledge/skills testing baseline behind it, and hazmat’s separate TSA security threat assessment, see CDL endorsements.
Federal requirements that apply in California
These are set by federal regulators and are the same in every US jurisdiction. Full detail here.
- Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). Since February 2022, first-time CDL applicants — and drivers upgrading to Class A or seeking a first-time school bus, passenger, or hazmat endorsement — must complete Entry-Level Driver Training with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before testing.
- DOT medical certificate. Most CDL holders who operate in interstate commerce must hold a valid DOT medical examiner's certificate, issued by an examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
- Interstate minimum age. Federal rules set 21 as the minimum age to drive commercially across state lines; states set their own intrastate minimum, commonly 18.
- Hazmat security threat assessment. A hazardous materials endorsement additionally requires a TSA security threat assessment, which is a federal process separate from the state endorsement.
California-specific: California requires Class A or B CDL applicants to complete 15 hours of behind-the-wheel (BTW) training, of which at least 10 hours must be on a public road, under California Vehicle Code §15250.1(b) — additional to the federal ELDT curriculum. Applicants submit form DL 1236 (California Commercial Driver Behind The Wheel Training Certification) to DMV as proof before CDL issuance.
Self-certification in California
California Department of Motor Vehicles administers self-certification for the following FMCSA operating categories:
- Non-Excepted Interstate
- Non-Excepted Intrastate
California does not issue Excepted Interstate or Excepted Intrastate CDLs: DMV states outright that 'all drivers licensed by California to drive CMVs are non-excepted drivers.' Separately, California DMV is authorized under California Code of Regulations §28.19 to issue its own state Medical Certificate (form DL 51B); drivers must carry a signed copy of their federal Medical Examiner's Certificate for 15 days after issuance while operating a CMV. A state self-certification form (DL 694) exists but its exact wording could not be extracted from the PDF.
means no primary source publishes that figure — left blank on purpose rather than estimated or copied from an unverified aggregator.
Sources
- California DMV — Commercial Driver's License Fees
- California DMV — CDL Classes and Certifications (self-certification categories)
- California DMV — CDL Medical Eligibility Requirements and Exams
- California DMV — Employer Testing Program (ETP)
- California DMV — TSA Background Check for Hazmat Endorsement
- California DMV — Entry-Level Driver Training / Behind-the-Wheel FAQ
- California DMV — Commercial Driver Licenses (CDL) hub
- California DMV — Truck Drivers Guide
- California Commercial Driver Handbook (PDF) — Endorsements and Special Certificates chapter
Data last verified: 2026-07-25 (verified by: agent) | Source: California Department of Motor Vehicles