Colorado · DMV

How to get your CDL permit in Colorado

In Colorado you book a CDL written test appointment at a DMV office, and your DOT medical card must be on file before you get your CLP. Skills tests are given by approved third-party testers.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official DMV sources

Start the free Colorado permit classroom Official Colorado CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $20
Permit valid for: 1 year, not renewable
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: English + Spanish
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid Colorado driver license.
2Get a DOT medical exam from a certified examiner so your medical card is on file.
3Book a 'CDL Written Test' appointment at a DMV driver license office.
4Bring proof of lawful presence, your Social Security number and two proofs of Colorado residency.
5Pass the General Knowledge test plus any Air Brakes, Combination or endorsement tests, then pay $20 for your CLP.
6Finish federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a school on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before you take the skills test.
7After 14 days, take your skills test with an approved third-party tester, then bring the results to the DMV within 60 days.

What to bring

Your valid Colorado driver license
Proof of lawful presence, such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate or green card
Your Social Security number
Two proofs of your Colorado address

Medical card

Colorado does not let you self-certify your medical status; your medical examiner sends results to the national registry. You still declare your type of driving when you apply, and your medical card must be on file first.

Fees

Commercial learner's permit	$20
Written test retest	$11.50
Road test retestYour first skills test price is set by the third-party tester.	$15.40
CDL	$35
Duplicate license or permit	$12.30

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with DMV before you go.

The tests you'll take

General Knowledge (everyone)
Air Brakes (if your truck has air brakes)
Combination Vehicles (Class A)
Endorsement tests if you want them (for example Passenger, School Bus, Tank)

Testing in Colorado

Written tests are by appointment at DMV offices, not online.
The CDL written test is offered in English and Spanish; the Hazmat test is English only.
All skills tests are given by approved third-party testers, often driving schools.

Study for these tests in the Colorado classroom

Good to know in Colorado

Your CLP cannot be renewed, and your written test results count for only one CLP.
Your skills test completion form must be dated within 60 days when you trade your permit for a CDL.
You must be 21 for a Hazmat endorsement.
Colorado raised its CDL fee to $35 on June 30, 2026.

Non-domiciled applicants

Colorado paused issuing and renewing non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs on September 29, 2025. Under federal rules since March 16, 2026, asylum seekers, refugees and DACA recipients are not eligible.

Confirm with DMV before you go

We couldn't confirm these from official sources, so we left them out rather than guess:

How long you must wait to retest after failing.
The vision standard for a CDL.
Whether you need a REAL ID.
What third-party testers usually charge for the skills test.

Federal rules that apply in every state(show)

Age: You can get a CLP at 18, but until you turn 21 you can only drive a commercial vehicle inside your own state. Hauling hazmat requires you to be 21.
Knowledge tests: Everyone takes General Knowledge. Class A adds Combination Vehicles, and anyone driving a truck with air brakes takes Air Brakes. You need at least 80% on each test.
14-day wait: You must hold your CLP for at least 14 days before you can take the skills (road) test. Some states make you wait longer.
Driving on a CLP: A CDL holder with the right class and endorsements must sit in the front seat whenever you drive. Hazmat is never allowed on a CLP. With a passenger or school bus permit you can't carry passengers, and with a tank permit the tank must be empty.
Entry-Level Driver Training: You must finish ELDT with a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before your Class A or B skills test. You do not need it to get the permit itself.
Medical card: You self-certify the kind of driving you will do. Most new drivers are 'non-excepted interstate' and need a DOT physical from a certified medical examiner, who now sends the results to your state electronically.
Clearinghouse check: Before issuing a CLP, your state checks FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. A 'prohibited' status blocks the permit until return-to-duty is complete.

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Official sources

This page is a study aid, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles. Rules and fees change, so always check with DMV before you apply.