Connecticut · DMV

How to get your CDL permit in Connecticut

In Connecticut all CDL testing is by appointment, and you must be registered in the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse before you apply. Your CLP is good for one year and cannot be renewed.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official DMV sources

Start the free Connecticut permit classroom Official Connecticut 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: Not published
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid Connecticut driver license.
2Register in the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse.
3Get a DOT medical exam, complete your self-certification and print the confirmation.
4Fill out the CDL application (Form R-229a) and book a testing appointment online.
5Bring your REAL ID documents, pass the General Knowledge test and any other tests you need, and pay for your permit.
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, request your skills test by emailing Form R-405 to the DMV.

What to bring

Proof of identity and legal presence (REAL ID-compliant documents)
Proof of your Social Security number
Two proofs of Connecticut residency
Name-change documents, if your name has changed
Your valid Connecticut driver license
Completed Form R-229a and your printed self-certification confirmation

Medical card

You self-certify interstate or intrastate driving and bring the printed confirmation. The DMV gets your medical certificate electronically from the national registry; paper medical cards have not been accepted since June 16, 2025.

Fees

Commercial learner's permit	$20
General Knowledge test	$16
Each endorsement test (Air Brakes, Combination and others)	$5
Skills testPaid with your application.	$30
CDL	$70

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 Connecticut

All testing is by appointment only, booked online.
Passing scores: General Knowledge 40 of 50, Air Brakes 20 of 25, most endorsements 16 of 20, Hazmat 24 of 30.
After you email Form R-405, the DMV assigns a skills test date within three business days.
You must wait at least 7 days between skills test attempts.

Study for these tests in the Connecticut classroom

Good to know in Connecticut

If you don't get your CDL within the year, you must retake all tests for a new permit.
School bus drivers with an employer letter pay no permit, written test or skills test fees.
Connecticut may call your permit a Commercial Driver Instruction Permit (CDIP).
You must be 21 for a Hazmat endorsement.

Non-domiciled applicants

Connecticut follows the federal rule in effect since March 16, 2026: only H-2A, H-2B and E-2 visa holders qualify, work permits are not accepted, and all visits are in person.

Confirm with DMV before you go

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

Which languages the written tests are offered in.
How long you wait to retake a failed written test, and whether a retest fee applies.
The vision standard for a CDL.

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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Short lessons with diagrams, a quick check after each one, and a practice test for every permit exam Connecticut gives. Free.

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Official sources

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