Florida · FLHSMV

How to get your CDL permit in Florida

In Florida you get your CLP at a county tax collector office, and since February 6, 2026 every license test is in English only. Skills tests are given only by approved third-party testers.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official FLHSMV sources

Start the free Florida permit classroom Official Florida CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $0 + $6.25 service fee
Permit valid for: Up to 1 year from your General Knowledge pass
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: English only
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid Florida driver license.
2Get a DOT medical exam from a certified examiner, who files it electronically, and self-certify your driving category.
3Book a CDL knowledge test appointment at your county tax collector office.
4Bring your ID, Social Security proof and two proofs of address.
5Pass the General Knowledge test plus any Air Brakes, Combination or endorsement tests, all in English, and get 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 FLHSMV-approved third-party tester.

What to bring

Primary ID, such as a U.S. birth certificate or passport (non-citizens have separate lists)
Proof of your Social Security number
Two proofs of your home address, plus proof of Florida residency

Medical card

You self-certify one of four driving categories before your permit or license is issued. Your medical examiner reports your results electronically; paper medical certificates are no longer accepted.

Fees

Commercial learner's permitPlus a $6.25 tax collector service fee (veterans exempt).	$0
Written test retest	$10
Skills test retestYour first skills test price is set by the third-party tester.	$20
CDL	$75
Endorsements	$7 each

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with FLHSMV 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 Florida

All knowledge and skills tests are in English only. Interpreters and translation devices are not allowed.
County tax collectors require an appointment for the CDL knowledge test.
Vision: 20/40 in each eye. You must also hear well enough to hear a whisper.
Skills tests are given only by approved third-party testers, not at tax collector offices.

Study for these tests in the Florida classroom

Good to know in Florida

You must pass your skills test and get your CDL within one year of passing General Knowledge, or you retest.
Under 21 you can drive only inside Florida.
County tax collectors, not FLHSMV offices, handle CLP and CDL visits.

Non-domiciled applicants

Florida follows the federal rule in effect since March 16, 2026: non-domiciled applicants need an unexpired foreign passport and I-94 showing H-2A, H-2B or E-2 status.

Confirm with FLHSMV before you go

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

Whether the 14-day wait counts calendar days or business days. One county lists business days, so ask your tax collector.
How long you wait to retake a failed written test.
The $0 CLP fee comes from a county tax collector's fee list. Confirm with your county before you go.
Whether you need a REAL ID credential for a CLP.

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 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Rules and fees change, so always check with FLHSMV before you apply.