Idaho · ITD

How to get your CDL permit in Idaho

In Idaho you apply for a CLP at your county driver's license office once you are 18 and have at least one year of licensed driving. The permit costs $29 and is valid for one year.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official ITD sources

Start the free Idaho permit classroom Official Idaho CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $29
Permit valid for: 1 year
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: Not published
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold an Idaho driver's license and have at least one year of licensed driving experience.
2Get a DOT physical from a medical examiner on the FMCSA National Registry.
3Self-certify your type of driving online through ITD's CDL Self-Certification app or at the county office.
4Bring proof of lawful presence and Idaho residency to your county driver's license office.
5Pass the General Knowledge test plus any Air Brakes, Combination or endorsement tests you need ($5 each).
6Pay $29 for your CLP, then practice with a qualified CDL holder for at least 14 days.
7Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
8Book your skills test with an ITD-certified examiner in your district.

What to bring

Your current driver's license (at least one year of driving experience)
Proof of lawful presence in the U.S.
Current proof of Idaho residency
For the skills test: your license, CLP, vehicle registration and proof of insurance

Medical card

You self-certify one of four driving categories, either online through ITD's CDL Self-Certification app or at the county office. Since June 23, 2025, your medical examiner must send your medical certificate electronically. A DOT medical card lasts up to 24 months.

Fees

Commercial learner's permitValid one year.	$29
Each knowledge or endorsement test	$5
Skills test$10 county fee plus the examiner's fee, which is capped at $190.	Up to $200
CDL, age 21+Shorter, cheaper terms apply for drivers under 21.	$40 (4 years) or $60 (8 years)

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with ITD 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 such as Passenger, School Bus, Tank, Doubles/Triples or HazMat, if you want them

Testing in Idaho

Knowledge tests are taken in person, not online.
If you fail a knowledge test, wait 3 days before retaking it.
Passed knowledge tests stay valid for one year.
Skills tests are given by ITD-certified examiners, listed by district on the ITD website.

Study for these tests in the Idaho classroom

Good to know in Idaho

Idaho requires at least one year of prior licensed driving before you can get a CLP or CDL.
You need a CLP held for 14 days before any skills test, even to remove an air brake, automatic or no-tractor-trailer restriction.
Skills test examiners set their own fee, up to the $190 state cap.
Some in-state commodity haulers are exempt from the DOT medical card. Check the Idaho State Police list.

Confirm with ITD before you go

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

Whether the Idaho CLP can be renewed. Ask ITD before it expires.
Which languages the knowledge tests are offered in.
Whether knowledge tests need an appointment or allow walk-ins.
The exact identity, Social Security and residency documents required. Check ITD's document list before you go.
The vision standard you must meet.
Retest fees.
How Idaho handles non-domiciled permits under the 2026 federal rule.

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 Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles. Rules and fees change, so always check with ITD before you apply.