Maryland · MVA

How to get your CDL permit in Maryland

In Maryland you book a CDL permit appointment through myMVA and need a full, non-provisional Maryland license to apply. The $66 permit fee also covers your CDL if you get it before the permit expires.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official MVA sources

Start the free Maryland permit classroom Official Maryland CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $66
Permit valid for: Check with MVA
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: Not published
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a full (non-provisional) Maryland driver's license and be at least 18.
2Get a DOT physical from a medical examiner on the FMCSA National Registry.
3Book a CDL permit appointment online through myMVA.
4Bring proof of identity and age, Social Security number and Maryland residency, and self-certify your type of driving.
5Pass the vision screening and your knowledge tests with at least 80% on each.
6Pay $66 for your permit, then practice with a qualified CDL holder for at least two weeks.
7Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.
8Schedule your skills test with the MVA and bring your DOT medical card.

What to bring

Your full Maryland non-commercial driver's license
Proof of identity and age
Proof of your Social Security number
Proof of Maryland residency
Your Medical Examiner's Certificate or approved waiver

Medical card

You self-certify the type of commercial driving you will do. Your medical certificate comes from an FMCSA National Registry examiner and is sent directly to the MVA, but bring your DOT card to the skills test.

Fees

Commercial learner's permitKnowledge tests included; also covers your CDL if issued before the permit expires.	$66
Skills test	$40
Skills retest	$20
CDL when no learner's permit is needed, renewal or conversionCDL valid up to 8 years.	$8 per year

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with MVA 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 Maryland

You need 80% on each knowledge test.
If you fail the same knowledge test twice, wait at least 7 days before retaking it.
Vision screening is required.
Skills tests are given by the MVA by appointment; there is a $20 fee to reschedule after failing.

Study for these tests in the Maryland classroom

Good to know in Maryland

You can't apply with a provisional license; you need a full Maryland license first.
ELDT must be finished before you take the HazMat knowledge test.
Maryland's CDL manual includes a section on human trafficking awareness.
Limited-term permits are valid only for your authorized stay in the U.S.

Non-domiciled applicants

Since September 29, 2025, the MVA has paused issuing all non-domiciled commercial permits and licenses until further notice.

Confirm with MVA before you go

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

How long the Maryland CLP is valid and whether it can be renewed. Ask the MVA.
Fees are from state regulations; the MVA updated its fee table September 1, 2025, so confirm current amounts.
Which languages the knowledge tests are offered in.
How many proofs of Maryland residency you need.
The vision standard you must meet.

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.

Ready to study?

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

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Official sources

This page is a study aid, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Rules and fees change, so always check with MVA before you apply.