New York · DMV

How to get your CDL permit in New York

In New York you apply for a CLP at the DMV and pass your knowledge tests for one $10 fee. The permit is good for one year, and you must wait 14 days before you can schedule a road test.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official DMV sources

Start the free New York permit classroom Official New York CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $10 application/test fee (license fee varies)
Permit valid for: 1 year
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: English + 3 other languages
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid New York license (Class D, E, or non-CDL C) or a valid out-of-state CDL.
2Use form ID-44CDL and the DMV's online pre-screening tool to line up your identity, SSN and residency proofs.
3Self-certify your driving type and, if required, get a DOT physical from a certified medical examiner.
4Apply at the DMV, pay the $10 fee, and take all of your knowledge tests on the same visit to save money.
5Get your CLP and practice only with a qualified CDL holder beside you.
6Finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before your skills test.
7After 14 days, schedule your road test and pay the $40 road test fee.

What to bring

Proof of identity and lawful presence from the ID-44CDL list
Proof of your Social Security number
Proof of your New York address
Your current New York driver license or out-of-state CDL
A list of every license you've held in any state in the past 10 years
Your USDOT Medical Examiner's Certificate, if your driving type requires one

Medical card

When you apply, you self-certify your driving type. If you drive non-excepted, you must keep a current USDOT Medical Examiner's Certificate on file with the DMV.

Fees

CLP application and knowledge testsCovers every knowledge and endorsement test you take at the same visit	$10
Each additional knowledge test taken later	$5
Road (skills) testPaid when your permit is issued, or online	$40

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 (only the ones you want)

Testing in New York

Knowledge tests are offered in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian. The HazMat test is English only.
The road test requires an appointment, and you can't schedule it within 14 days of getting your CLP.
Taking all your knowledge tests at once avoids the $5 fee for each test taken later.

Study for these tests in the New York classroom

Good to know in New York

Drivers 18 to 20 are limited to in-state driving and can't haul hazmat or drive a school bus.
New York CLPs issued since December 27, 2022 last one year, not six months.
Some county DMV offices still say 180 days — the state's one-year rule is what counts.
The CDL manual comes in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian, split into sections.

Non-domiciled applicants

The DMV says it is temporarily unable to accept CLP or CDL applications from anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Confirm with DMV before you go

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

The CDL license issuance fee — the DMV calculates it when you apply.
Whether and how a one-year CLP can be renewed.
The road test retest fee.
How to submit your medical certificate to the DMV.
Whether you need an appointment for the knowledge test, and the vision standard.
Whether non-English knowledge tests are still offered — confirm with the DMV before you go.

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 New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Rules and fees change, so always check with DMV before you apply.