North Carolina · NCDMV

How to get your CDL permit in North Carolina

In North Carolina you need a regular Class C license, then pass vision, sign and CDL knowledge tests at an NCDMV office. Your CLP costs $25.50 and lasts 180 days, with one renewal allowed.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official NCDMV sources

Start the free North Carolina permit classroom Official North Carolina CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $25.50
Permit valid for: 180 days, renewable once for 180 more
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: Not published
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid North Carolina Class C driver license.
2Get a DOT physical from a National Registry certified medical examiner if your driving type requires one.
3Gather your identity, SSN, residency and liability insurance documents.
4Visit an NCDMV driver license office and self-certify your driving type.
5Pass the vision test, the traffic sign test and your CDL knowledge tests.
6Practice only with a qualified CDL holder beside you, and hold your CLP at least 14 days.
7Finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before your skills test.
8Take your CDL skills test.

What to bring

One document proving your age and identity
Your Social Security card or one document showing your SSN
U.S. citizens: two documents proving North Carolina residency
Non-citizens: one U.S. government document proving legal presence
One document proving liability insurance coverage
Your current North Carolina Class C license

Medical card

You self-certify your driving type when you apply. Since June 28, 2025, NCDMV no longer takes medical cards from drivers — your medical examiner sends results electronically through the National Registry.

Fees

Commercial learner's permit	$25.50
CDL (Class A, B or C)Charged for each year the license is valid	$25.50 per year
Each endorsement	$5 per year

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with NCDMV before you go.

The tests you'll take

Vision test
Traffic sign recognition
General Knowledge (everyone)
Air Brakes (if your truck has air brakes)
Combination Vehicles (Class A)
Endorsement tests (only the ones you want)

Testing in North Carolina

The vision test is given at the driver license office.
The state manual allows one attempt per knowledge test per day.
The manual says knowledge test scores are good for 90 days.

Study for these tests in the North Carolina classroom

Good to know in North Carolina

North Carolina requires proof of liability insurance to get a CLP or CDL.
You also take a traffic sign test, not just the CDL knowledge tests.
The CDL fee is charged per year of validity, plus $5 per year for each endorsement.
You must be 21 for a HazMat endorsement.

Confirm with NCDMV before you go

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

Knowledge test fees — the 2014 manual lists $51.50 for three attempts, but confirm the current fee with NCDMV.
Skills test fee.
Which languages the knowledge tests are offered in.
Whether you need an appointment, and the vision standard.
NCDMV's current policy on non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs.
Whether a newer CDL manual than the 2014 edition exists.

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 North Carolina gives. Free.

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Official sources

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