Ohio · BMV

How to get your CDL permit in Ohio

In Ohio you need a valid Ohio license, then pass a vision test and free knowledge tests to get a $31.50 CLP. The permit lasts 12 months, and federal rules require you to hold it 14 days before the skills test.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official BMV sources

Start the free Ohio permit classroom Official Ohio CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $31.50
Permit valid for: 12 months
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: Not published
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a valid Ohio driver license.
2Get a DOT physical from a National Registry certified medical examiner if your driving type requires one.
3File your CDL self-certification (form BMV 2159) online, by email, by mail or in person.
4Bring proof of citizenship or permanent residency and your SSN to the BMV.
5Pass the vision test and the knowledge test for each class and endorsement you want.
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 the three-part skills test: pre-trip inspection, basic control and road test.

What to bring

Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency: U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, CRBA, naturalization certificate, or green card
Your valid U.S. Social Security number
Your valid Ohio driver license

Medical card

You self-certify your driving type on form BMV 2159, which you can file online. Since June 23, 2025, medical exam results go to the BMV electronically from the National Registry, so you don't turn in a paper card.

Fees

Commercial learner's permitIncludes deputy registrar fee	$31.50
Knowledge testsNo separate fee	$0
Pre-trip inspection test (state site)Third-party testers set their own prices	$10
Basic control skills test (state site)	$10
Road test (state site)	$30
First CDL	$46.50 (4-year) / $92.00 (8-year)

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

The tests you'll take

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

Testing in Ohio

Knowledge tests are free, including retakes.
The skills test has three parts, each with its own fee at state test sites.
The BMV says you must read, speak and write English well enough to drive commercially.

Study for these tests in the Ohio classroom

Good to know in Ohio

Updating your self-certification in person at a deputy registrar costs $5; doing it online avoids that trip.
A Spanish edition of the CDL manual (HSY 7606) is available.
Ohio's CDL manual is the 2017 national model version.

Non-domiciled applicants

Ohio paused all non-domiciled CDL issuance in September 2025. Current holders must re-verify their status in person or be downgraded to a regular Class D license. Since March 16, 2026, federal rules limit new non-domiciled permits to certain visa holders (H-2A, H-2B, E-2).

Confirm with BMV before you go

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

Which proofs of Ohio residency the BMV accepts.
Whether a CLP can be renewed after 12 months.
Whether you must wait before retaking a failed knowledge test.
Whether you need an appointment for knowledge testing.
Which languages the knowledge tests are offered in.

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 Ohio gives. Free.

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Official sources

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