Oregon · DMV

How to get your CDL permit in Oregon

In Oregon you pass English-only knowledge tests at the DMV and pay $40 for your CLP. You must hold it 14 days and finish ELDT before your skills test.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official DMV sources

Start the free Oregon permit classroom Official Oregon CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: $40
Permit valid for: Check with DMV
Wait before road test: 14 days
Knowledge test language: English only
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Get a DOT physical from a National Registry certified examiner; your medical certification must be on your DMV record.
2Gather proof of your legal name, identity, date of birth, citizenship or permanent residence, and Oregon address.
3Visit the DMV, provide your SSN, and self-certify your driving type.
4Pass General Knowledge plus any class and endorsement knowledge tests ($10 each).
5Practice only with a qualified CDL holder beside you, and hold your CLP at least 14 days.
6Finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before your skills test.
7Take the skills test at the DMV or with a third-party examiner.

What to bring

Proof of your full legal name, identity and date of birth
Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residence
Proof of your Oregon residence address
Your Social Security number

Medical card

You self-certify one of four driving types. Your National Registry medical examiner uploads your certificate, which reaches Oregon DMV electronically; the manual also asks you to submit a copy.

Fees

Commercial learner's permit	$40
Knowledge test	$10 each
DMV skills (drive) test	$145
Certificate of Test Completion (third-party examiner)The third-party examiner also charges its own test price	$40
Original CDL	$160
REAL ID designation (optional)	$30

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 Oregon

Knowledge tests are English only, and translators aren't allowed.
You can retake a failed knowledge test as early as the same day.
Passed knowledge test results are good for six months.

Study for these tests in the Oregon classroom

Good to know in Oregon

If your CLP expires before you pass the skills test, you redo the knowledge tests, pay again, and wait another 14 days.
A P or S endorsement on your CLP means no passengers; an N endorsement means empty tank vehicles only.
Oregon raised CDL fees on January 1, 2024, so older price lists are out of date.

Non-domiciled applicants

Oregon stopped issuing new limited-term (non-domiciled) CLPs and CDLs on September 29, 2025, and since March 16, 2026 doesn't issue or reinstate them at all. Existing valid ones stay usable until they expire.

Confirm with DMV before you go

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

How long an Oregon CLP is valid — confirm with the DMV.
Whether you need an appointment for knowledge testing.
The vision standard.
Retest fees beyond the $10 knowledge test fee.
How many proofs of Oregon address you need.

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 Oregon gives. Free.

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Official sources

This page is a study aid, not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services. Rules and fees change, so always check with DMV before you apply.