Pennsylvania · PennDOT

How to get your CDL permit in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania you file form DL-31CD, pass your knowledge tests at a PennDOT Driver License Center, and get a CLP good for one year. State law makes you wait 15 days, one more than the federal rule, before the skills test.

Last checked September 26, 2026 against official PennDOT sources

Start the free Pennsylvania permit classroom Official Pennsylvania CDL manual

Minimum age: 18 (in-state only) · 21 to cross state lines
Permit fee: Check with PennDOT
Permit valid for: 1 year, not renewable
Wait before road test: 15 days
Knowledge test language: Not published
Passing score: 80%

Step by step

1Hold a Pennsylvania non-commercial driver license.
2Get a DOT physical from a National Registry certified examiner if you're non-excepted; it must be on file before your permit is issued.
3Fill out form DL-31CD (application) and form DL-11CD (self-certification).
4Bring your original identity, Social Security and residency documents to a PennDOT Driver License Center.
5Pass the knowledge tests for your class and endorsements (three attempts within one year).
6Practice only with a licensed driver 21 or older with the right class, seated beside you, for at least 15 days.
7Finish Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before your skills test.
8Schedule your skills test online or by phone at 717-412-5300.

What to bring

One original proof of identity: U.S. birth certificate with raised seal, valid U.S. passport, or certificate of citizenship or naturalization
Non-citizens: original USCIS documents and a valid passport
Your original Social Security card
One proof of Pennsylvania residency, such as a lease, utility bill, W-2 or tax record
Name-change documents if your names don't match
A payment method other than cash — Driver License Centers don't take cash

Medical card

You self-certify on form DL-11CD. PennDOT no longer accepts medical cards in person or by email; your certified medical examiner sends it electronically through the National Registry.

Fees

Photo fee	$15.50
CDL increase (upgrade) feeProrated by months left until your license expires	$22.00–$88.00
Each endorsement or restrictionNo fee for School Bus	$6.00
HazMat fee	$22.00

Fees change. Confirm the current amount with PennDOT 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 Pennsylvania

Oral and Spanish knowledge tests are by appointment only.
The HazMat knowledge test is English only.
Your knowledge test authorization is good for one year with three attempts.
You get three tries at the skills test per permit.

Study for these tests in the Pennsylvania classroom

Good to know in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's wait before the skills test is 15 days, not 14.
Don't laminate your permit — it gets stamped when you pass the skills test.
There's no single CLP fee; you pay per item, like photo, endorsements and the CDL upgrade.
You must be 21 for H (HazMat) and X endorsements.
If you don't pass everything within a year, file a new DL-31CD for a new permit.
School bus applicants also need a DL-704 physical.

Confirm with PennDOT before you go

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

The total cost of a CLP, knowledge tests and skills test — confirm with PennDOT.
Which languages the knowledge tests come in — PennDOT pages differ, so ask before you go.
The vision standard and any wait before retaking a failed test.
PennDOT's current policy on non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs.

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 Pennsylvania gives. Free.

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Official sources

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