How much does it cost to get a CDL?
How much does it cost to get a CDL depends on your state and on training. The license itself is a state fee: in Florida, for example, an original CDL costs $75, each endorsement $7, a knowledge retest $10 and a skill retest $20. Most new drivers also need entry-level driver training, which providers price themselves; FMCSA publishes no training prices.
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CDL license cost: the state fees
FMCSA notes that there are state fees for the CLP and CDL, but the amounts are set by each state. Florida’s fee schedule is a clear example of the CDL license cost at the licensing office:
- Original or renewal commercial driver license: $75
- Original or renewal school board commercial driver license: $48
- Endorsements: $7 each
- Knowledge retest: $10
- Skill retest: $20
- Replacement license: $25
- Possible service fee at a tax collector office: $6.25 (veterans exempt for most items)
Source: Florida FLHSMV — Fees (state example). Checked 19 October 2026.
How much is a CDL license in other states?
There is no national answer to how much is a CDL license. California, as another example, charges a nonrefundable application fee that, together with the application, is valid for 12 months, and a retest fee each time you retake the skills test. The California DMV page checked did not show the amounts, so check your state’s current fee schedule before you plan.
Ask your state also about the CLP fee, endorsement fees and whether fees are charged per test or per application; the rules differ.
Source: California DMV — Commercial Driver’s Licenses (state example). Checked 19 October 2026.
Cost of CDL training
The cost of CDL training comes on top of the state fees for most new drivers. Entry-level driver training is required for a first Class A or B CDL, a Class B to A upgrade and a first S, P or H endorsement, and it must come from a provider on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry.
FMCSA does not publish a CDL training price, and none of the official pages checked list one. When you compare schools, ask what the CDL training tuition covers: theory, behind-the-wheel hours, use of the vehicle for the skills test, and retests.
Source: FMCSA — Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). Checked 19 October 2026.
How much is a CDL class?
How much is a CDL class or a full course is set by each training provider, and official sources do not publish a typical figure. Ask each school for a written price and check whether it is registered on the Training Provider Registry; training from a provider not on the registry does not meet the federal requirement.
Source: FMCSA — How do I get a Commercial Driver’s License?. Checked 19 October 2026.
Other costs: medical exam and hazmat
Most commercial driving requires a DOT medical card, which needs a DOT physical from a National Registry examiner; FMCSA does not publish an exam price. For the hazmat endorsement, Florida charges a $91 application fee for the TSA background check, on top of the license and endorsement fees.
Source: Florida FLHSMV — Hazmat Information (state example). Checked 19 October 2026.
Keeping the cost down
Retests cost money and time. Pass each knowledge test the first time by practising until you are clearly above 80 percent in every area. Certsqill’s CDL question bank has expert-developed questions, an explanation for every answer option and a readiness score per area.
CDL cost: questions people ask
How much does a CDL cost?
State license fees vary: Florida charges $75 for an original CDL and $7 per endorsement. Entry-level training, where required, is priced by each provider. Source: Florida FLHSMV, checked 19 October 2026.
How much for CDL license retests?
In Florida, $10 for a knowledge retest and $20 for a skill retest. California charges a retest fee for every skills retest. Sources: Florida FLHSMV and California DMV, checked 19 October 2026.
How much is CDL training?
Official sources do not publish a figure; each registered provider sets its own price. FMCSA requires the provider to be on its Training Provider Registry.
How much are CDL classes for Class B?
Prices are set by providers and not published by FMCSA. Compare registered schools by what the price includes.
CDL license: how much does it cost to add hazmat?
In Florida, a $91 background check fee plus the $7 endorsement fee. Sources: Florida FLHSMV, checked 19 October 2026.
Is the CDL application fee refundable?
Not in California: the application fee is nonrefundable and valid for 12 months with the application. Source: California DMV, checked 19 October 2026.
