Official Site of The State of New Jersey
ELDT
Permit /Test Receipt Fee
License
Commercial Learner Permit (CLP)
Knowledge Test
Road Test
Medical Requirements
Lost or stolen documents
ELDT
EFFECTIVE 2/7/22:
For all categories below, you must complete the required Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from a provider listed on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry.
| HAZMAT endorsement | Prior to taking your knowledge test |
First-time applicants for Class A, B, or C |
Prior to taking your skills test |
First-time applicants for any endorsement |
Prior to taking your skills test |
CDL upgrade |
Prior to taking your skills test |
Permit/Test Receipt Fee
Can I get a refund of the $125 Test Receipt Fee?
No. The $125 test receipt fee is non-refundable. Make sure to check the CDL manual for full qualifications before purchasing a Commercial Learners Permit (CLP), or Test Receipt.
What is the fee for a duplicate Commercial Learners Permit (CLP)?
There will be an $11.00 charge for a duplicate CLP.
What is the fee for a duplicate Test Receipt?
There will be a $3.00 charge for a duplicate Test Receipt.
License
If my vehicle has air brakes and does not weigh over 26,001 lbs., do I need a Commercial Driver License (CDL)?
No, you only need a CDL if the vehicle weighs 26,001 lbs. or more, or requires a placard for transporting hazardous material, or if you will be carrying passengers.
Can I get a Commercial Driver License (CDL) if I have a DUI?
Yes, provided you have served your suspension period; however, you will not be eligible to retain or apply for your Passenger (P) endorsement for three years.
Commercial Learner Permit (CLP)
At what age can I apply for a Commercial Learner Permit (CLP)?
To apply for a New Jersey CLP, you must be at least 18 years old. If you are under the age of 21, you can only operate intrastate (within NJ only) commerce and must select commerce category 3 or 4 on the CDL Holder Self-Certification form.
When do I need to submit the Commercial Driver License (CDL) Holder Self-Certification document and Medical Examiner Certificate?
CDL Holder Self-Certification and Medical Examiner Certificate, if applicable, must be submitted for an initial CLP and a CDL transfer. A new Medical Examiner Certificate must be submitted upon expiration of current Certificate for current CDL/CLP drivers. A CDL Holder Self-Certification form must be submitted upon renewal of your Commercial Driver License.
If I receive a moving traffic violation when driving my personal vehicle, will the violation be charged against my CLP/CDL?
Yes, enhanced CDL penalties will apply to a CLP/CDL for moving traffic violations if they occur when practice driving a CMV, or if you are driving your personal vehicle.
Where can I take the knowledge test?
Knowledge tests can be taken at the following Driver Testing Centers: Bakers Basin, Bayonne, Camden, Cardiff, Eatontown, Edison, Freehold, Lodi, Mount Holly, Newark, Newton, North Bergen, Paterson, Rahway, Randolph, Rio Grande, Salem, South Plainfield, Toms River, Vineland, Washington, Wayne, and West Deptford.
Do I need an appointment to take the knowledge test?
Yes. You can make an appointment here.
What is a passing grade?
80%.
Is the knowledge test administered in Spanish?
Yes. It is administered in Spanish, or English with the exception of the HAZMAT endorsement test. The HAZMAT test is administered in English only.
Is the knowledge test administered orally?
No. CDL exams are multiple choice tests taken on a computer terminal. All tests, with the exception of the HAZMAT endorsement test, are available in English or Spanish. The HAZMAT test is administered in English only. Audio tests are not available for any CDL exam.
Am I allowed to use an interpreter to take the knowledge test?
No, you are not allowed to use an interpreter to take the knowledge test.
How many times can I fail the knowledge test before I have to pay another $125 fee?
There is no limit to the number of knowledge tests you can take within the 180-day period, but there is a mandatory waiting period of seven days before you can re-take the knowledge test; however, the test receipt is valid for 180 days and will need to be renewed for $125.00 upon expiration of the test receipt. The basic general knowledge test must be passed before any endorsement test can be taken. All CDL test scores are good for 360 days (written, vision and road).
Road Test
How can I make an appointment for a road test, or cancel a scheduled road test?
If you have successfully completed the knowledge and vision tests and purchased a Commercial Learners Permit (CLP), you can make an appointment here.
Do I need an appointment for a road test?
Yes.
How soon can I take the road test?
You must wait at least 14 days after you receive your Commercial Learners Permit (CLP).
How long do I have to wait to be re-tested if I fail my road test?
You must wait at least 14 days to be re-tested.
How many times can I fail the test before I have to pay another $125 fee?
There is no limit to the number of road tests you may take; however, you will have to renew your Commercial Learners Permit (CLP) and test receipt after six months (180 days).
Am I allowed to use an interpreter to take the road test?
No, you are not allowed to use an interpreter to take the road test.
Can I take a road test with a vehicle that has an automatic transmission?
Yes, you can, but you will have a restriction added to your CDL license (No manual transmission equipped CMV, restriction code E).
Who supplies the vehicle for the road test?
You must supply a vehicle that represents the class of CDL license you are trying to obtain.
Medical Requirements
When do I need to submit a Medical Examiner Certificate and CDL Holder Self-Certification document?
You must submit a Commercial Driver License (CDL) Holder Self-Certification document and a completed Medical Examiner Certificate, if applicable, at the time of issuance of your Commercial Learners Permit (CLP).
Do I need a Medical Examiner Certificate completed before I renew?
Yes. All Commercial Driver License (CDL) drivers must have a current Medical Examiner Certificate on file with the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) before they drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV), unless they operate in excepted commerce. Please see the list of excepted commerce categories on the CDL Holder Self-Certification document.
Can I still renew my Commercial Driver License (CDL) if I am not in compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations?
No. You must meet the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations to renew your CDL.
Lost or stolen documents
How do I replace a lost CDL or permit?
A lost CDL may be replaced by ordering a duplicate online.
If you have lost a CLP/CDL permit, you must visit a Licensing Center (no appointment necessary) to get a replacement. Make sure to bring:
- 6 Points of ID verification.
- $3 fee for a duplicate examination test receipt, or $11 fee for a duplicate CLP.
If your CLP was stolen, remember that it must be reported to the police.