How to Get a CDL in Florida: Requirements, Tests and Steps

For Florida drivers

Updated September 28, 2026

To get a CDL in Florida, you need a regular Florida driver license, proof that you live in Florida, and a DOT medical card. You pass the knowledge tests to get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). Then you finish entry-level training and pass a three-part skills test.

You can apply at 18. Until you turn 21, a Florida CDL only lets you drive inside Florida.

18Minimum age, in Florida only

21Age to drive across state lines

$75FLHSMV fee for an original CDL

3Parts to the Class A skills test

The rules below come from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Each fee and rule is linked in the sources at the end. The federal steps every state shares get a short summary here, with a link to our full guide.

Florida CDL Requirements

FLHSMV sets five basic rules for every CDL applicant:

Hold a regular license first. FLHSMV calls it an operator’s license.
Pass the vision test, plus the knowledge and skills tests.
Be at least 18. Under 21, you are limited to driving inside Florida.
Live in Florida, and prove it with one document from the list below.
Keep a DOT medical card on file. Most truck drivers need one under FLHSMV’s rules.

Proof of Florida residency. For an original CDL or CLP, bring one of these:

A Florida Class E license or Florida ID card held more than six months in a row
A lease in your name, in place more than six months
A home mortgage or deed in your name, signed more than six months ago
A Florida voter registration card
A statement of domicile under section 222.17, Florida Statutes
A homestead tax exemption filing on Florida property

Medical self-certification. Before FLHSMV issues or renews a CDL, you pick one of four driving categories. If you will drive across state lines and need a federal medical card, you pick non-excepted interstate, and your card must stay current on file. Since June 23, 2025, the medical examiner sends your exam results electronically. Our DOT physical guide covers the exam itself.

Which Florida CDL Class You Need

Class	What it lets you drive (FLHSMV)
Class A	Trucks or combinations of 26,001 lbs or more, towing a unit over 10,000 lbs. Car haulers drive Class A
Class B	Straight trucks and buses of 26,001 lbs or more
Class C	Smaller vehicles that carry placarded hazmat or 16 or more people, driver included

Endorsements go on top of the class. One Florida detail: you can earn the doubles and triples (T) endorsement, but triple trailers are not allowed on Florida roads. Our CDL endorsements guide explains each one.

Step by Step: Your Florida CDL

Get your DOT medical cardSee a medical examiner on the federal National Registry.
Pass the knowledge testsTake them at a driver license office. Passing gets you your CLP.
Hold the CLP for 14 daysFederal rules bar the skills test in the first 14 days.
Finish entry-level trainingFirst-time Class A and B applicants train with a school on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry.
Pass the skills testFLHSMV certifies third-party sites to give it.
Get your CDLPay the license fee to have your Class A issued.

Our guide on how long it takes to get a CDL covers the federal steps in more detail.

The Florida CDL Tests

For Class A, FLHSMV lists these knowledge tests:

General knowledge
Combination vehicles
Air brakes, if your truck has them (most Class A trucks do)
A test for each endorsement you want

The skills test has three parts: a pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, and an on-road drive.

Language rules. The knowledge tests come in several languages. You can take them out loud in English or Spanish, except the hazmat test. The skills test is in English only, and interpreters are not allowed for any test.

Study guide. FLHSMV posts its CDL handbook in English and Spanish, plus a supplement for the modernized test. The knowledge tests come from that book, so read it before you look at practice quizzes.

Accelerated car hauler on the move with a white SUV riding over the cab

Where to Take the Florida Skills Test

FLHSMV certifies third-party skills test sites and lists them by city. For each site, the list shows:

Its phone number and testing ranges
Whether it tests Class A, Class B and C, or both
Whether it can provide the truck
Its own test fee, which varies from site to site

When we checked, the list included sites in Jacksonville and nearby Green Cove Springs. Call ahead to book and to confirm the price.

Florida CDL Fees

**FLHSMV fee schedule**Checked September 28, 2026
Item	Fee
Original or renewal CDL	$75.00
Each endorsement	$7.00
Knowledge retest	$10.00
Skills retest	$20.00
Tax collector office service fee	Up to $6.25

FLHSMV says the $6.25 service fee may apply at a tax collector office. Veterans who show proof of veteran status do not pay it for most license transactions. The third-party site’s skills-test fee is paid to the site, on top of these.

Already have 3 years of CDL-A and a year of 9-car time? Talk to our recruiters.

Apply Now

Moving to Florida With a CDL, and the Military Waiver

Out-of-state CDL. Florida accepts a CDL from another state. If yours has a hazmat endorsement, you reapply for it here, with a new background check, tests, and fees.

Military skills-test waiver. Service members with recent military truck experience may skip the skills tests. You still pass every knowledge test. Your commanding officer signs FLHSMV’s Certification for Waiver of Skill Test for Military Personnel.

FLHSMV’s own pages give two different time limits:

Main CDL page

Within 90 days

Apply while on active duty or within 90 days of separation. The CDL must be issued within 120 days.

Military drivers page

Within 1 year

Apply while serving or within one year of separation, with at least two years of military truck driving.

Apply as early as you can, and confirm the limit with FLHSMV.

Car Hauling in Jacksonville

A new Class A is where a trucking career starts. Car hauling comes later. Accelerated runs lanes out of JAXPORT, one of the Southeast’s major vehicle-handling ports. From there, drivers haul imported and processed vehicles inland to dealers and rail.

To drive with us, you need 3 years of CDL-A driving and 1 year of verifiable 9-car experience. If you are under 21 with a Florida-only CDL, build that interstate time first. Our guide on how to become a car hauler maps the path.

Haul Cars Out of Jacksonville

See the freight, equipment, and requirements at our Jacksonville terminal. When you have the experience, the application takes a few minutes on your phone.

Our Jacksonville Terminal

Have 3 years of CDL-A and 1 year of verifiable 9-car time? Apply to drive with Accelerated.

Florida CDL FAQs

Can I get a CDL at 18 in Florida?

Yes. FLHSMV issues CDLs at 18, but drivers under 21 are limited to driving inside Florida. At 21, federal rules let you drive a truck across state lines.

How much does a Florida CDL cost?

FLHSMV charges $75 for an original CDL and $7 for each endorsement, as of September 28, 2026. A tax collector office may add a $6.25 service fee. The third-party skills test site charges its own fee.

Can I take the Florida CDL test in Spanish?

The knowledge tests, yes. They come in several languages and can be given out loud in English or Spanish, except hazmat. The skills test is in English only, and no interpreters are allowed.

Do I have to live in Florida to get a Florida CDL?

Yes. You bring one residency document, such as a Florida voter registration card or a lease in your name that has run more than six months.

Does Florida accept my out-of-state CDL?

Yes, Florida reciprocates out-of-state CDLs. A hazmat endorsement does not carry over. You reapply for it, with a background check, tests, and fees.

Sources

Last checked September 28, 2026. Fees and rules change. Confirm each step with FLHSMV before you apply. This guide is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.