For Colorado drivers
Updated September 28, 2026
In Colorado, you pass the CDL knowledge test at a state driver license office to get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). You hold it for 14 calendar days and finish entry-level training. Then you pass the skills test with an approved third-party tester.
Last, you return to a driver license office with your permit, training proof, and skills paperwork to get the CDL.
This guide follows the Colorado DMV’s own four steps, in its order. It adds the permit rules that trip people up, plus the fees. Every rule links to the DMV page it came from.
Who Needs a Colorado CDL
The Colorado DMV says you need a CDL to drive any of these:
- A commercial vehicle rated at 26,001 pounds or more
- A vehicle built to carry 16 or more people, driver included
- A vehicle hauling hazardous materials that must be placarded
Some drivers are exempt. The DMV’s list includes motorhomes, military vehicles driven by service members, firefighting equipment, and snowplows during emergency snow removal. Farm vehicles run by a farmer within 150 miles of the farm are exempt too.
A car hauler is a combination vehicle, so it takes a Class A. Colorado defines Class A as a combination of 26,001 pounds or more, towing a unit rated over 10,000 pounds.
The Four Steps to a Colorado CDL
- Check that you qualifyBefore you bookYou need a valid Colorado driver license and must be at least 18 (21 for hazmat). The DMV issues CLPs and CDLs to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
- Get your CLPState driver license officeBook a “CDL Written Test” appointment at a state driver license office. Bring your license, proof of lawful presence, your Social Security number, and two proofs of your Colorado address. Pass the test and pay the fee.
- Train, then take the skills testApproved school, then third-party testerAfter 14 calendar days, finish entry-level driver training at an approved school. Then take the skills test with an approved third-party tester.
- Finish your CDLState driver license officeBook a “First Time Appointment” at a driver license office. Bring your CLP, proof of training, the skills test completion form, and a Ten-Year Driving History form (DR 2172). Your DOT medical must be on file.
About the medical card. Your medical examiner sends it to FMCSA’s National Registry, and Colorado gets it from there. The DMV accepts it no other way. The DMV says the examiner submits it within 24 business hours of your exam. See our DOT physical guide for the exam.
A Colorado CDL is good for four years. For the federal side of these steps, see how long it takes to get a CDL.
Three Colorado Permit Rules to Know
Your results make one permit
Your knowledge-test results are good for only one CLP. Want a different class or endorsement after it is issued? You retake all the required tests. Pick the right permit the first time.
A CLP lasts one year
A Colorado CLP is valid for one year and cannot be renewed. If it expires before you get your CDL, you retake the written tests at an office.
REAL ID is not enough
A REAL ID does not count as proof of lawful presence for a CLP or CDL. Bring a document from the DMV’s list, such as a U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate.
The Colorado CDL Tests and Manual
The CDL knowledge test is offered in English and Spanish. The hazmat knowledge test is offered only in English.
You take the skills test at an approved third-party testing site. The DMV links a list of testers and a map, so you can find one near you. Ask about the tester’s own fee when you book.
To study, use the Colorado DMV’s Commercial Driver License Manual (DR 2251), linked from its CDL page.
Colorado CDL Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial driver license | $35.00 |
| Commercial instruction permit | $20.00 |
| Written test retest | $11.50 |
| Skills (road) test retest | $15.40 |
State driver license offices take cash, checks made out to DOR, major credit cards, and contactless pay.
Out-of-State Transfers and Vets-2-Trucks
Moving here with a CDL? A valid out-of-state CDL, or one expired less than a year, transfers to Colorado. The written and skills tests are waived. All endorsements move with it except hazmat (H) and tank-hazmat (X). An out-of-state learner’s permit does not transfer.
Vets-2-Trucks. This program is for Colorado residents who are serving, close to discharge, or discharged within the past year. It waives the skills test, but you still pass the written exams. The form is DR 2742.
Already have 3 years of CDL-A and a year of 9-car time? Talk to our Denver recruiters.
Driving a Truck in Colorado
Every Colorado CDL holder meets the mountains sooner or later. In winter, the state’s chain law decides when commercial trucks must carry and use chains. Our Colorado chain law guide explains it. Long downgrades are the other test, and jake brakes and mountain driving covers how to take them.
Car Hauling Out of Denver
Denver is Accelerated’s home base. Our operational yard sits in nearby Parker, and drivers run rail-head and regional lanes across the Rocky Mountain region for the automakers. Motor Car Auto Carriers, a car hauler once based in nearby Commerce City, is now part of Accelerated.
A new CDL is the first step, not the last. To haul cars with us, you need 3 years of CDL-A driving and 1 year of verifiable 9-car experience. How to become a car hauler shows how drivers get there.
Haul Cars Out of Denver
See the lanes, equipment, and requirements at our Denver terminal, the home base of our fleet. When you have the experience, apply from your phone in a few minutes.
Have 3 years of CDL-A and 1 year of verifiable 9-car time? Apply to drive with Accelerated.
Colorado CDL FAQs
How long is a Colorado CDL permit good for?
One year. A Colorado CLP cannot be renewed. If it runs out before you get your CDL, you retake the written tests at a driver license office.
Can I take the Colorado CDL test in Spanish?
Yes, the CDL knowledge test is offered in English and Spanish. The hazmat knowledge test is offered only in English.
How much does a CDL cost in Colorado?
The Colorado DMV lists $20 for the commercial instruction permit and $35 for the CDL, as of September 28, 2026. The third-party skills tester sets its own fee.
Where do I take the Colorado CDL skills test?
With an approved third-party tester. The Colorado DMV links a list of testers and a map on its CDL page. You can test once you have held your CLP for 14 calendar days and finished entry-level training.
Can I transfer my out-of-state CDL to Colorado?
Yes, if it is valid or expired less than a year. The written and skills tests are waived. Endorsements transfer, except hazmat (H) and tank-hazmat (X).
Sources
Last checked September 28, 2026. Fees and rules change. Confirm each step with the Colorado DMV before you apply. This guide is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.