How much is a CDL permit in Texas?

Texas DPS lists the CLP fee at $25, and the permit expires 180 days from issue. Texas does not list a separate knowledge test fee, because the $25 is paid when you apply, before testing. The CDL fee is $97 and is paid with the CDL application when you schedule the skills test.

Which state has the cheapest CDL permit?

Of the 21 states in this table, Virginia lists the lowest CLP fee at $3. Georgia lists $10 and Tennessee lists $13.00 to $14.00. Fees change, so check your state page before you go.

Do I pay a separate fee for the CDL knowledge test?

It depends on the state. Alabama lists $25, Washington lists $35 and Georgia lists $10. Wisconsin says all CDL knowledge tests are free. Texas, California and Arizona list no separate knowledge test fee.

CDL Permit Cost by State (2026): Fees for 21 States

The CLP, or permit, fee ranges from $3 in Virginia to a $125 test receipt in New Jersey, based on the 21 states below. Most states charge other fees on top of that, such as a knowledge test fee, skills test fees, a CDL license fee, training and a medical exam.

CDL permit cost by state

This table shows what each state lists. Some states charge an application fee instead of a CLP fee. California and North Carolina do, and New Jersey sells a test receipt. If a state does not list a number, the table says "Not listed." The table does not add up totals, because most states do not state one. Click a state name for its practice test page and links to its official sources.

State	CLP or permit fee	Knowledge test fee	CDL license fee	Retest rule or fee
Alabama	$36.25	$25	Class A $66.25, B $56.25, C $36.25	Not listed
Arizona	$25.00 for Class A or B, $12.50 for Class C	No separate fee. You pay the class fee first	$25.00 for Class A or B, $12.50 for Class C, paid when you apply	Unlimited tries, next business day
California	No separate CLP fee. Application fee $100 (Class A or B), $59 (Class C)	No separate fee. Covered by the application fee	$100 original (Class A or B), $59 (Class C)	3 tries per knowledge test, no wait. Skills retest $46
Florida	Not listed	Not listed. Retest $10.00	$75.00	Knowledge retest $10.00, skills retest $20.00
Georgia	$10	$10, paid before the exams	$32, valid 8 years	Wait 2 days. New $35 application after 4 failed tries
Illinois	$50	Not listed	Not listed (renewal or transfer $60)	3 tries per fee paid, then wait 30 days and pay again
Indiana	$17	Not listed	$35	Next business day. Retest fee not listed
Kentucky	$11 ($14 for REAL ID)	Not listed for the general test. $5 for each endorsement test	$18.75 to $50.00 by class and type	Wait 24 hours. General retest has no fee. Other retests $5
Michigan	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed as one fee. $5 per endorsement	Wait 1 day
Minnesota	$26.75	$2.50 for each endorsement exam	Class A $65, B $57, C $50	Written retest $10 after failing the first two
Missouri	$44 (includes $25 written test fee)	Included in the $44 CLP fee	About $83 for most first-time applicants	Retake right away, or a later day if the examiner says so
New Jersey	No CLP fee listed. Test receipt $125	Covered by the $125 receipt for 180 days	$42 for four years	Wait 7 days between tries, within 180 days
New York	$10.00 application fee	Covered by the $10.00 fee. $5.00 for any test taken later	No flat amount stated	No limit on retakes, at the office's discretion
North Carolina	$25.50 (application fee $51.50 covers 3 knowledge test tries)	Covered by the $51.50 application fee	$25.50 per year	After 3 tries, pay another application fee. One try per day
Ohio	$31.50	Not listed	$46.50 for 4 years or $92.00 for 8 years	Knowledge retest not listed. Skills retest wait 2 days
Pennsylvania	$15.50 photo fee, plus $6.00 per endorsement	No separate fee. Paid with the permit application	$43.50 to $109.50 when upgrading, by license expiry	3 tries on one permit application
Tennessee	Class A $14.00, Class B or C $13.00	Not listed	Class A $70.00, Class B or C $62.00	Retake the next day
Texas	$25	No separate fee. The $25 CLP fee is paid first	$97	Application active 90 days or 3 failed tries, then new application and fees
Virginia	$3	Not listed	$64	One try per business day
Washington	$40	$35, covers one try at each test within 90 days	Not listed for a first CDL	Fee covers one try per test. Retest fee not listed
Wisconsin	$30	Free	$74, prorated	Next day. Same test 5 times a year

Costs beyond the state fees

These apply in every state.

DOT medical exam. Most new drivers need a medical exam from an examiner on FMCSA's National Registry. The examiner sets the price. Ask before you book.
Entry-level driver training (ELDT). First-time Class A or B applicants must finish training from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before the skills test. The provider sets the price.

These depend on your state:

Skills test fees. Alabama lists $20. Georgia lists $50 for each testing attempt. Washington lists $175 for a truck or passenger bus and says the fee gets you 2 attempts. Wisconsin lists a maximum of $150 for the full test, and examiners may charge less. Ohio lists $10.00 for the pre-trip inspection, $10.00 for the basic test and $30.00 for the road test at state-owned facilities. Kentucky lists $50 if you have held a Kentucky license 30 days or more, and $150 if less than 30 days or if you hold an out-of-state license and permit. Michigan says each driver testing business sets the fee.
Truck rental. Indiana says you pay the skills test fee and any truck rental fee each time you test. Its test site list says a site can charge at most $200 for the first attempt, $150 for the second and $100 for each later attempt, not counting truck rental.
Hazmat background check. Florida lists $91. Michigan says the federal TSA fee is $86.50. Virginia lists $83, or $41 with a valid TWIC. Kentucky lists $138.25 for the fingerprint background check. Wisconsin lists $67.25 to the DMV plus $23.75 for fingerprinting.

How to not pay twice

A failed test can cost you a second fee, or a new application. Here is what the state data says:

Florida: knowledge retest $10.00, skills retest $20.00.
Minnesota: the third and later written test after failing the first two costs $10.
Kentucky: the general knowledge test has no retest fee. Combination, air brake and endorsement tests cost $5 for each retest after the first failure.
California: a skills retest fee of $46 is paid each time you retake the skills test.
Georgia: after 4 failed attempts you need a new application and a new $35 fee.
North Carolina: after 3 knowledge test attempts you pay another application fee for 3 more.
Texas: after 90 days or three failed attempts, you submit a new application, pay fees again and retest.

Passing the knowledge test the first time avoids all of this. You skip the retest fee, the extra trip to the office and the wait between tries. Use the plan in Pass the CDL permit test first try. To see what comes after the permit, read CDL permit to license: every step.

Try 10 exam-style questions built from the official CDL manual.

Check before you go

Fees change. Open your state page and the state's official fee page before you go. Fees checked October 2026.

CDL Permit Cost by State (2026): Fees for 21 States

CDL permit cost by state

Costs beyond the state fees

How to not pay twice

Free CDL practice test

Check before you go

Common questions

Sources