The steps
- Get a DOT medical card. A commercial driver must pass a physical with a medical examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry (49 CFR 391.41, 391.43); the certificate lasts up to 24 months.
- Pass the knowledge test and get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). The CLP lets you practise with a qualified CDL holder beside you and is valid for no more than a year (49 CFR 383.25).
- Hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test (383.25(e)).
- Complete entry-level driver training with a provider on FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry, if this is your first Class A or B CDL, an upgrade, or a first passenger, school bus or HazMat endorsement (49 CFR 380.609). 159 registered providers have a training location in New York, 155 of them offering behind-the-wheel training.
- Take the skills test: vehicle inspection, basic control skills and an on-road test, in a vehicle of the class you want (49 CFR 383.113). New York names 56 places as CDL skills test sites.
- Age. Driving across state lines requires being at least 21 (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)); a state may license drivers from 18 for driving inside the state only.
Where to take the CDL test in New York
188 offices and test sites in New York are on the official lists, and 56 are named by the state as CDL skills test sites. The most are in Rochester (6), Bronx (4), Brooklyn (4), Kingston (4), Staten Island (4), Albany (3), Jamaica (3), Monticello (3), Albion (2), Auburn (2). See all CDL testing and DMV offices in New York, with a map and search by city or ZIP.
CDL schools in New York
159 training providers registered with FMCSA list a location in New York. The most are in Bronx (7), Buffalo (5), Brooklyn (4), Syracuse (3), Canton (3), South Richmond Hill (3), Jamaica (3), Salamanca (2), Spencerport (2), Rochester (2). See all CDL schools in New York.
What a CDL costs in New York
| CDL permit application (covers all written tests taken at the same time) | $10.00 |
|---|---|
| Each other required test not taken and passed at the initial application | $5 |
| CDL road test | $40.00 |
Source: Get a Commercial Driver License (CDL), New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Checked September 24, 2026. Training, the medical exam and third-party testers’ charges are separate.
Adding HazMat
The hazardous materials endorsement needs a TSA security threat assessment with fingerprints (49 CFR 1572). 21 TSA enrollment centers in New York take HazMat applications. See the enrollment centers in New York.