Behind-the-Wheel & ELDT Training
Finish Entry-Level Driver Training with an FMCSA-registered provider if you're a first-time Class A/B applicant.
Find an ELDT providerMaine CDL Prep
Maine CDL Permit Practice Tests & Study Guide
Everything you need to get your Maine commercial learner's permit — the steps, the DOT medical exam, training requirements, and realistic practice tests aligned with the Maine CDL manual.
How to Get a CDL Permit in Maine
In Maine, commercial learner's permits and CDLs are issued by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Use the facts and steps below for ages, hold times, and what to do next.
50Test questions
80%Passing score
14 daysCLP hold period
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 365 days
- Retest wait
- 1 day
- Triple trailers
- Not permitted on state roadways
Age, validity & retest
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 365 days
- Retest wait
- 1 day
- Triple trailers
- Not permitted on state roadways
Step-by-step process
Confirm you're eligible
Hold a valid base license and meet Maine age rules — 18 in-state, 21 for interstate or hazmat.
Pass the DOT medical exam
Get a DOT physical from a certified examiner and get your medical certificate on file with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Study the CDL manual
Read the official Maine CDL manual and practice until you're ready for the written exams.
Pass the written tests and get your CLP
Pass the required knowledge tests (80% to pass) at the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles and get your CLP.
Hold your CLP for 14 days
Practice with a qualified CDL holder for 14 days before you can take the skills test.
Complete ELDT if required
Finish Entry-Level Driver Training with an FMCSA-registered provider if you're a first-time Class A/B applicant.
Pass the skills test and get your CDL
Pass the pre-trip, basic controls, and road test to upgrade your CLP to a full CDL.
Choose Your CDL Class: A, B, or C
The class you need depends on the vehicle you plan to drive in Maine. Pick your class to see the tests and study material that apply to you.
CDL
Class A CDL
Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and large combination vehicles with a GCWR over 26,001 pounds.
CDL
Class B CDL
Straight trucks, dump trucks, box trucks, and large buses over 26,001 pounds GVWR.
CDL
Class C CDL
Passenger vehicles and hazmat loads that do not fit Class A or B but still require a CDL.
Health requirement
DOT Medical Card / DOT Physical
Before the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues your CDL, you must pass a DOT physical — a medical exam performed by a certified examiner that confirms you're fit to operate a commercial vehicle.
The examiner checks your vision, hearing, blood pressure, and general health, then issues a Medical Examiner's Certificate (often called a "DOT medical card"). You file this with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and it must be renewed periodically to keep your CDL valid.
- Required for most CDL applicants before a permit or license is issued
- Performed by an examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry
- Results in a Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT medical card)
- Must be kept current — typically renewed every 24 months or sooner
Behind-the-Wheel CDL Training & DOT Medical Examiners
Two federal requirements you'll handle outside the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles testing office.
Finding a DOT Medical Examiner
Your DOT physical must be done by an FMCSA-certified examiner. Use the National Registry to find one near you.
Find a certified medical examinerMaine CDL Permit Study Plan
A simple order to study in so you're ready for every test section on your permit exam.
Start with the general knowledge test
Every Maine CDL applicant takes this test. Study it first, then take full-length practice tests until you consistently score above 80%.
Practice core testsAdd the tests for your class
Study Air Brakes if your vehicle has them, and Combination Vehicles if you're going for a Class A. Focus on one section at a time.
See class testsLayer in your endorsements
If your job needs hazmat, tanker, passenger, school bus, or doubles/triples, study those sections once your core tests feel solid.
Browse endorsements- Before test day
Review missed questions before test day
Retake practice tests, review every explanation for questions you miss, and only schedule your exam once you pass consistently.
Try a sample quiz
Core tests · Steps 01–02
CDL test sections to study
Add-ons · Step 03
Optional endorsements
Prepare with PrepCDL
Study smarter, practice faster, and walk into your CDL exam prepared.
1000+ Practice Questions
Practice with exam-style questions covering CDL rules, safety, inspections, endorsements, and real test topics.
State-Specific CDL Prep
Study material tailored to your state's CDL manual so you focus on the rules that matter for your test.
Realistic Exam Practice
Build confidence with practice tests, randomized questions, progress tracking, and detailed answer explanations.
Question 1 of 5
What is the most important reason for doing a vehicle inspection?
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from CDL applicants in Maine.
Do I need Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) in Maine?
Yes. Effective February 7, 2022, Maine requires ELDT for first-time Class A or B applicants, Class B to A upgrades, and first-time passenger, school bus, or hazmat endorsements. Prior CDL or P/S/H holders from before that date are generally exempt, as are applicants covered by military skills-test exceptions under 49 CFR Part 383. Find providers at tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Do I need a DOT medical certificate for a CDL in Maine?
Yes for non-excepted interstate or intrastate drivers. Self-certify on Form MVE-64T. Your National Registry examiner must digitally submit the Medical Examiner's Certificate before BMV processes Non-Excepted Interstate or Intrastate applications. Keep the certificate current — submit renewals before expiration (mail, fax, email to [email protected], or drop off) or risk a medical downgrade. Intrastate certifications add a K restriction.
What do I need to bring to apply for a CDL permit in Maine?
Complete Form MVE-64T and bring two forms of identification (one with date of birth, one with your signature), proof of Maine residency and lawful presence, and a photocopy of the front and back of any out-of-state license you hold. Applicants under 23 need a sealed birth certificate. Hold a Maine Class C noncommercial license first. Birth certificates under 23 must have an embossed seal — notarized copies are not accepted.
Do I need a background check for a hazmat endorsement in Maine?
Yes. You must be at least 21, hold a valid medical card, complete hazmat ELDT (effective February 7, 2022), pass the hazmat knowledge test ($20 endorsement fee), and finish TSA fingerprinting and a background check through universalenroll.dhs.gov. Start the TSA process early.
How much do Maine CDL exams and licenses cost?
The Class A, B, or C commercial driver's license examination is $70 and includes the first road test. Each endorsement is $20. A commercial license is $34 under age 65 for five years, or $27 at age 65 or older for four years (REAL ID commercial licenses cost more). Converting an out-of-state CDL is a $70 application fee plus $34 licensing plus endorsement fees.
Are non-domiciled CDLs available in Maine?
Not currently. Effective September 29, 2025, Maine BMV paused all non-domiciled (term-limited) CLP and CDL activities — including issuance, transfers, updates, replacements, duplicates, renewals, and exams — until further notice. Contact FMCSA at 1-800-832-5660 or Maine's CDL unit at 207-624-9000 ext. 52122.
Can military members waive the Maine CDL skills test?
Possibly. Service members currently licensed who are or were employed within the past 12 months in a military CMV-equivalent role may use the military skills test waiver (Even Exchange). You must have operated the same class/type of vehicle for at least two years and meet driving-record criteria. School Bus and Passenger endorsements cannot transfer under the waiver.
How long is a Maine CLP valid?
Under Maine law (29-A M.R.S. §1304), a commercial learner's permit is valid for no more than one year from the date of issuance. You must hold it for at least 14 days before skills testing.
Does PrepCDL cover Maine?
Yes. PrepCDL includes state-specific study guides and practice questions aligned with the Maine CDL manual, plus prep for every class and endorsement.