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 providerVirginia CDL Prep
Virginia CDL Permit Practice Tests & Study Guide
Everything you need to get your Virginia commercial learner's permit — the steps, the DOT medical exam, training requirements, and realistic practice tests aligned with the Virginia CDL manual.
How to Get a CDL Permit in Virginia
In Virginia, commercial learner's permits and CDLs are issued by the Virginia Department 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
Age, validity & retest
- Minimum age
- 18 intrastate / 21 interstate
- CLP validity
- 365 days
- Retest wait
- 1 day
Step-by-step process
Confirm you're eligible
Hold a valid base license and meet Virginia 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 Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
Study the CDL manual
Read the official Virginia 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 Virginia Department 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 Virginia. 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 Virginia Department 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 Virginia Department 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 Virginia Department 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 examinerVirginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia.
Do I need Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) in Virginia?
Yes for first-time Class A or B applicants, Class C to A/B or B to A upgrades, and first-time passenger, school bus, or hazmat endorsements. Finish ELDT before skills testing (or before the hazmat knowledge exam). DMV verifies completion in the Training Provider Registry. Troops to Trucks℠ applicants are exempt from ELDT. Prior CDL or endorsement holders from before February 7, 2022 are generally exempt for that credential.
Do I need a DOT medical certificate for a CDL in Virginia?
Yes if you self-certify as non-excepted interstate or intrastate. Certify to one of four CMV categories on your application; excepted categories do not need a Medical Examiner's Certificate. Effective May 5, 2025, Virginia no longer accepts MECs from drivers — examiners submit electronically through the National Registry. You can upload self-certification (DL 8) online when it does not change restrictions.
What do I need to bring to apply for a CDL permit in Virginia?
Bring proof of identity and Virginia residency, complete the CDL/CLP application with medical self-certification, and confirm electronic medical certification is on your record if you are non-excepted. First-time CDL applicants generally need a valid Virginia driver's license (or meet all requirements to obtain one). Check DMV's additional documents list for CDL/CLP applications before your visit.
Do I need a background check for a hazmat endorsement in Virginia?
Yes. Complete hazmat ELDT theory before the English-only hazmat knowledge exam, then get fingerprinted for a TSA background check. The non-refundable fingerprint fee is $83, and the HME is valid for five years. You must be at least 21 to transport hazmat under federal rules.
How much do Virginia CDL permits and licenses cost?
A commercial learner's permit costs $3 and is valid for one year (no renewals). A standard CDL with no endorsements is $64 for eight years. Endorsements cost an additional $1 per year. Hazmat fingerprinting is $83 (non-refundable) for a five-year HME. Knowledge retests within 15 days cost $2.
What happens if I fail a Virginia CDL exam three times?
Under Virginia law, after three failures of the general knowledge or behind-the-wheel exam you must complete the applicable knowledge or in-vehicle component at a licensed driver training school, Virginia community college, or comparable approved course before a fourth attempt. The re-exam must then be administered by DMV.
Can military members waive the Virginia CDL skills test?
Possibly through Troops to Trucks℠. Qualified military personnel pass required knowledge tests only and are exempt from the road skills test and ELDT. Bring form DL 13, the CDL application (DL 2P), medical certification, and DD-214/DD-256/NGB-22 or active-duty military ID. Some MOS codes may also waive knowledge tests.
Are farm vehicles exempt from a Virginia CDL?
Often yes when used by farmers to move farm goods, supplies, or machinery to or from the farm within 150 miles, and not as a common or contract motor carrier. Covered Farm Vehicles under § 46.2-649.3 and certain emergency, military, and personal-use vehicles are also exempt.
Does PrepCDL cover Virginia?
Yes. PrepCDL includes state-specific study guides and practice questions aligned with the Virginia CDL manual, plus prep for every class and endorsement.