ODPS Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commercial Driver License (CDL)
Ohio CDL Fees
To obtain an Ohio CDL you will need to pay the appropriate fees.
- $10.00 for the pre-trip inspection portion of the test;
- $10.00 for the off-road maneuvering portion of the test;
- $30.00 for the on-road portion of the test.
The Ohio CDL applicant who schedules an appointment with the Ohio State Highway
Patrol (OSP), may have to pay an appointment fee of $50.00 at the time he schedules
the appointment. These fees are in addition to any fees
Who Needs an Ohio CDL?
The classes of Ohio CDL and the commercial motor vehicles that they authorize
the operation of are as follows:
- Any combination of vehicles with a combined gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
- Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating that is not in excess of 10,000 pounds;
- Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that is not a class A or class B vehicle, but that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver;
- Any school bus with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds that is designed to transport fewer than 16 passengers including the driver;
- Is transporting hazardous materials for which placarding is required under subpart F of 49 C.F.R. part 172;
- Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that is designed to be operated and to travel on a public street or highway and is considered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to be a commercial motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, a motorized crane, a vehicle whose function is to pump cement, a rig for drilling wells, and a portable crane.
Classes of Ohio CDL Licenses
Ohio Revised Code, Section 4506.12 (B) The classes of Ohio CDL and the commercial
motor vehicles that they authorize the operation of are as follows:
- Class A - any combination of vehicles with a combined gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, if the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds
- Class B - any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more or any such vehicle towing a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating that is not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Class C - any single vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that is not a Class A or Class B vehicle, but that is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or is transporting hazardous materials in an amount requiring placarding, or any school bus with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds that is designed to transport fewer than 16 passengers including the driver.
The higher class Ohio CDL allows you to drive vehicles in any of the lower classes
provided you have the correct endorsements.
Occasional drivers are also required to apply for an Ohio CDL and all appropriate
endorsements. For example: Mechanics or truck sales people who test drive on a
public roadway.
In addition to an Ohio CDL, drivers may need special endorsements if they:
- Drive vehicles carrying passengers, (buses);
- Pull double or triple trailers (see Ohio CDL exemptions below);
- Drive tank vehicles (see Ohio CDL exemptions below); or
- Haul placarded hazardous materials (see Ohio CDL exemptions below)
Ohio CDL Endorsements and Restrictions
The following endorsements and restrictions apply to commercial drivers' licenses:
- H - Authorizes the driver to drive a vehicle transporting hazardous materials in an amount requiring placarding;
- K - Restricts the driver to only intrastate operation
- L - Restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with air brakes;
- T - Authorizes the driver to drive a vehicle configured with double or triple trailers that create more than one articulation point for the combination;
- P - Authorizes the driver to drive vehicles designed to transport sixteen or more passengers, including the driver;
- P1 - Authorizes the driver to drive class A vehicles designed for fewer than sixteen passengers, including the driver, and all lesser classes of vehicles without restriction as to the designed passenger capacity of the vehicle;
- P2 - Authorizes the driver to drive class A or B vehicles designed for fewer than sixteen passengers, including the driver, and all lesser classes of vehicles without restriction as to the designed passenger capacity of the vehicle;
- P4 - Restricts the driver to driving class C school buses designed to transport fewer than sixteen passengers including the driver;
- N - Authorizes the driver to drive tank vehicles;
- S - Authorizes the driver to drive school buses transporting children;
- X - Authorizes the driver to drive tank vehicles transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding;
- W- Restricts the driver to the operation of commercial motor vehicles in accordance with a waiver for farm-related service industries issued under section 4506.24 of the Revised Code
Procedures for Obtaining an Ohio CDL or Ohio CDL Instruction Permit
To get an Ohio CDL or Ohio CDL instruction permit (CDIP) you are required to be
at least 18 years of age and have a valid Ohio State driver's license.
NOTE: Employers may impose additional standards and/or higher age requirements.
Bring the following to the licensing office:
- Your social security card issued by the Social Security Administration. Your social security number is required for identification purposes. This is a mandatory requirement.
- A CDIP may be issued to an individual who holds a valid automobile or classified driver's license. The holder of a CDIP may drive a commercial motor vehicle on a highway only when accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license, valid for the type of vehicle driven, who occupies a seat beside the individual, for the purpose of giving instruction in driving the commercial motor vehicle.
- The CDIP is valid for six months. A CDIP expires after six months and cannot be renewed. A new permit must be purchased and the vision and knowledge tests must be re-taken.
- The CDIP fee is $27.00
Ohio CDL Renewal/Upgrade
When applying for a renewal or upgrade of an Ohio CDL, all applicants shall:
- Provide any updated information;
- Pass a written hazardous materials test if wishing to retain or upgrade a hazardous materials endorsement;
- Complete any additional testing requirements for an upgrade.
Individuals renewing a current Ohio driver license, Ohio commercial driver license (CDL), or Ohio identification (ID) card are no longer be required to present a Social Security card at an Ohio BMV license agency for verification at the time of renewal.
Ohio CDL Testing
Both the knowledge (written) and skill (driving) tests are required to receive
an Ohio CDL. A knowledge test is required for:
- The class of vehicle;
- Each endorsement; and
- Removing the air brake restriction.
The skill test consists of a pre-trip inspection and a road test, and takes up to 90 minutes. You will need to provide a vehicle appropriate to the class of license you apply for, including a bus (designed to carry 16 or more persons including the driver) if applying for a passenger endorsement.
After an Ohio CDL is issued, adding a passenger endorsement, upgrading a license
or removing a restriction requires both knowledge and skill tests and applicable
fees.
All drivers who surrender the Ohio CDL license or any endorsement will be required
to pay all applicable fees and retake both the knowledge and skill tests to obtain
an Ohio CDL.
Ohio CDL Written Knowledge Tests
You will need to pass the
Ohio Knowledge Tests that are required for
the class of license, restriction, and endorsements you wish to possess. A general
knowledge test for the Class A or Class B and C license must be successfully completed
by all CDL applicants. The information needed to pass these tests is contained
in the
FREE Ohio CDL Handbook. Please read and study this
manual carefully.
- Class A - 70 Questions (50 GK + 20 Combination Vehicles) - Skills test required.
- Class B - 50 Questions - Skills test required.
- Class C - 50 Questions - Skills test required for bus, school bus and air
brakes vehicles..
- Passenger Endorsement - 20 questions - Skills test required in bus.
- School Bus Endorsement - 25 questions - Skills test required in school bus.
- Doubles/Triples Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Tank Vehicle Endorsement - 20 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Hazardous Materials Endorsement - 30 questions - No additional skills tests.
- Air Brake Restriction Removal - 25 questions - Additional skills test in vehicle with Air Brakes.
If you need help . . .
determining what Class of CDL you need based upon the type
of vehicle you will drive (A, B or C) or are not sure which CDL
Endorsements you need based upon the type of loads you will carry; use the
free CDL Selector Tool . . .
Ohio
Go to CDL Selector Tool
Not sure which OH CDL Tests you need to pass? Use this tool to determine what Class of CDL and which CDL Endorsements you require.
Classes of Ohio CDL and Required Tests
| CDL Class |
Tests Required |
Possible Endorsements and Required Tests |
Class A
(Combination
vehicle endorsement required) |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Combination Endorsement Written Exam
Road Exam |
|
| Class B |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Road Exam |
|
| Class C |
General Knowledge Written Exam
Road Exam
Note: If upgrading to a Class C from a Class D, no road test is required UNLESS the endorsement requires one. |
|
Ohio CDL Endorsements
| Exam |
Time Allowed (Minutes) |
# of Questions on Exam |
# of Correct Answers Needed to Pass |
| General Knowledge |
60 |
50 |
40 |
| Air Brakes |
25 |
25 |
20 |
| HazMat |
30 |
30 |
24 |
| Tank |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| Passenger |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| Doubles/Triples |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| Combination Vehicles |
20 |
20 |
16 |
| School Bus |
20 |
20 |
16 |
In addition to the Ohio CDL (commercial driver's license) information found in our website covering the Ohio CDL and in the free Ohio CDL Handbook (which is quite boring and a bit confusing - and doesn't have a single multiple-choice question in it that is asked on the actual tests), the complete online
prep program will prepare you to easily pass your
Ohio CDL written exams to get your Ohio CDL permit. The skills test modules are invaluable to give you a head start before doing your
work, possibly saving you a lot of money. The Ohio CDL test prep program includes the following features . . .
