WVDOT DMV

Type of Licenses

Commercial Driver's License may be issued, with the following classifications, endorsements, and restrictions; the holder of a valid commercial driver's license may drive all vehicles in the class for which that license is issued, all lesser classes of vehicles, and vehicles which require an endorsement, if the proper endorsement appears on the license.

• Class A: Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
   
• Class B: Any single vehicle with the gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
   
• Class C: Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less Than 26,001 pounds or any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross weight not in excess of 10,000 pounds comprising:

• 1. Vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver; and
   
• 2. Vehicles used in the transportation of hazardous materials which the vehicle is to be placards under 49 CFR, Part 172, sub-part F.
  

Class C must have either  passenger or hazardous material endorsement or both

TOP

F     Motorcycle

H    Hazardous Materials (retest renewal & transfer)

N    Tank

P     Passenger (road skills test required)

T     Doubles / Triples

TOP

K    Intrastate driving (driving in WV only)
(Under 21 driver or medical waiver)
 

L    Restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with air brakes
 

N    Restricts the driver to buses 26,000 pounds and under (Class C buses)

The Division of Motor Vehicles is authorized to impose license restrictions to assure the safe operation of motor vehicles.

TOP

A commercial driver's instruction permit (CDL instruction permit) may be issued to an individual who holds a valid operators or class D license who has passed the vision and/or physical standards, and knowledge tests required for issuance of a CDL.

The CDL instruction permit may not be issued for a period to exceed 6 months. Only 1 renewal on re-issuance may be granted within a 2 year period from issue date. In the event the applicant has been issued 2 CDL instruction permits, before the applicant may obtain an additional CDL instruction permit he/she must reapply and re-test on all parts of the 
knowledge exam.

The holder of a CDL instruction permit may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highway only when accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license valid for the type of vehicle who occupies a seat beside the individual for the purpose of giving instruction or testing. The permit must be valid for the type of vehicle being driven also.

A CDL instruction permit may only be issued to an individual who is at least 18 years of age and has held an operator or junior operator license for at least 2 years.

Once all tests are completed, the person will receive a CDL instruction permit. When you take the photo for the instruction permit, do not take the persons regular license.

TOP

You must be at least 18 years of age and have at least 2 years driving 
experience to qualify for a CDL or CDL instruction permit. Federal Motor 
Carrier Rules requires that drivers subject to those rules meet specific 
physical qualification standards and carry evidence of such qualification in 
the form of a medial certificate.


All drivers are subject to having the long physical form except for city, 
county, state and federal employees, which would require an eye 
examination on the DLAB-II eye exam form. You must provide written 
verification of employment with the city, county, state or federal 
governments with the DLAB-II and CDL application.

If you can not be medically certified, you may be eligible for a medical 
waiver.

If you wish to be able to operate a commercial motor vehicle interstate ( all 
50 states) you must apply and be granted a waiver from the Federal 
Highway Administration. Contact (304) 347-5935 for further information.

If you wish to operate a commercial motor vehicle in WV only, please call 
(304) 558-2350 for information on obtaining a medical waiver.

TOP

Applications and study manuals are available at any Division of Motor Vehicles Exam Centers or the Division of Motor Vehicles Regional Offices.

The CDL Manual (updated 10/2007) is available for download in PDF format.

TOP

Complete in full, front and back, DMV for CDL-1. This is the application for  Commercial Driver's License and/or endorsements.

Submit a copy of your current DOT Medical/physical certification (long physical form) or DLAB-II (government employees only).


CDL testing fee is $25.00 + driver's licensing fees. The CDL testing fee allows testing for general knowledge, air brakes and combination. 
Commercial Driver's Licenses fees are non-refundable.

Endorsement fees are $10.00 each at the time of application.

Submit the application, your DOT medical/physical certification (long physical form) or DLAB-II and required fees to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
CDL Section
1800 Kanawha Blvd E
Charleston WV 25317

Or these can be brought into the Charleston Division of Motor Vehicles.

Upon receipt of the application and fees, a test card will be mailed to the applicant which will include the regional CDL testing sites.

Once all tests are successfully completed and a CDL instruction permit will be issued. The permit will be for a period of 6 months and can only be renewed one time. When the applicant is ready to take the road skills test, they should contact one of the third party examiners (names and telephone numbers in front of the CDL manual) to schedule an appointment. Most skills tests are given on weekends and evenings. The cost of the skills test is $75.00 which should be paid to the Third Party Examiner at the time of the test. The applicant must provide the vehicle in which the test will be given. The vehicle must be representative of the class of license for which the applicant is testing.

Upon completion of the skills test, the applicant should submit the passed form to one of the DMV offices or the Driver Exam Center for processing. The applicant will receive a CDL license at this time.

TOP

Complete form CDL-1. You must have previously taken all required tests.

Indicate in the transaction area that you are applying for a license update. The fees required for upgrading your license is $5.00.

Upon receipt, the Division will then issue a CDL instruction permit. A skills test is required to upgrade from one class to another.

If combination or air brakes tests are needed, you must complete these tests before you can take the road skills test.

TOP

Complete the DMV form CDL-1, both front and back.

Required fees are $10.00 for each endorsement and $5.00 for the duplicate license.

For one endorsement the fee would be $15.00.

For two endorsements the fee would be $25.00.

For three endorsements the fee would be $35.00.

For four endorsements the fee would be $45.00.

To add air brakes or combination after you have been issued your commercial driver's license, the fee is:

Air Brakes/Combination $25.00
 
Duplicate Fee $5.00
 
Total Fee would be $30.00

This will require a road skills test.


When a person already has a CDL license in the system and they are only updating or adding a passenger endorsement and must take the road skills test, when the CDL is updated, it is done as a AP-U@. We are only updating the system, not changing the expiration date.

TOP

Once you have received your renewal notice form a DMV you should visit the DMV office to start the renewal process. You must bring the required documents to renew your CDL.

1. Your WV drivers license
2. One proof of your WV physical address
3. WV renewal notice
4. Valid Department of Transportation long form physical

If you currently are employed by a city, county, state, or federal government, and your job requires a valid CDL. You are except from the DOT physical requirements. However, you must provide a letter form your employer stating you are currently employed and exempt form the DOT physical requirements. If you did not receive a renewal notice in the mail then you must complete a CDL-1 application at the Regional office. There is an additional fee of $5.00 for an expired license. If your license has been expired for more than 6 months you must take several test to re-obtain a drivers license.

To retain a Hazardous Material Endorsement, you must first complete a fingerprint, and background check from the TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. You should contact Integrated Biometrics Technologies (IBT) Help Desk at 1-877-429-7746, or visit their website at www.hazprints.com to pay the $94.00 fee to start the fingerprint/background check process. All fees are non-refundable. After contacting (IBT) you must call one of the locations that provide fingerprinting to schedule an appointment. The locations are listed on their website. When visiting the IBT office you must bring your drivers license, and social security card. Once you have received your approval letter in the mail from TSA stating you have passed the background check then you can return to the DMV office to test for HAZMAT and renew your CDL. Please bring your approval letter from TSA when you renew. If you do not wish to maintain your HAZMAT endorsement you can go directly to a DMV office to renew your license.

A HAZMAT endorsement holder renewing their CDL will receive 3 attempts to test and pass the HAZMAT endorsement on a valid no expired license. If your CDL license is expired then you must obtain a HAZMAT test card from the CDL office in Charleston before you can test for HAZMAT.

TOP

To drive a commercial vehicle in West Virginia, you must apply to transfer your CDL within 30 days of establishing residence. The DMV will obtain driving information through the Commercial Drivers license System (CDLIS), the National Driver Register (NDR) and from each state in which you have been licensed to drive. You must surrender your out-of-state driver’s license in order to be issued a WV CDL.

You must bring the following documents to be issued a WV CDL.

1. Certified Birth Certificate
2. Social Security Card
3. Valid DOT long form physical. If you work for a city, county, state or federal government and your job requires a CDL that you are exempt form the DOT physical requirement. You must submit a letter from your employer stating you are exempt form the Dot physical requirement.
4. Two proofs of your WV physical address
5. If your name has changed since birth you are required to provide certified documents such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or court orders stating name changes.
6. Your out-of –state license or a certified driving record.
    

If you have a HAZMAT endorsement on your out-of-state license then you must pass the TSA background check first before you can transfer. You should contact Integrated Biometrics Technologies (IBT) Help Desk at 1-877-429-7746, or visit their website at www.hazprints.com to pay the $94.00 fee to start the fingerprint/background check process. All fees are non-refundable. After contacting (IBT) you must contact one of the locations that provide fingerprinting to schedule an appointment. The locations are listed on the TSA website www.hazsprints.com. When visiting the IBT office you must bring your drivers license, and social security card. Once you have received your approval letter in the mail from TSA stating you have passed the background check you can then return to the DMV office test for HAZMAT and transfer your out- of -state CDL. Please bring your letter of approval from TSA when you transfer. If you do not wish to maintain your HAZMAT endorsement you can go directly to a DMV office to transfer your license.

TOP

The knowledge test, written or oral, must be taken and passed, with at least an 80% score by all applicants. You must test for the endorsements listed on the test card at the time as when you test for general knowledge. At a later date you can get a test card for other endorsements. If you fail any portion of the knowledge examination, you must wait 7 days before you may retest. You may test 3 times on the original fees paid.

Hazardous Materials testing must be written.

TOP

The skills tests are administered by certified third party examiners trained. The road skills test will not be given until you have passed all other parts of the examination and have in your possession a commercial driver's license instruction permit for the type of vehicle for which you are testing. Each section of the skills test (pre-trip, basic control and road test) must be passed.

The examiner cannot give the skills test unless your vehicle is in safe condition and legally equipped. Your vehicle must first be checked to make sure it complies with registration, vehicle inspection and equipment laws.

TOP

Any person applying to renew a CDL which has been expired for 6 months or more must follow the procedures for an initial issuance of a CDL license, including the knowledge and skills testing.

If not expired over 6 months, the person can renew and pay an additional $5.00.

TOP

Voluntarily Surrendered CDL

When a person wishes to voluntarily surrender his/her CDL license, he/she must complete a voluntarily surrendered letter. By signing this letter, the applicant knows he/she will have to start all over with knowledge and skills testing before receiving a CDL license again.

TOP

CDL Third Party Testers Phone Numbers and Locations

TOP