Licensing
How to get a CDL in Maine
Published Updated Licensing sources checked:
How do I get a CDL in Maine?
It depends on your license history and intended driving. For a first CDL, start with the Maine age and medical requirements below, then check the permit, applicable entry-level training and skills-test steps. If you already hold a CDL, use the official sources for the upgrade or endorsement you need. For budgeting, use the separate permit, license and skills-test fee lines checked 2026-11-03; a missing fee stays unknown.
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| Your situation | Start with… |
|---|---|
| First CDL or permit | Follow the permit, training and skills-test order |
| Planning your DMV visit | Check documents and separate fee lines |
| Upgrade, endorsement or non-domiciled application | Check training and current issuance rules |
Federal rules checked . State facts below keep their original checked dates. Confirm fees and accepted documents with Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles before your visit.
Take the free general knowledge practice test with your state manual.
What order are the tests and training?
- Pass the permit tests
Choose your license class and endorsements. Meet the age, document and medical rules. Pass the required knowledge tests to get a commercial learner’s permit (CLP).
- Complete the training that applies to you
First-time Class A or B applicants need entry-level driver training (ELDT) from a registered provider before the skills test. It also applies to Class B to A upgrades and first-time passenger or school bus endorsements. First-time hazmat training comes before its knowledge test. Exemptions can apply.
- Hold the permit, then take the skills test
You cannot take the skills test in the first 14 days after permit issuance. Practice with a qualified CDL holder. Confirm training is recorded, then bring a suitable test vehicle. Pass vehicle inspection, basic control and road driving tests.
These are the federal steps for a first CDL. State training rules can add requirements. Check the Maine application checklist for your class, endorsements and any exemption.
- Official test and training rule
- Official test and training rule
- Official test and training rule
- Official test and training rule
Build a personal checklist with conditional dates in the CDL readiness quiz.
What fees should I budget for?
| Item | Published fee and limits |
|---|---|
| CLP fee | No separate commercial learner permit amount is printed. The fee page lists a Class A, B or C commercial driver license examination at $70 and each endorsement at $20.Check with Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles |
| CDL fee | Initial or renewal commercial license: under age 65, $34 for five years or $59 for REAL ID; age 65 or older, $27 for four years or $47 for REAL ID. |
| Skills-test fee | No separate skills-test amount is printed. The commercial driver license examination line is $70; it is not labeled as a standalone road-test fee.Check with Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles |
These are license and test fees, not school tuition. A retest fee is not the first-test price. Do not add repeated application amounts into a total. A missing amount is unknown.
What documents do I need?
Use this federal checklist for the ordinary state-resident route. The state decides which address proofs and document copies it accepts. Check with Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles for its current list.
| Item | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Current driver license | Bring your current license. A learner’s permit must be held with a valid driver license from the same jurisdiction. |
| Identity, age and status | For the ordinary state-resident route, use the citizenship or lawful permanent resident documents in the federal table. Ask the state which originals or certified copies it accepts. The non-domiciled route has different rules. |
| State address | Provide proof of domicile showing your name and home address. Check the state checklist for accepted documents and how many to bring. |
| Social Security details | Your name, date of birth and Social Security number must pass verification. Ask the agency whether you need a card or another proof. |
| Medical self-certification | Declare the type of driving you plan to do. A medical certificate is required for non-excepted interstate driving. State medical instructions below may add requirements. |
| License history | List every state where you held a driver license during the previous 10 years. |
| Item | State instructions |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | Not stated on the pages checked. |
| ELDT | The commercial license page says ELDT is required for Class A or B, or P, S or H endorsements, effective February 7, 2022. No hour minimum is stated. |
| Medical card | The exam page requires all CDL holders to self-certify.More about medical cardFor non-excepted interstate or intrastate driving, it says to provide BMV a copy of the DOT medical examiner certificate and keep it current.Confirm the current submission process with BMV; this page does not describe electronic examiner transmission. |
Compare permit, intrastate and interstate age rules.
Which rule changes could affect my application?
| Item | What it means for your visit |
|---|---|
| ELDT: in force since February 7, 2022 | The training rule applies to the first license, upgrade or endorsement listed in the steps. It is not a course required for every CDL renewal. Check exemptions before paying for training. |
| Non-domiciled issuance: March 16, 2026 | The current federal text requires new status checks for foreign-domiciled applicants, including renewals and replacements. The definition lists an unexpired passport plus an unexpired I-94/I-94A showing H-2A, H-2B or E-2. Territory applicants have a separate path. Confirm that your state is accepting applications. |
| Clearinghouse checks: November 18, 2024 | A prohibited drug or alcohol status can block issuance, renewal, transfer or upgrade. Resolve the prohibition before planning a test or license transaction. |
Non-domiciled applications and exceptions
The federal rules and the state’s ability to issue a credential are separate checks. Ask the agency before paying for school or booking travel. Read the non-domiciled CDL guide for the distinct foreign and other-state routes.
What delays an application?
| Item | Action to take |
|---|---|
| Documents or names do not match | Check names, birth dates, address proof and Social Security details before the visit. Failed verification can block issuance. |
| Permit or training is not ready | Allow the required permit holding period. Make sure your registered provider has reported the training before the applicable test. |
| Medical or driving record blocks issuance | Check your medical status, any license disqualification and any Clearinghouse prohibition before booking. |
| Wrong vehicle for the skills test | Use a vehicle that matches your class and needed equipment. The vehicle can affect the restrictions on your CDL. |
Start a 10-question warm-up · Try the 50-question general knowledge exam. Both use the same federal study bank. They do not copy Maine test questions.
Questions drivers ask
What does a CDL cost in Maine?
Only the amounts printed on the official page checked Nov 3, 2026. If a permit, license, or skills-test line was missing, this page says so instead of borrowing a figure from another state.
Is the minimum age in Maine 21?
Use the age sentence on this page. It is the age the state page stated. Interstate work can still have a different federal age.
Does this page issue the license?
No. Maine BMV: commercial drivers license is the licensing source. This page does not take an application.
Sources
- Maine BMV: commercial drivers license
- Maine BMV: commercial drivers license exam
- Maine BMV: license and examination fees
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