Licensing

How to get a CDL in Massachusetts

Each line is from a Massachusetts licensing page opened October 29, 2026. A line that says the page did not state a fee is not an estimate.

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Minimum age

The commercial learner’s permit page says an intrastate, Massachusetts-only permit requires at least 18, and an interstate permit requires at least 21. The commercial road-test page uses the same ages for an intrastate or interstate CDL.

CLP fee

The permit page lists a learner’s permit application at $30. A CDL endorsement taken with the permit application, or during the same transaction, is $10. An endorsement taken on a different day is $30. The May 2025 fee schedule lists the same permit and endorsement amounts, and $10 for each additional CDL endorsement during the same transaction. A permit expires 180 days from issue and can be renewed once, for another 180 days, at no fee. After that renewal, a new permit requires the knowledge tests again and another $30 written-test fee plus any endorsement fees. The permit must be renewed within 30 days of expiration.

CDL fee

The May 2025 fee schedule lists a five-year Class A, Class B, or Class C license at $75. The renewal page lists the same $75 for a Class A, Class B, or Class C renewal. The schedule lists an out-of-state conversion at $140 for Class A, Class B, or Class C. License fees are non-refundable. A disabled veteran who qualifies as 100 percent disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs pays no license fee for issue, renewal, or a duplicate.

Skills-test fee

The commercial road-test page and the May 2025 schedule both list the road test at $35. The fee can be paid online. The license is issued at an RMV service center after a passed test. An applicant can attempt no more than six CDL skills tests in a 12-month period. Updating from Class D to Class C has no road test unless the endorsement requires one. Passenger, air-brake, and school-bus endorsements require road tests. The applicant brings a vehicle that represents the class.

ELDT

Applicants who obtain a first Class A or Class B commercial learner’s permit, upgrade from Class B to Class A, or add a first passenger or school-bus endorsement on or after February 7, 2022, must finish the applicable entry-level driver training from a registered provider before the road test. A hazmat endorsement on or after that date requires the applicable training before the knowledge test. The page does not state an hour minimum.

Medical card

The road-test page requires a valid Department of Transportation medical card or medical waiver. The permit page says drivers of commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds must carry a valid DOT medical certificate, as must drivers transporting 15 or more passengers or placarded hazardous materials, regardless of vehicle size. State or municipal employees using a state or municipal vehicle are the exception named on that page.

Sources

• Massachusetts RMV: apply for a commercial learner’s permit
• Massachusetts RMV: renew a commercial driver’s license
• Massachusetts RMV: commercial road tests
• Massachusetts RMV schedule of fees, revised May 2025

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