Arizona · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Arizona CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Arizona CDLs are issued by the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division. Applicants get a CLP ($25 Class A/B, $12.50 Class C; valid up to 12 months), hold it 14 days, complete ELDT if required, then take the road/skills test ($25 Class A/B vehicle, $12.50 Class C) with MVD or an MVD-certified third-party tester; the new-license fee is $25 (Class A/B) or $12.50 (Class C). Minimum age is 18, but under-21 drivers get an intrastate-only (K-restricted) CDL and cannot haul hazmat; CDLs are valid up to 8 years.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Arizona?
Arizona licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 2022 for first-time A/B and first-time H/P/S endorsements; DOT medical certificate; endorsements H/N/T/P/S plus X. Unusual-but-verified outlier vs neighboring states: Arizona license issuance fees are low ($25/$12.50) with up-to-8-year validity.
What licenses does Arizona issue?
The Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (ADOT MVD) issues the credentials below for this trade. Boards often list further classes for specialties and business licenses; these are the ones this page covers.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class B CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
| Class C CDL | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (ADOT MVD) (azdot.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Arizona require?
CDL knowledge tests (80% minimum to pass; taken at MVD offices, license class fee paid before testing; next-business-day retakes). Administered by ADOT MVD.
CDL road/skills test (pre-trip, basic controls, road). Administered by ADOT MVD or MVD-certified third-party testers.
How much does an Arizona CDL truck driver license cost?
Arizona sets its fees per license class rather than as one figure for the trade, so no single total would be true of every applicant. The published items are below exactly as the board sets them.
- Application feeset per license class
- Exam feeset per license class
- Initial license feeset per license class
- Renewal fee (recurring)set per license class
Source: fee schedule (azdot.gov). Verified July 2026.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: Up to 8 years
Continuing education: None; medical examiner certificate must be renewed every 24 months (electronically submitted via FMCSA), hazmat endorsement requires a new knowledge test at every original/renewal application plus TSA security threat assessment renewal.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship requirement. ELDT (theory, range, road) from an FMCSA-certified provider is required before the skills test for first-time Class A/B, B-to-A upgrades, and first-time S/P/H endorsements; the federal curriculum is performance-based with no hour minimum. Military skills-test waiver available for qualifying active-duty/recently separated CMV operators.
How does Arizona compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | not published | Statewide |
| California | not published | Statewide |
| Nevada | not published | Statewide |
| New Mexico | not published | Statewide |
| Utah | not published | Statewide |
| Colorado | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- ADOT MVD - Getting Your Commercial Driver License (CDL): fees for new CDL applicants
- ADOT MVD - Managing Your Commercial Driver License (CDL): renewal and fees for CDL holders
Last verified July 2026. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to CDL truck drivers overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (ADOT MVD) before making decisions. Not legal advice.