Florida · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Florida CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issues CDLs under the federal FMCSA framework. Applicants must be at least 18 (drivers under 21 are restricted to intrastate operation only), hold an operator's license, prove Florida residency, pass knowledge tests, and pass the three-part skills test at FLHSMV or an approved third-party site. An original or renewal CDL costs $75.00, endorsements are $7.00 each, and licenses renew every 8 years (in person only for CDL holders).
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Florida?
Florida licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 2022; DOT medical certificate; endorsements H (TSA check), N, P, S, T, X. Florida specifics: fee schedule, original/renewal CDL $75.00, school board CDL $48.00, endorsements $7.00, knowledge retest $10.00, skills retest $20.00, replacement $25.00, late fee $15.00, plus $2.00 processing fee for MyDMV online transactions; no separate CLP fee is published on the FLHSMV fee page; Florida residency must be established (e.g., Florida Class E license or lease/deed held 6+ months); drivers under 21 are stamped intrastate-only; skills tests must be conducted in English while knowledge tests are multilingual (hazmat excepted). Reciprocity: CDLs are nationally recognized under the federal framework; out-of-state CDLs transfer without retesting.
What licenses does Florida issue?
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) 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: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) (flhsmv.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Florida require?
CDL knowledge tests (General Knowledge; Combination Vehicles for Class A; air brakes and endorsement exams as applicable). Administered by FLHSMV; offered in multiple languages and may be taken orally in English or Spanish (except hazmat test).
CDL skills test (pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control, on-road driving; conducted in English). Administered by FLHSMV or approved third-party test sites.
How much does a Florida CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Florida costs $75 in board fees, before any training. That is the initial license fee charged once, with renewal charged separately below. No board publishes this total, so it is added up here from the schedule it does publish. An exam is required and its fee is not in that figure, because no amount for it appears in the board material this page is built from. Check the board's current fee schedule before budgeting.
- Initial license fee$75
- Renewal fee (recurring)$75
Source: fee schedule (flhsmv.gov). Verified July 2026.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 8 years; CDL holders must renew in person at a service center (online renewal not available for CDLs); $15.00 late fee
Continuing education: None required. DOT medical certificate must be kept current; hazmat endorsement requires TSA security threat assessment renewals.
Source: renewal requirements (flhsmv.gov). Verified July 2026.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship pathway; required training is federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from an FMCSA-registered provider for first-time Class A/B applicants (performance-based, no Florida hour mandate).
How does Florida 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | not published | Statewide |
| Alabama | not published | Statewide |
| Georgia | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers - FLHSMV
- Commercial Driver License - FLHSMV
- Fees - FLHSMV
- Renew or Replace Your Florida Driver License - FLHSMV
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: Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas.
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 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) before making decisions. Not legal advice.