Idaho · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Idaho CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Division of Motor Vehicles issues CDLs; knowledge testing is done at county driver's license offices and the skills test is administered by ITD-certified third-party examiners (up to $190 examiner fee plus $10 county fee). Drivers can be licensed at 18 but carry a K restriction (intrastate only) until 21. Idaho offers 1-, 3-, 4-, and 8-year license terms and a unique twice-in-a-lifetime seasonal CDL for farm-service workers.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Idaho?
Idaho licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Idaho add-ons beyond the federal baseline: K restriction automatically applied to all 18-20-year-old CDL holders (intrastate only, removed at 21); Seasonal CDL for farm-service workers ($44, valid 180 days in a 12-month period, 150-mile radius, obtainable only twice in a lifetime); farm vehicle exemption within 150 miles of the farm. Other published fees: endorsement addition $20, license upgrade $30, duplicate $20, endorsement knowledge test $5. Skills test price is a maximum, third-party examiners may charge up to $190.
What licenses does Idaho issue?
The Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles 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: Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles (itd.idaho.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Idaho require?
CDL knowledge tests. Administered by County driver's license offices (ITD DMV).
CDL skills test. Administered by ITD-certified third-party skills test examiners ($10 paid to county DMV + up to $190 to examiner). Exam fee $200.
How much does an Idaho CDL truck driver license cost?
Idaho 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
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 4 or 8 years for drivers 21+ (driver's choice); 3-year license for ages 18-21; 1-year option available
Continuing education: None. DOT medical certificate must be kept current, since June 23, 2025 medical examiners submit certificates electronically to FMCSA/state; hazmat endorsement requires TSA re-vetting.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
Not applicable, no apprenticeship-hour pathway. ELDT via FMCSA-registered providers; military skills-test waivers available for drivers with verifiable heavy-truck experience.
How does Idaho 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | not published | Statewide |
| Montana | not published | Statewide |
| Nevada | not published | Statewide |
| Oregon | not published | Statewide |
| Utah | not published | Statewide |
| Washington | not published | Statewide |
| Wyoming | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
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: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa.
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 Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles before making decisions. Not legal advice.