Maine · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Maine CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Maine CDLs are issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles under the Secretary of State. The Class A/B/C commercial examination fee is $70 (includes the first road test) with $20 per endorsement exam, and the commercial license itself costs $34 for a 5-year term for drivers under 65 ($27 for a 4-year term at 65+; REAL ID versions $59/$47). ELDT from an FMCSA-registered provider has been required since Feb 7, 2022 for Class A/B and P/S/H endorsements.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Maine?
Maine licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
The official Maine CDL manual (Rev. 7-24) states 'You must be at least 16 years of age to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle; 21 years of age to operate a bus or carry hazardous materials' - an unusually low stated intrastate floor; federal rules still require age 21 for interstate driving. CDL learner's permit is issued after the eye and knowledge exams; the fee page lists no separate CLP fee (the $70 exam fee covers examination including the first road test). Out-of-state CDL conversion: $70 application + $34 license + endorsement fees. Since 9/29/2025 Maine cannot issue or renew non-domiciled (term-limited) CDLs or permits per federal regulation. Learner's permit supervision: accompanying CDL holder must have held a license 2 years and be at least 20 (22 for bus/school bus). Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 2022, DOT medical certificate, endorsements H (TSA), N, T, P, S.
What licenses does Maine issue?
The Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) 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: Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) (legislature.maine.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Maine require?
CDL examination (knowledge tests plus first road/skills test). Administered by Maine BMV CDL Examination Section (appointments scheduled through the Augusta main office).
Endorsement examinations (doubles/triples, bus, tank, hazmat, or hazmat renewal). Administered by Maine BMV.
Source: examination page (maine.gov). Verified July 2026.
How much does a Maine CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Maine costs $104 in board fees, before any training. That is the exam fee and 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.
- Exam fee$70
- Initial license fee$34
- Renewal fee (recurring)$34
Source: fee schedule (maine.gov). Verified July 2026.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 5 years for drivers under 65 ($34; REAL ID $59); 4 years for drivers 65 and older ($27; REAL ID $47)
Continuing education: None required by the state. CDL holders must file a self-certification form, and non-excepted interstate/intrastate drivers must give the BMV a copy of their DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate and keep it current; hazmat endorsement renewal requires the $20 exam and TSA security threat assessment.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship pathway to licensure. First-time Class A/B applicants (and P/S/H endorsements) must complete performance-based ELDT from an FMCSA-registered provider (effective 02/07/2022); Maine sets no minimum training hours.
How does Maine 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | not published | Statewide |
| New Hampshire | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Maine BMV - Commercial Drivers License
- Maine BMV - Drivers License and Examination Fees
- Maine Commercial Driver License Manual (Rev. 7-24)
- Maine BMV - Commercial Drivers License Exam
- Title 29-A sec. 1252 - License classes
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: Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana.
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 Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) before making decisions. Not legal advice.