Michigan · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Michigan CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Michigan CDLs are issued by the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State offices) under the federal FMCSA framework; CDL group designations (A/B/C) and endorsements are added on top of an operator's or chauffeur's license. Knowledge tests are taken at SOS branch computer stations (80% to pass), while the driving skills test is administered by state-approved third-party driver testing businesses. A first-time or renewal standard CDL costs $25, endorsements $5 each, and the license renews every 4 years on the driver's birthday.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Michigan?
Michigan licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer: ELDT required since Feb 7, 2022 for first-time Class A/B, upgrades, and first-time H/P/S endorsements; DOT medical certificate; TSA check for H. Michigan specifics: drivers 18-20 may operate commercial vehicles only within Michigan; 21 required for interstate or placarded hazmat. Official fee schedule (michigan.gov/sos License and ID page): standard CDL first-time $25, renewal $25, replace/correct $18 (enhanced replace/correct $33); adding group designation/endorsement to a standard CDL $5 each; on an enhanced CDL, groups A/B/C $25, endorsements $5 each, X endorsement $10; chauffeur's license $35 ($50 enhanced). Michigan also offers an enhanced (border-crossing) CDL. Skills test prices are set by private third-party testing businesses and vary. F-endorsement (non-CDL) available for farmers with combination vehicles.
What licenses does Michigan issue?
The Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Group A designation | not published | not published | Yes |
| CDL Group B designation | not published | not published | Yes |
| CDL Group C designation | not published | not published | Yes |
| Chauffeur's license (Michigan add-on tier) | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) (michigan.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Michigan require?
CDL knowledge tests (Group A: 70 questions + 20-question combination test; Groups B/C: 50 questions; endorsements T/P/S/N: 20 questions, H: 30, air brakes: 25; 80% to pass, one test per category per day). Administered by Michigan Secretary of State branch office computer testing stations.
CDL driving skills test (pre-trip vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control, on-road driving). Administered by State-approved third-party driver testing businesses.
How much does a Michigan CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Michigan costs $25 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$25
- Renewal fee (recurring)$25
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 4 years (expires on the driver's birthday)
Continuing education: None for renewal; vision test at each renewal. Hazmat (H) endorsement holders must retake the hazmat written test and present a TSA security threat assessment at every renewal (fingerprints every 4 years).
Source: renewal requirements (michigan.gov). Verified July 2026.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
Not applicable, no apprenticeship-hour credit toward the CDL. Training is via FMCSA-registered ELDT providers; Michigan SOS confirms there are no minimum ELDT training hours (performance-based).
How does Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | not published | Statewide |
| Indiana | not published | Statewide |
| Ohio | not published | Statewide |
| Wisconsin | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Applying for a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) - Michigan SOS
- License and ID information (fee schedule incl. CDL) - Michigan SOS
- CDL FAQs - Michigan SOS
- Renewing your Commercial Driver's License (CDL) - Michigan SOS
- Chauffeur's license - Michigan SOS
- License or ID renewal (4-year cycle) - Michigan SOS
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: Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska.
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 Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State) before making decisions. Not legal advice.