Minnesota · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Minnesota CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Minnesota CDLs are issued by Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) in the Department of Public Safety under the federal FMCSA framework. Statutory fees are set in Minn. Stat. 171.06: Class A $46.75, Class B $38.75, Class C $31.75, commercial learner's permit $8.50, plus a $2.25 surcharge and a driver's license agent filing fee ($16 new / $11 renewal); endorsement exams cost $2.50 each. Intrastate commercial drivers must be at least 18 (Minn. Stat. 221.0314); CDLs renew every 4 years on the driver's birthday.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Minnesota?
Minnesota licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 7, 2022 for first-time Class A/B, upgrades, and first-time H/P/S endorsements; DOT medical certificate; 21 minimum for interstate. Minnesota specifics: drivers in intrastate commerce must be at least 18 (Minn. Stat. 221.0314 subd. 4); under-21 CDL holders are intrastate-only. Fee amounts taken directly from Minnesota Statutes 171.06 subd. 2 (license/permit fees), 171.13 subd. 5-7 (exam fees), and 171.061 subd. 4 (agent filing fees: $16 new, $11 renewal).
What licenses does Minnesota issue?
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) 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: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) (revisor.mn.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Minnesota require?
CDL knowledge tests. Administered by DVS exam stations.
CDL skills/road test. Administered by DVS.
Endorsement examinations (school bus, tank, passenger, double/triple trailer, hazmat). Administered by DVS. Exam fee $2.5.
How much does a Minnesota CDL truck driver license cost?
Minnesota 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 fee$10.75
- Exam feeset per license class
- Initial license feeset per license class
- Renewal fee (recurring)$46.75
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 4 years (expires on the driver's birthday; per DPS eLicense page CDLs are renewed every four years once the holder is 21)
Continuing education: None for renewal. Hazmat endorsement requires TSA security threat assessment and knowledge retest per federal rules; school bus endorsement has a $4 processing fee for the required background check (Minn. Stat. 171.06 subd. 2(d)).
How does the apprenticeship route work?
Not applicable, no apprenticeship-hour credit toward CDL issuance; training is through FMCSA-registered ELDT providers (performance-based, no hour minimum).
How does Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | not published | Statewide |
| Iowa | not published | Statewide |
| North Dakota | not published | Statewide |
| South Dakota | 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
- Minn. Stat. 171.06 - Applications; licenses; fees
- Minn. Stat. 171.13 - Examinations (endorsement and retest fees)
- Minn. Stat. 171.061 - Driver's license agents (filing fees)
- Minn. Stat. 171.27 - Expiration of licenses
- Minn. Stat. 221.0314 - Intrastate carrier variances (18-year minimum age)
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL) - Minnesota eLicense portal
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: 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 Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) before making decisions. Not legal advice.