Nevada · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Nevada CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Nevada CDLs are issued by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles under the federal FMCSA framework. An original CDL requiring knowledge and skills tests costs $141.50, the Commercial Learner Permit costs $57.50, and the standard renewal is $111.50 for an 8-year license. Minimum age is 18 for intrastate and 21 for interstate; Nevada additionally requires ELDT schools operating in the state to hold a Nevada DMV business license.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Nevada?
Nevada 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, B-to-A upgrades, and first-time S/P/H endorsements (Nevada DMV lists these categories explicitly); DOT medical certificate from a National Registry examiner; 14-day CLP hold; endorsements H (TSA), N, T, P, S. Nevada fee table (verified on dmv.nv.gov): original/transfer with knowledge + skills tests $141.50; original/transfer with knowledge tests only $111.50; CLP $57.50; completion of learner permit $57.50; skills test to add/remove restriction or endorsement $30; renewal 8-year $111.50 (no tests/knowledge only) or $141.50 (knowledge + skills); 4-year renewal $57.50 or $87.50; duplicate $22.50; add endorsement $14 per endorsement plus $3.50 photo fee.
What licenses does Nevada issue?
The Nevada Department 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: Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.nv.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Nevada require?
CDL knowledge tests (general, air brakes, endorsement tests as applicable). Administered by Nevada DMV (included in CLP/license transaction fees).
CDL skills test (vehicle inspection, basic controls, road test). Administered by Nevada DMV CDL offices (Elko, North Las Vegas, Reno, Winnemucca) or approved third-party testers. Exam fee $30.
How much does a Nevada CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Nevada costs $229 in board fees, before any training. That is the application fee, 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.
- Application fee$57.5
- Exam fee$30
- Initial license fee$141.5
- Renewal fee (recurring)$111.5
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 8 years standard ($111.50 renewal with knowledge tests only or no tests); a 4-year renewal is also offered ($57.50)
Continuing education: None for the base CDL. Hazmat endorsement requires TSA fingerprint clearance renewal; CDL self-certification and a current medical examiner's certificate must be maintained or the CDL is downgraded.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
No apprenticeship is required or credited toward licensure; the mandatory route is federal ELDT (classroom plus behind-the-wheel) from a Training Provider Registry school, which in Nevada must also hold a Nevada DMV business license unless it is an accredited college program.
How does Nevada 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | not published | Statewide |
| Arizona | not published | Statewide |
| California | not published | Statewide |
| Idaho | not published | Statewide |
| Oregon | not published | Statewide |
| Utah | 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: New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico.
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 Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles before making decisions. Not legal advice.