Vermont · CDL truck driver licensing · verified July 2026
Vermont CDL truck driver license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Vermont CDLs are issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (Agency of Transportation) under the federal FMCSA framework. Applicants pay per-test fees - $39 knowledge test, $17 per endorsement test, $39 road test plus a $29 scheduling deposit, and an $18 commercial learner's permit fee, then choose a 2-year ($72) or 4-year ($108) license term for both new and renewal issuance. Minimum age is 18 for the CLP and intrastate CDL, 21 for interstate operation, and federal ELDT applies to first-time Class A/B applicants, hazmat endorsements, and upgrades.
Do you need a license to work as a CDL truck driver in Vermont?
Vermont licenses CDL truck drivers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
Ages: 18+ for CLP and intrastate CDL; 21+ for interstate CMV operation. State specifics: Vermont offers an Enhanced CDL (ECDL, +$36: 2-yr $108 / 4-yr $144) usable for land/sea border crossing; motorcycle endorsement adds $4 per year; out-of-state movers must transfer their CDL within 30 days; school bus endorsement must be added by the issuing state, and out-of-state licensees can get a separate Vermont Type II school bus card after a Vermont clinic and testing. Federal layer: ELDT since Feb 7, 2022; DOT medical certificate; endorsements H (TSA check), N, T, P, S; FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse registration.
What licenses does Vermont issue?
The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (Agency of Transportation) 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 |
| Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP/CDP) | not published | not published | Yes |
Source: Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (Agency of Transportation) (dmv.vermont.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Vermont require?
CDL knowledge test. Administered by Vermont DMV. Exam fee $39.
CDL endorsement test. Administered by Vermont DMV. Exam fee $17.
CDL road/skills test (pre-trip, basic control, road). Administered by Vermont DMV.
How much does a Vermont CDL truck driver license cost?
Getting a journeyman CDL truck driver license in Vermont costs $129 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$18
- Exam fee$39
- Initial license fee$72
- Renewal fee (recurring)$72
Source: fee schedule (dmv.vermont.gov). Verified July 2026.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 2 or 4 years (licensee's choice of term)
Continuing education: None. DOT medical certificate must be kept current; hazmat endorsement requires TSA background check/fingerprinting and knowledge test.
How does the apprenticeship route work?
Not applicable, CDL is exam-based. Federal ELDT through an FMCSA-approved provider is required for first-time CDL applicants, hazmat endorsements, and upgrades; Vermont mandates no state training-hour minimums.
How does Vermont 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | not published | Statewide |
| Massachusetts | not published | Statewide |
| New Hampshire | not published | Statewide |
| New York | 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: Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
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 Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (Agency of Transportation) before making decisions. Not legal advice.