California - Apply for Commercial Driver's License

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Procedure

To obtain a commercial permit:

1. Visit a DMV office. Book an appointment(s) for faster service.
2. Complete a California Commercial Driver License Application form DL 44C. (An original DL 44C form must be submitted. Copies will not be accepted.) The department does not provide DL 44 or DL 44C online because original signatures are required on the form, and each DL 44 or DL 44C contains a unique barcode which must be scanned or keyed by the DMV employee. To obtain a DL 44 or DL 44C form, call DMVs Automated Telephone Service at 1-800-777-0133 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week) to have a form mailed to you or visit your local DMV office to pick one up.
3. You also need to fill out a 10 Year History Record Check form (DL 939) if you have been issued a driver license in the same or different name to operate any type of motor vehicle in another state or other jurisdiction within the previous ten years.
4. Have your picture taken and your thumb print collected.
5. Provide your social security number. It will be verified with the Social Security Administration while you are in the office.
6. Verify your birth date and legal presence (you may use your California driver license) If your current name no longer matches the name on your birth date/legal presence document, see True Full Name and How to Change Your Name for more information.
7. Pay the application fee for a 5year license.
8. Pass a vision exam.
9. Submit a completed Medical Examination Report form DL 51. DMV will only accept a Medical Examination Report form DL 51 with a revision date of 1/2014 or later.
10. Pass the traffic laws and sign tests for the class of vehicle you will drive. You have three chances to pass the test.

Apply for your commercial driver license:

• Call a DMV CDL office and make an appointment for a driving test. (Commercial driving test appointments cannot be made online)
• Bring the type of vehicle for the class you want to drive
• Pass a pretrip inspection (You have three chances to pass the pretrip)
• Pass a skills and driving test (You have three chances to pass the skills and driving test)

OR

• Submit to DMV a Certificate of Driving Skill (DL 170) if your employer is authorized by DMV to issue such certificates. Both you and your employer sign this form.

After you pass your driving test or submit your certificate, you will be issued an interim license valid for 90 days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Double check your address before you leave DMV and tell the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect. If you have not received your license after 60 days, call 18007770133 to check the status. Have your interim license with you to provide information when requested.

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Required Documents

• An acceptable birth date/legal presence (BD/LP) document(s): produced by an issuing authority such as a county, state, or federal agency. Documents issued by Vital Statistics offices will be a certified copy of the original (the original is always retained by the issuing authority) and will contain an impressed seal or an original stamped impression. Other issuing agencies may issue you original documents. After being presented at a DMV office, your document will be returned to you. DMV does not accept photocopies of documents for BD/LP or true full name verification. Note: A visa is not acceptable as evidence of legal presence in the United States (U.S.)
• An acceptable true full name document if the name of your BD/LP document is different from the name on your DL/ID card application. If you change your name, then you must provide one of the following documents to verify your name change:
  • Adoption documents that contain the legal name as a result of the adoption.
  • A name change document that contains the legal name both before and after the name change.
  • Marriage certificate (issued from a government agency).
  • Dissolution of marriage/domestic partnership document that contains the legal name as a result of the court action.
  • A certificate, declaration, or registration document verifying the formation of a domestic partnership.
• Your social security number (SSN). It will be verified with the Social Security Administration (SSA) while you are in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office. You must also provide verification of your SSN to change an existing SSN on DMV's database.

List of Acceptable BD/LP Documents, present one of the following for a DL/ID card application:

• U.S. Birth Certificate or U.S. Passport.
• U.S. Certificate or Report of Birth Abroad (issued by the U.S. Department of State).
• Federal Proof of Indian Blood Degree (issued by U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs).
• American Indian Card (I-551) (issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [USCIS]).
• Birth Certificate or passport issued from a U.S. territory.
• U.S. Citizen Identification Card (issued by USCIS).
• U.S. Military Identification Cards.
• Common Access Card (only if designated as Active Military or Active Reserve or Active Selected Reserve).
• Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship (issued by USCIS).
• Northern Mariana Card (issued by USCIS).
• Permanent Resident Card (issued by USCIS).
• Temporary Resident Identification Card (issued by USCIS).
• Canadian passport or birth certificate.
• Nonresident Alien Canadian border crossing card (issued by USCIS).
• Valid foreign passport with a valid Record of Arrival/Departure (Form I-94) (issued by USCIS).
• Certification from California Department of Corrections or California Youth Authority.
• Employment Authorization Card (issued by USCIS).
• "Processed for I-551" stamped in a valid foreign passport (issued by USCIS).
• Permanent Resident Re-entry Permit (issued by USCIS).
• Refugee Travel Document (issued by USCIS).
• Valid I-94 stamped "Refugee," "Parole or Parolee," "Asylee," or Section 207, Section 208, Section 209, Section 212d(2), HP or PIP (issued by USCIS).
• Valid I-94 with attached photo stamped "Temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence" (issued by USCIS).
• Notice of Action (I-797 Approved Petition) (issued by USCIS) must indicate approved extension of stay or change in status that grants temporary or permanent residency, or indicates that an original, duplicate or renewal Resident Alien card is forthcoming.
• Immigration judge's order granting asylum.
• Mexican border crossing card with valid I-94 (issued by USCIS).
• Certified court order or judgment issued from a court of competent jurisdiction. Must contain name, birth date, place of birth, legal presence status, and judge's signature.

Office Locations & Contacts

Follow link for the DMV offices http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/fo/offices/toc_fo.htm

Eligibility

If the applicant is 18 years or older may eligible to apply for commercial drivers license

Fees

Driver License

• Class C: $33
• Commercial Class A or B: $70
• Commercial Class C: $41

Note: Other fees

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

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Instructions

A commercial driver license is a license issued in accordance with Federal Regulations that allows an individual to operate a commercial vehicle. Federal regulations require that an applicant be 18 years or older to apply for a commercial driver license (CDL) and be issued a commercial instruction permit.

You must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial vehicle across state lines (interstate commerce) or hazardous materials or wastes (intrastate or interstate commerce). You may drive for hire within California if you are 18 years of age or older and do not engage in interstate commerce activities.

A commercial vehicle is a motor vehicle or combination used for hire to transport passengers or property or which:

• Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more
• Is designed, used, or maintained for carrying more than 10 passengers, including the driver
• Tows a vehicle or trailer, which has a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more
• Transports hazardous materials, which requires placards
• Tows any combination of two trailers or vehicle and trailer

Required Information

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Sex
• Country
• Social Security Number
• Mailing address
• Residence address

Need for the Document

A driving license is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway.

A commercial driver's license is a license issued in accordance with Federal Regulations that allows an individual to operate a commercial vehicle.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Your driving license can be used for travel, applying passport, proof of citizenship, social security, personal identification and other legal purposes.