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Indiana BMV guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Indiana CDL Requirements: How to Get a Commercial License
Thinking about a commercial driver's license in Indiana? Here is what the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) says about when you need one, the learner's permit, the skills exam, endorsements and fees.
Over 26,000 lbsGVWR that requires a CDL
14 daysCLP hold before skills exam
$17 / $35CLP / CDL fee
1 yearCLP and test results valid
The short answer
In Indiana you need a CDL for a vehicle over 26,000 pounds GVWR, one designed for 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. Get a medical certificate, pass the knowledge exam for a commercial learner's permit, hold it 14 days, then pass the three-part skills exam. The BMV lists $17 for the CLP and $35 for the CDL.
When you need a CDL in Indiana
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) says you need a commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate a commercial motor vehicle that:
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 pounds; or
- Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or
- Is any size and is carrying hazardous materials that require placarding.
From the BMV's Commercial Driver's License Overview, read November 10, 2026.
Basic CDL requirements
To obtain a CDL, the BMV lists these requirements:
- Have a valid Indiana driver's license
- Have a valid United States Social Security number
- Be a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident, or qualify for a non-domiciled CDL
- Pass a DOT physical examination and provide a valid Medical Examination Report (MER) and Medical Examiner's Certificate (MEC)
- Obtain a commercial learner's permit (CLP)
- Pass a skills test in a vehicle class you intend to operate
Before getting a CDL you must also watch an instructional video on how to recognize, prevent and report human trafficking, and complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) where it applies. The BMV says the MER and MEC are accepted only from a medical examiner certified by the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
From the BMV's Commercial Driver's License Overview and Obtaining a Commercial Driver's License pages, read November 10, 2026.
Step 1: the commercial learner's permit
You must be at least 18 years old if you are transporting property within state lines, or at least 21 to operate a school bus, and you must have a current Medical Examiner's Certificate on file with the BMV. You then pass the knowledge exam for the vehicle type you plan to operate:
| Vehicle type | Required exam |
|---|---|
| All commercial vehicles | General knowledge exam |
| All school buses | School bus endorsement exam and passenger transport exam |
| All buses | Passenger transport exam |
| Vehicle with air brakes | Air brakes exam |
| Combination of vehicles | Combination vehicle exam |
| Drivers required to transport hazardous material | Hazardous material exam |
| Drivers required to transport liquids in bulk | Tanker exam |
| Drivers required to pull double or triple trailers | Doubles/triples exam |
Knowledge exam results are valid for one year, and a CLP is valid for one year. A CLP holder may drive a commercial motor vehicle only when accompanied by a CDL holder with the proper class and endorsements for that vehicle.
From the BMV's Obtaining a Commercial Learner's Permit page, read November 10, 2026.
Step 2: the CDL skills exam
- Wait 14 days: you must hold the CLP for 14 days before attempting the CDL skills exam.
- Book ahead: schedule the skills exam with an approved third-party CDL skills test site at least two days before the exam date.
- Three parts: a pre-trip inspection exam, a basic control skills exam and a road trip exam, in a vehicle representative of the CDL class you will receive.
- Valid one year: all CDL written tests and skills exams are valid for one year.
The BMV says the federal ELDT rules apply to anyone getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading a Class B CDL to Class A, or getting a school bus (S), passenger (P) or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time. They are not retroactive to a CLP or CDL obtained before February 7, 2022.
From the BMV's Obtaining a Commercial Driver's License page, read November 10, 2026.
CDL endorsements
| Endorsement | What it allows |
|---|---|
| H - Hazardous materials | Transporting placarded hazardous materials; also requires a Transportation Security Administration threat assessment with fingerprints |
| N - Tank vehicle | Liquid or gaseous materials in a tank of more than 119 gallons individually and 1,000 gallons or more in aggregate |
| P - Passenger transport | A commercial motor vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver |
| S - School bus | A commercial motor vehicle used to transport pre-primary, primary or secondary school students |
| T - Doubles or triple trailers | A commercial motor vehicle with two or three separate trailers attached |
| X - Tank vehicles and hazardous materials | The H and N endorsements combined |
The BMV also lists CDL restrictions, such as E (automatic transmission CMV), K (intrastate only), L (no air brake CMV) and O (no tractor-trailer CMV), that are added based on the tests you pass.
From the BMV's Commercial Driver's License Endorsements and Restrictions page, read November 10, 2026.
CDL fees and renewal
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial learner's permit | $17.00 |
| Commercial driver's license | $35.00 |
| Add or remove CDL endorsement | $19.00 |
The BMV says your CDL expires on your birthday, and a late fee is charged if you renew after that date. If your CDL has been expired, disqualified, canceled, revoked, voluntarily surrendered, relinquished or invalidated for longer than three years, you must meet all the requirements for an initial CDL again, including knowledge exams and skills tests.
Fees from the BMV Fee Chart (revised 1/1/26); renewal rules from the BMV's Commercial Driver's License Overview; both read November 10, 2026. These are state fees, not dealer prices.
Keep your work vehicle ready at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. If you drive a Ford for work, our technicians can help keep it on schedule.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 10, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Indiana CDL FAQ
Do I need a CDL to drive a pickup in Indiana?
Only if the vehicle meets the BMV's CDL thresholds: a GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds, a design that carries 16 or more passengers including the driver, or hazardous materials that require placarding.
How old do you have to be to get a CDL in Indiana?
The BMV says you must be at least 18 to get a commercial learner's permit if you are transporting property within state lines, and at least 21 to operate a school bus.
How long do I have to hold a CLP before the skills test?
You must hold the commercial learner's permit for 14 days before attempting the CDL skills exam.
How much does an Indiana CDL cost?
The BMV Fee Chart (revised 1/1/26) lists $17.00 for a commercial learner's permit, $35.00 for a commercial driver's license and $19.00 to add or remove a CDL endorsement.
How long is an Indiana CLP valid?
One year. Knowledge exam results are also valid for one year.
What is on the Indiana CDL skills exam?
A pre-trip inspection exam, a basic control skills exam and a road trip exam, taken at a BMV-authorized examination site in a vehicle representative of the class you will receive.
More Indiana driving guides
See our guide to sharing the road with trucks and Indiana speed limits, or browse our commercial vehicles.
Sources
CDL thresholds, requirements, permit, exam, endorsement and renewal details are from the Indiana BMV's commercial driver's license pages, and fees are from the BMV Fee Chart (revised 1/1/26), all read November 10, 2026. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Commercial Driver's License Overview, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- Obtaining a Commercial Driver's License, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- Obtaining a Commercial Learner's Permit, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- Commercial Driver's License Endorsements and Restrictions, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- BMV Fee Chart (revised 1/1/26), Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), read November 10, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026