Indiana CDL Requirements

Indiana CDL Classes

In the state of Indiana you must be at least 18 years old to operate a commercial motor vehicle within the state lines (intrastate) and at least 21 years of age to drive a commercial motor vehicle outside the state lines (interstate). You must also be at least 21 years old to operate a commercial passenger vehicle transporting 16 or more passengers, including the driver. You need an Indiana CDL in order to operate either commercial or non-commercial motor vehicles that fall into the following categories:

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Class A
Any combination of vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided that the gross vehicle weight rating of the towed vehicle is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B
Any single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 26,001 or more pounds, as well as any vehicle towing another vehicle that does not exceed a weight of 10,000 pounds.

Class C
Any vehicle or combination of vehicles that does not meet the criteria of either Class A or Class B, but is designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver), or is used in transporting materials classified as hazardous in the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act. Each applicant must also have a passenger or hazardous materials endorsement in order to obtain a Class C commercial driver’s license.

Applying for an Indiana Commercial Learner’s Permit

You must already possess an Indiana commercial learner’s permit (CLP) before you can take the CDL skills test. Before applying for an Indiana commercial learner’s permit, you must already possess a valid Indiana driver’s license. You will be issued an Indiana commercial driver’s license (CDL) when you pass the required written knowledge test(s) and the CDL Driving Skills Test.

In order to obtain an Indiana commercial learner’s permit, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old for intrastate driving (within Indiana state lines).
• Be at least 21 years of age for interstate driving (outside Indiana state lines).
• Be at least 21 years of age to operate a school bus.
• Possess a valid Indiana driver’s license.
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or qualify for a Non-Domiciled CDL.
• Provide your valid United States Social Security number.
• Provide proof of your current Indiana residency that shows your name and current address (i.e., a utility bill, vehicle registration, etc.).
• Have a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) on file with the BMV.
• Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) if you are applying for your first Class A or Class B CDL, upgrading a Class B to a Class A, or applying for a school bus, passenger, or hazardous materials endorsement for the first time.
• Watch the required Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) instructional video on how to recognize, prevent, and report human trafficking, and attest to having watched it.
• Pass the general knowledge written test (plus any additional knowledge exams for the vehicle type or endorsements you plan to operate).
• Pay the $17 fee for the commercial learner’s permit.

When you pass a knowledge exam, the results are valid for one year, and a commercial learner’s permit is valid for one year. A holder of a valid CLP may operate a commercial motor vehicle only when accompanied by the holder of a valid CDL who has the proper class and endorsement(s) necessary to operate that vehicle.

If you have questions about which documents to bring to the DMV when you apply for your commercial learner’s permit, you may call the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 1-888-692-6841 and speak to a customer service representative. You can email any questions you may have to the Indiana BMV as well.

Over 60% of first time CDL applicants fail the written test! Be sure to buy the Complete CDL Practice Test Study Package, as it contains practice tests containing questions and answers specifically designed to help you pass the actual CDL written tests administered by the DMV. You may also want to buy the Complete CDL Cheat Sheet Study Package as it includes a collection of study guides with key information designed to help you rapidly learn all the sections of the CDL manual you must know in order to pass the CDL written exams.

100% Money Back Guarantee!
Complete Indiana CDL Cheat Sheet Study Package

Why risk failing your CDL written exams on the first try? Get the Complete CDL Cheat Sheet Study Package and be fully prepared for your CDL written exams. Best of all, there’s a 100% Money Back Guarantee if you fail your CDL written exams!

 

Our Free CDL Tests will help prepare you for the actual CDL knowledge tests administered by the DMV.

Click here to see a map and clickable list of Indiana driver’s license branch locations that offer the CDL written tests.

Applying for an Indiana Commercial Driver’s License

In order to obtain an Indiana commercial driver’s license, you must:

• Possess a valid Indiana commercial learner’s permit and hold it for at least 14 days before attempting the CDL skills exam.
• Have a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) on file with the BMV.
• Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) if required for your CDL class or endorsement.
• Schedule an appointment with an approved third-party CDL skills test site at least two days prior to your test date.
• Pass the CDL Driving Skills Test in a vehicle representative of the class of CDL you will receive.
• Pay the maximum skills test fee, not including commercial vehicle rental: $200 for the first attempt, $150 for the second attempt, and $100 for each additional attempt.
• Pay the commercial vehicle rental fee set by the test site if you do not provide your own vehicle (contact the test site for rental fee information).
• Pay the $35 fee for the commercial driver’s license.

The CDL skills exam must be taken at a BMV-authorized examination site and consists of a Pre-trip inspection, a Basic Vehicle Control test, and an On-Road Driving test, and must be taken in the same class and type of motor vehicle you plan to drive once you obtain your CDL. If you take the CDL Driving Skills Test in a commercial motor vehicle that is not equipped with air brakes, then you will have an air brakes restriction attached to your commercial driver’s license.

Click here to see a map and clickable list of Indiana state approved CDL Driving Skills Test sites.

The CDL Driving Skills Test

The CDL Driving Skills Test is a three part test and consists of the following:

• Pre-trip Inspection: Before you can take the CDL driving tests, you will first be tested on your knowledge of the class of vehicle you plan on driving once you obtain your CDL. The Pre-trip inspection also determines if your commercial vehicle is safe enough to drive on public roads.
• Basic Control Skills Test: Before you can take the CDL Road Test, you will first need to prove that you have the skills to operate a commercial motor vehicle on public roads. This test consists of various off-road maneuvers such as backing up your vehicle.
• Road Test: Once you pass the first two tests, you will be required to drive your commercial vehicle on public roads in various traffic situations. You will be required to operate the same class of commercial vehicle you plan to drive once you obtain your CDL.

Once you obtain your Indiana commercial driver’s license, it will be valid for four years and will expire on your birthday.

Be sure to download and study the Indiana CDL Manual as it contains the information you need to pass the CDL Driving Skills Test.

Medical Examination Report for Commercial Driver’s License

In order to apply for a commercial driver’s license, you must pass a DOT physical examination and provide the BMV with a valid Medical Examination Report (MER) and Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC). The BMV will only accept the MER and MEC if they are completed by a medical examiner certified on the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Check with your medical examiner before your appointment to make sure they are certified.

You can search for a certified examiner by using the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. The DOT Physical Examination forms — the Medical Examination Report (MER) and Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) — are available from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The FMCSA requires you to have at least 20/40 vision in each eye and a field of vision of at least 140 degrees in order to be certified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Under certain conditions, you may be able to be waived from these requirements.

Your certified physician will send the Medical Examiner’s Certificate to the National Registry, and the National Registry will electronically submit the information to the state of record to be applied to your driving record. Because of this, the BMV does not accept physical copies of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate.

You may check the status of your medical examination by viewing your driving record using your myBMV account, or by contacting the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 1-888-692-6841 and selecting option three.

Military Drivers

In the state of Indiana, the BMV may waive the required CDL skills test for select veterans or active duty personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces who were or are truck drivers during their military service, provided the applicant applies within one year of discharge and meets all requirements. You will still be required to pass the written test(s). To qualify, you must certify that during the two years immediately preceding your application you have not had more than one license (other than a military license), have not had any license suspended, revoked, or cancelled, have not been convicted of any disqualifying offense, have not had more than one conviction for a serious traffic violation, and have no at-fault accident record.

To apply, first visit a BMV branch, pass the required written test(s), and have your commercial learner’s permit issued. Then download, complete, save, and print the Application for Military Skills Test Waiver and secure the signature of your Commanding Officer (or responsible person in your military chain of command) attesting to your military driving experience. You must submit the completed application along with a copy of your DD214 or proof of current active duty, a letter from your commander stating you have operated a CMV for at least one year immediately preceding discharge, and a copy of your military license by doing one of the following:

• Fax the completed and signed documents to: (317) 974-1615.
• Drop the completed and signed documents off at any Indiana BMV branch.
• Mail the completed and signed documents to:

Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Attn: CDL Programs
100 North Senate Avenue
IGCN, Room N 481
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Once the proper documents have been submitted and verified, they will be processed and the applicant will be contacted.

Indiana CDL Endorsements

H Hazardous Materials Required to transport materials designated as hazardous and that must be placarded under federal regulations. You must also complete a Transportation Security Administration threat assessment, which requires your fingerprints to be recorded and is valid for five years.

N Tank Vehicle Required to transport liquid or gaseous materials within a tank having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more.

X Tank Vehicles and Hazardous Materials Combination Required to transport hazardous materials in tank vehicles.

T Double/Triple Trailers Indicates the CDL holder is certified to operate a commercial motor vehicle with two or three separate trailers attached.

P Passenger Transport Indicates the CDL holder is certified to operate a commercial motor vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

S School Bus Indicates the CDL holder is authorized to operate a school bus used to transport pre-primary, primary, or secondary school students. The “P” endorsement is also required.

Indiana CDL Restrictions

The following CDL restrictions are added to a commercial driver’s license based on the driver passing the required commercial driver’s license written knowledge tests or driving skills tests. The following restrictions may be added or removed from the commercial driver’s license:

• E – Automatic transmission commercial motor vehicle
• K – Intrastate driving only (may only operate a CMV within Indiana state lines)
• L – No air brake equipped CMV
• M – No Class A passenger vehicle
• N – No Class A and B passenger vehicle
• O – No tractor-trailer CMV
• P – No passengers in CMV bus
• Q – Bus only
• R – Valid for Restricted Agricultural CDL Privileges Only when presented with Seasonal Validation Document
• T – Hazmat prohibited
• X – No cargo in CMV tank vehicle
• Z – No full air brake equipped CMV

Important Indiana Commercial Driver’s License Resources

Complete CDL Practice Test Study Package
Complete CDL Cheat Sheet Study Package
Self Certify at myBMV.com
Application for Military Skills Test Waiver
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles Fee Chart
Contact the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles by Email
National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners

Check out our list of truck driving schools in Indiana that will provide you with the necessary skills to obtain your commercial driver’s license and start your career in the exciting field of commercial truck driving! You may also want to check out our nationwide list of truck driving schools.

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Map 1 of Indiana CDL Written Test Locations

Map 2 of Indiana CDL Written Test Locations

Map of Authorized CDL Driving Skills Test Sites

Some CDL testing locations require you to set up an appointment. CDL testing hours may vary. Please call the testing location for more information.

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