CDL Requirements in Georgia (2026): Steps, Cost & Testing

Requirements verified July 20, 2026 against Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)

Georgia issues CDLs through the Department of Driver Services (DDS). You hold a regular Georgia license, complete ELDT training, pass the knowledge tests for a commercial instructional permit, hold it 14 days, then take the skills test at a DDS center or an approved third-party school. Georgia CDLs last 8 years — one of the longest terms in the country.

Georgia's CDL process runs through the Department of Driver Services and follows the standard federal pattern, with two friendly twists: an 8-year license term and a well-established third-party testing program that lets approved schools give the road test in-house. You'll still need a regular Georgia license, ELDT training, the knowledge tests for your permit, and a 14-day permit hold before testing.

State fees are low — roughly $127 all-in to license without endorsements — but the real budget items are ELDT tuition (surveyed at about $3,000–$7,000 for a Class A program) and your DOT physical. If you're a veteran with recent commercial driving experience, Georgia's Military Skills Test Waiver can let you skip the road test entirely.

Eligibility and documents in Georgia

• Age: at least 18 for intrastate driving; 21 to drive interstate or haul hazmat.
• Proof of identity and lawful presence (certified U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or immigration documents) — must be in English and show your full legal name
• Proof of Social Security number
• Two documents proving Georgia residency
• A valid regular Georgia driver license
• Medical self-certification; the medical certificate is now transmitted electronically

How to get your CDL: step by step

1. Get your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP). Pass the required knowledge tests: General Knowledge (all applicants); Combination Vehicles (Class A); Air Brakes (if applicable); Any endorsement tests you need (P, S, H, N, T).
2. Complete ELDT training. For a first Class A/B CDL or a first hazmat, passenger, or school-bus endorsement, you must train with a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Your training provider reports completion to the federal Training Provider Registry, and DDS relies on that federal record before allowing you to test. DDS does not publish a separate state ELDT portal. Confirm the exact DDS registry-check step with Georgia DDS if the precise timing matters for your test date.
3. Hold your permit 14 days. Federal rules require at least 14 days before the skills test.
4. Pass the skills test. It has 4 parts: Pre-trip vehicle inspection, Basic vehicle control skills, On-road driving test, Vision exam. Road tests at DDS are by appointment; DDS publishes a list of state and third-party testing sites. Approved CDL schools and accredited public programs can administer the road skills test through Georgia's CDL Third-Party Testing Program.
5. Get your CDL issued. Pay the license fee, submit your medical self-certification, and receive your license (valid 8 years). Standard Class A/B/C CDLs last 8 years. A Restricted CDL Class B is valid 5 years, and any CDL carrying an H (hazmat) or X endorsement is limited to 5 years, tied to the TSA background check. Upgrading class or adding P/S/H requires a new permit, the applicable knowledge test(s), ELDT, and a new road skills test.

Medical certification in Georgia

You self-certify your operating category with DDS. As of June 18, 2025, all CDL medical certificates are transmitted to DDS electronically from the FMCSA National Registry by your certified medical examiner — DDS no longer accepts medical certificates by mail, fax, email, online, or in person.

If your card lapses: Failing to keep a valid medical certification/self-certification on file results in loss of commercial privileges under federal rules. Georgia's exact downgrade window is not published — confirm with DDS.

Every CDL holder must self-certify one operating category. The categories offered here:

• NI — Non-excepted Interstate (medical card required)
• EI — Excepted Interstate
• NA — Non-excepted Intrastate (medical card required)
• EA — Excepted Intrastate

New to the DOT physical? See our DOT physical guide and CDL medical card explainer.

What a CDL costs in Georgia

DDS fees are modest, but budget for both the $35 application fee and the $10 permit fee — some summaries omit one. ELDT training and the DOT physical are separate, non-DDS costs.

See the full national breakdown on our CDL cost guide.

Skills testing in Georgia Third-party testing allowed

Georgia allows approved third-party testers to administer the CDL skills test, which can mean shorter waits than a state office. DDS publishes no official wait-time figure. Third-party schools typically test their own students without the DDS appointment backlog — treat wait times as variable and confirm locally.

Your test vehicle: You must supply a representative vehicle for the class of CDL you're seeking. Confirm exact vehicle requirements with DDS or your testing site.

Endorsements available in Georgia

Georgia offers the standard federal endorsements. Adding one usually means an extra knowledge test (and a skills test for passenger and school bus). Tap an endorsement for the full federal process and cost:

• HHazmat — Requires TSA fingerprinting and a Security Threat Assessment (typically ~60–90 days). Hazmat/X CDLs are limited to a 5-year term. Georgia does not accept transferred hazmat endorsements from another state without retesting.
• NTanker
• XHazmat + Tank — Combined hazmat + tank; the 5-year hazmat term applies.
• PPassenger — Requires ELDT plus a knowledge test and a road skills retest in the appropriate vehicle.
• SSchool Bus — Requires the P endorsement first, plus ELDT, an S knowledge test, and a skills retest.
• TDoubles/Triples

CDL disqualifications

Disqualifying offenses are set by federal law (49 CFR 383.51) and apply in every state — including offenses in your personal vehicle. Georgia follows the federal 49 CFR 383.51 framework in DDS CDL Rules, Chapter 1. Some lifetime disqualifications can be reduced to 10 years if the driver qualifies for reinstatement, but controlled-substance and human-trafficking offenses carry permanent, non-reducible lifetime disqualification.

Full federal detail: CDL disqualifications explained.

Military skills-test waiver

Georgia offers a Military CDL Skills Test Waiver / Even Exchange (Georgia CDL Rule 1-1-.13). Active-duty or recently discharged (within 1 year) members with at least 2 years operating a same-class CMV immediately before discharge can get a CDL without the road skills test. Allow at least 30 days to process.

Georgia CDL FAQ