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CDL learner’s permit · New York

New York CDL permit test: fees, testing and the state manual

As of October 26, 2026, the New York State DMV charges a $10 application fee that covers all CDL knowledge and endorsement tests taken together, and $5 more for each required test not taken and passed at that first application.

New York’s road test scheduling will not accept a CDL road test date that falls within 14 days of the day the learner permit was issued.

A New York commercial learner permit applicant must appear in person at a state motor vehicles office, and the DMV advises allowing three hours for processing and testing (per dmv.ny.gov, checked on Oct 26, 2026).

Updated Oct 26, 2026Rules checked against dmv.ny.govHow we check
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New York CDL permit at a glance

Skills test fee
$40source, Oct 26, 2026
Passing score
80%source, Oct 26, 2026
Minimum age, in-state driving
18source, Oct 26, 2026

The official New York CDL manual

The New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual is form CDL-10, and the Section 1 PDF currently posted by the DMV is the February 2026 revision, marked (2/26). Open it on dmv.ny.gov source, Oct 26, 2026

New York CDL questions people ask

What does it cost to test for a CDL in New York?

Expect two separate charges before you drive for the examiner: a $10 written-test application fee, which covers every knowledge and endorsement test you take on the same visit, and a $40 road test fee. A required test you skip at the first visit costs $5 later.

The license fee itself is calculated when you pass. The DMV bases it on the class and expiration date of your current license and on the date you receive the CDL, so there is no single published price.

Source: Get a Commercial Driver License (CDL)

What is the New York CDL knowledge test like?

Each question has three answer choices, and you need 80% on every test you take: the general knowledge test plus any endorsement or air brake tests your vehicle requires. Only a pencil is allowed in the testing area, and phones are banned.

You can test in English, Spanish, Chinese or Russian; HazMat is English-only. Permit tests are given only at DMV offices, and there is no cap on retakes, though each one is up to the office supervisor.

Sources: New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual CDL-10 (2/26), Section 1: Introduction · Get a Commercial Driver License (CDL)

How do you schedule and pass the New York CDL road test?

Book through the DMV’s road test scheduling system once 14 days have passed since your permit was issued; slots are often several weeks out, so book early. The test vehicle sets your restrictions: an automatic transmission on a first CMV road test adds an E restriction, and a vehicle without air brakes adds L.

You fail if you lose more than 50 points, cause a crash or commit a single traffic violation. Results go online after 6 p.m. the same day. After a pass, a DMV office visit gets you a temporary CDL valid for 60 days, and the photo card arrives by mail in 3 to 4 weeks.

Sources: Get a Commercial Driver License (CDL) · New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual CDL-10 (2/26), Section 1: Introduction

Who can apply for a commercial learner permit in New York?

You must be a New York resident who already holds a New York Class D, Class E or non-CDL Class C license. At 18 you can get a CDL, but until 21 you are limited to driving within the state.

For an original Class A or B permit you certify your licensing history for the past 10 years and that you meet federal medical requirements. Right now DMV offices are not taking CLP or CDL applications from temporary visitors, and entry-level training must come from a licensed driving school listed on the federal registry.

Sources: Get a Commercial Driver License (CDL) · New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual CDL-10 (2/26), Section 1: Introduction · Entry Level Driver Training

Federal rules that apply here too

These come from the FMCSA and 49 CFR and are the same in every state. All federal CDL rules

Minimum age for a CLP
18source, Oct 26, 2026
Minimum age to drive interstate
21source, Oct 26, 2026
Days with a CLP before the skills test
14source, Oct 26, 2026
Passing score, each knowledge test
80%source, Oct 26, 2026

Every New York CDL rule we checked

One line per rule, each from an official New York page with the date we read it.

Fees
The New York State DMV charges a $10 application fee that covers all CDL knowledge and endorsement tests taken together, and $5 more for each required test not taken and passed at that first application. source, Oct 26, 2026
New York’s CDL road test fee is $40, payable at the DMV office when the commercial learner permit is issued or later online, and it has to be paid before the road test can be scheduled. source, Oct 26, 2026
Where to take the tests
A New York commercial learner permit applicant must appear in person at a state motor vehicles office, and the DMV advises allowing three hours for processing and testing. source, Oct 26, 2026
State CDL manual
The New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual is form CDL-10, and the Section 1 PDF currently posted by the DMV is the February 2026 revision, marked (2/26). source, Oct 26, 2026
The New York State DMV posts each section of the commercial driver’s manual as a separate download in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian. source, Oct 26, 2026
CLP rules in the state
New York’s road test scheduling will not accept a CDL road test date that falls within 14 days of the day the learner permit was issued. source, Oct 26, 2026
A New York commercial learner permit holder may practice only with a CDL holder of the same or a higher class carrying the right endorsements, and may never haul placarded hazardous materials, even when the supervisor holds a HazMat endorsement. source, Oct 26, 2026
Knowledge test in the state
Every New York CDL knowledge test is multiple choice with three answer options, and 80% is the passing score on each one. source, Oct 26, 2026
New York gives the CDL class and endorsement written tests only in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian, and the HazMat endorsement test only in English. source, Oct 26, 2026
Skills test
Passing the New York CDL skills test means losing no more than 50 points, and a crash, any single traffic violation or a dangerous action fails the applicant outright. source, Oct 26, 2026
New York CDL skills tests are booked online or by phone at 1-518-402-2100, and canceling with fewer than three full business days’ notice forfeits the skills test fee. source, Oct 26, 2026
Who can apply
New York issues Class A, B and C CDLs from age 18, but drivers under 21 are limited to intrastate driving within New York and may not carry students in a school bus or haul hazardous material. source, Oct 26, 2026
New York DMV offices are temporarily unable to take a CLP or CDL application from anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, such as a temporary visitor. source, Oct 26, 2026
New York accepts entry-level driver training only from providers on the federal Training Provider Registry that are also licensed driving schools, and the DMV confirms the training before letting a driver test. source, Oct 26, 2026

Practice for the CDL knowledge tests

The knowledge tests follow the same federal standards in New York and every other state, so the pack is the same everywhere. Try 30 questions free first.

One-time payment

CDL practice pack

$24.951 year of access · no subscription

  • Every question for the general knowledge, air brakes and combination tests
  • The hazmat, tank, doubles and triples, passenger and school bus endorsement tests
  • Practice tests scored at 80%, one part at a time, for a year

Refunds: Full refund within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked.

OneTryPass is not affiliated with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. New York's CDL rules are free at dmv.ny.gov.

New York CDL FAQ

What happens if I fail the New York CDL skills test?

There is no minimum waiting period, but you can take only one test per day and the next open date may be weeks away. You must pay the skills test fee again before you can book the retest. Source: official page "New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual CDL-10 (2/26), Section 1: Introduction", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Who can supervise my practice driving on a New York commercial learner permit?

Someone holding a CDL of the same or a higher class with the endorsements your vehicle needs, and neither of your documents may carry a restriction that rules out the practice vehicle. You also need your regular New York license with you. Source: official page "New York State Commercial Driver’s Manual CDL-10 (2/26), Section 1: Introduction", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Is there a separate CDL practice test for New York?

No. Every state builds its CDL knowledge tests for each vehicle group and endorsement from the same FMCSA pre-approved pool of test questions (49 CFR 383.133). One OneTryPass CDL pack covers New York and every other state; what changes in New York is on this page: fees, where you test and the state manual. Source: official page "49 CFR 383.133, Test methods (eCFR)", checked on Oct 26, 2026.

Is OneTryPass affiliated with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles?

No. OneTryPass is an independent practice site. New York's CDL rules and manual are free on the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website, linked on this page.

Where this information comes from

Every New York rule on this page comes from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles or New York law, read on the official site. OneTryPass writes each rule in plain English and records the date. A rule that passes its re-check date leaves this page on its own until it is read again.

How often each kind of rule is read again: fees, 90 days; where to take the tests, 120 days; state CDL manual, 180 days; CLP rules in the state, 180 days; knowledge test in the state, 120 days; skills test, 180 days; who can apply, 180 days.

Something wrong on this page? Tell us at [email protected] and include the link to the official page that changed. See how we check.