You live for the open road and love nothing more than cruising down the highway, and now you've decided to get paid for the pleasure. But before you can get behind the wheel of a semi-truck, bus, or other commercial vehicle, you'll have to get your commercial driver's license (CDL).The process is more complex than getting an average driver's license, and involves following national regulations set up by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and going through the licensing procedures of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Who Can Get a Virginia CDL?To qualify for a Virginia commercial driver's license, you must:. Be at least 18 years old. Drivers under 21 years old will be restricted to driving commercial vehicles within VA only. Meet all of Virginia's. Be able to provide 1 document proving your U.S.

Citizenship or lawful permanent residency. Acceptable paperwork includes:. Current, valid U.S. Passport. Official birth certificate.

Certificate of naturalization. Permanent residency card. The VA DMV has compiled a.Applying Without a Regular VA LicenseIt's not required to have a regular Virginia driver's license to apply for a CDL, but if you do not currently hold a regular VA driver's license, you must bring additional documents with you to the Department of Motor Vehicles.Applicants who are under 19 years old must bring:.

Go To CDL Training School In Virginia. Going to CDL school in Virginia is a great way to go about getting a Commercial Driver's License. By getting training from a CDL school in Virginia, you will learn the classroom information needed to pass the written exam and get the hands-on training required to master the pre-trip inspection and the CDL skills test. For most people, this makes the process of getting a Virginia CDL much easier and greatly improves their chance of success. Driving a commercial motor vehicle is a big responsibility. It requires special skills and knowledge. Most drivers must obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) through their home State (it is illegal to have a license from more than one State).

1 document proving identity. You may bring in:. Your birth certificate. Your U.S. Passport.

A certificate of naturalization. See the DMV's. 1 document proving legal presence in the country. For examples.

2 document proving Virginia residency. Acceptable documents include:.

Certified school records/enrollment forms. Bank statement up to 2 months old. Utility bills in your name up to 2 months old. See the for more examples.

Proof of your Social Security number. You can bring with you:. Your Social Security card. A tax form or payroll check stub. Your military ID card.Applicants who are at least 19 years old will need to bring:. 1 documents proving your identity. 1 document showing your legal presence in the country.

2 document proving you live in Virginia. Proof of your Social Security number.You may use the same documents listed above for proof. VA Commercial Learner's PermitBefore you can get your commercial driver license, you'll have to get your commercial learner's permit (CLP).

First, schedule an appointment with your local Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, and:. Bring the following documents:. Your VA driver's license. The proof of your U.S. Citizenship or lawful permanent residency.

The proper. Your proof of Virginia residency, identity, and Social Security number, if applicable. Complete a (Form DL 1P). Pass the vision test. Submit to a driving record check.

Pay the $3 permit fee, and the $1 (per year) fee for each endorsement, if applicable.After going through the paperwork, you'll have to pass all of the written exams for the you want. If you're applying for any, you'll also need to take those tests at this point.If you're applying for a, you'll need to be fingerprinted and have a background check performed.When all of that's done, the VA DMV will issue your commercial learner's permit.NOTE: If you fail any of your knowledge exams, you may only test 1 time per business day. You will also have to pay a $2 re-examination fee if you try again within 15 days of your initial test.If you fail the exam 3 times, you will have to complete the classroom portion at a and bring the certificate of completion with you when you reapply for your commercial learner's permit. CLP Restrictions in VirginiaJust like permits for regular driver's licenses, your CLP comes with some rules.Your commercial learner's permit will be valid for 1 year, but you will need to keep it for at least 30 days before you can take your skills exams to earn your full commercial driver's license. You cannot renew your CLP.However, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will let you take your skills test after having your CLP for only 14 days if you:.

Are 18 years old or older. Have never had a CDL before.AND. Pass a.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also restricts all CLP holders to driving on public roads only, and only while accompanied by a full CDL-holder who can drive the same class of vehicle you hope to operate with your commercial driver's license. Obtaining a VA Commercial Driver's LicenseTo turn that CLP into a CDL, you'll have to go through the last phase of the process: the skills exam.Call your local VA to schedule an appointment, and keep in mind that the average testing time for skills exams is 90 minutes.Make sure to bring:. Your. The to receive your CDL.Arrange to take the test in the same type of vehicle you want to drive with your CDL. If you can't there might be a placed on your commercial driver's license.The basic test consists of several parts, including:.

Pre-trip inspection. Basic vehicle control. On-road driving.You may have to complete additional exams depending on the class of CDL you're applying for and whether you're adding any to your license.When you've successfully completed the process, the DMV will mail your CDL to you, with the current address they have on record. In most cases, your CDL will be valid for 8 years.

Visit the DMV's for other circumstances.NOTE: If you miss your CDL skills exam appointment, the DMV will charge you a $50 fee. If you don't pay the Department of Motor Vehicles within 31 days of your missed appointment, you will be charged with an additional $10 fee and lose the ability to process any DMV-related transactions. What If I Fail My CDL Skills Exam?If you fail your skills test 3 times, you'll be required to complete the in-vehicle portion of a VA CDL training course, and you will need to bring your certificate of completion to the DMV when you retest.

Obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL) in Virginia requirespassage of a skills and knowledge test based upon the type of commercial motorvehicles (CMV) being driven. Federal law requires that CDL drivers crossingstate lines must be 21 years of age. States may set different age limits for commercialdrivers that operate solely within the state.

You can learn more aboutVirginia’s CDL license requirements in the and.Virginia follows federal guidelines that provide for threeclassifications of CMVs as described below. (Learn more about the(CDL/CDLIS).) CDLs are regulated nationwide under the MotorCarrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Thatlaw was modified by the Patriot Act, effective 2005, which provided thatout-of-state transfers of CDLs were subject to certainsecurity measures particularly in regard totransportation of hazardous materials. Class A. Any combination ofvehicles with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more poundsprovided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds. Class B. Any single vehicle witha gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, or any suchvehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.

Belkin f5d8233 4v3 firmware update. Class C. Any single vehicle, orcombination of vehicles, that does not meet the definition of Class A or ClassB, but is either designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including thedriver, or is transporting material that has been designated as hazardous. Note: A bus may be either Class B orClass C depending on whether the GVWR is 26,001 pounds or more.Testing and Fees. Thefees and qualifying information for a commercial drivers license in Virginiaare shown. Traffic Violations and CDL DisqualificationVirginia drivers can lose their CDL license on atemporary or permanent basis.

The degree of loss depends on whether theviolation is characterized as major (which always results in some form ofdisqualification) or serious (which cumulatively result in disqualification) orotherwise. Below we set out the standards. Note:Using a CMV or non CMV in the commissionof a felony involving manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing a controlledsubstance will result in a disqualification for life, without the possibilityof reinstatement.Disqualificationfor major violations. Below we list the causes for a “major violation.” The first violation for a major violation, in a CMV or a non-CMV, results in a one-year disqualification (or a three-year disqualification if transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded). The second violation for a major, in a CMV or a non-CMV, results in a lifetime disqualification. The driver may be eligible for reinstatement under certain conditions after ten years.

Major violations include:. Being under the influenceof alcohol as prescribed by Virginia law. Self-help services may not be permitted in all states. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site.

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