You'll need to renew your Michigan commercial driver's license (CDL) every four years, as well as a base operator or chauffeur license. And unfortunately, it always requires a trip to a Secretary of State branch office.

When you apply for a renewal, the office will check both your state and national driving record on its computer and perform a vision test.

Assuming your CDL hasn't been suspended, revoked, canceled, or denied, you'll be able to renew on the spot. If there are any restrictions, you'll have to resolve them before your license can be renewed.

You may also be asked to undergo a new physical exam.

Top Written Tests

If your CDL hasn't been expired for more than a year, you won't be required to take a general knowledge written test to renew your license.

If, however, you have a hazardous materials endorsement (H or X), you'll need to score 80 percent or better on the 30-question, multiple-choice hazardous materials endorsement test―every time you renew. All necessary materials are in the CDL manual.

If you fail the test, you may take it again as often as you wish. You may continue to use your endorsement until your driver license expires on your birthday.

You may also choose to renew your CDL without the endorsement, and study to obtain it later if you wish. That way, you can drive commercially, although you won't be allowed to transport material that requires hazmat placarding. Once you pass the hazmat endorsement test, you can upgrade your license by paying an $18 correction fee plus a $5 endorsement fee.

You also must present a Federal Security Threat Assessment to renew a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement.

Top Upgrading or New Endorsements

Other situations where you'll need to take additional tests when you renew your CDL is when you want to upgrade the group designator, remove an air brake restriction, or add a new endorsement to your current CDL.

You'll need to take a written test to upgrade from a Group B or C designation, or to acquire endorsements to operate a school bus, double trailer, passenger carrier, tanker, or to haul hazardous materials.

You'll have to schedule skills tests for B and C upgrades, or endorsements for school buses and passenger carriers.

Your CDL will cost $25 to renew, plus $5 for each endorsement.

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