Renewing Your CDL

Renewing your Commercial Driver's License (CDL) in Mississippi is fairly easy as long as you have not allowed your license to expire. Although there are pretty specifics steps you must take, basically, all you need to do is get an annual physical, make a trip to your driver's license office for testing, and pay the appropriate fees.

Annual Physical Exam

Your first step is to find a doctor qualified to administer CDL physicals as you will need to pass an annual one every year that you renew. Your local driver's license office can list area medical professionals approved by the State to give such medical exams. Upon passing the exam, your doctor will provide you with a health card that you'll need to present at the time of renewal.

Testing and Endorsements

With your medical card in hand, head to a nearby driver's license office that offers CDL testing; call ahead so that you do not make a wasted trip. You can add endorsements to your license by taking the appropriate tests when you renew. You will need to schedule the road test at least two days in advance. You can do that by phone or online.

Hazardous Materials Endorsement

Anyone renewing a CDL with a hazmat endorsement must still undergo a background check before doing so. However, the Transportation Security Administration makes this pretty simple by allowing you to renew your Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) online.

Those who do not pass must surrender their license with this endorsement immediately to the nearest CDL licensing office. Although you will lose the ability to legally haul hazardous materials, you many not lose your CDL license completely; in some cases, the State will allow you to keep your CDL once the hazmat endorsement has been removed.

Fees

• Renewal fee: $40

• Endorsements: $5 each

• Background and fingerprint checks (hazmat endorsement only): $94

Note: You can pay any of the above-mentioned fees with a money order, cashier's check, or cash. Personal checks are not accepted.