Renewing Your CDL in Pennsylvania

Renewal Notices and Applications

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will mail you a renewal notice about three months prior to the expiration date of your commercial driver's license (CDL). To save the hassle of having to wait in line at a Driver and Vehicle Service Center, this allows you to renew by mail. Unlike a regular driver's license, you cannot renew a CDL online.

To renew, you will need to complete a CDL renewal application. You can grab one at any PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Service Center rather than download it, if you like.

You may also be asked to take a new medical exam.

Change of Name

If you have changed your name, you will need to provide with your application a copy of your Social Security card as well as two other forms of proof confirming your new name.

Hazardous Materials Endorsements

If you are renewing your hazmat endorsement for the first time since the requirements of the US PATRIOT Act became mandatory (May 31, 2005), you will need to:

• Pass the hazmat recertification knowledge exam.

• Visit any PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Service Center and provide proof of U.S. citizenship (U.S. passport, valid birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or certificate of U.S. citizenship) or legal immigration status (permanent resident card, Temporary I-551 stamp in foreign passport, or reentry permit).

• Complete an Application for Security Threat Assessment. This will be included in the mail with your renewal notice. The state forwards this to the Department of Homeland Security.

• Put your fingerprints on record.

• Pay an additional $60 for the fingerprinting and background check.

Renewal Fees

Your CDL will be valid for four years, or two years if you're 65 or over (the fees shown below reflect this):

• CDL: $68 or $37.50

• CDL with H or X endorsement: $78 or $47.50

• CDL with Class M: $88 or $47.50

• CDL with Class M and H or X endorsement: $98 or $57.50

Mail your renewal application along with a check (made out to "PennDOT") or money order to:

• Bureau of Driver Licensing

• P.O. Box 68272

• Harrisburg, PA 17106-8272

New Federal Requirements

You must self-certify your type of vehicle operation with PennDOT by January 2014. This means you must self-certify one of the following driving categories:

• Non-Excepted Interstate
• Excepted Interstate
• Non-Excepted Intrastate
• Excepted Intrastate

If you choose Non-Excepted Interstate, you must, in addition to a completed self-certification application, provide PennDOT with a federal medical certificate.

Visit PennDOT's Fact Sheet page for full information.

Your Opinion Matters To Us!