Nevada CDL: How to Get Your Commercial License in Las Vegas
To get a Nevada CDL, you need a valid Nevada driver’s license, a commercial learner permit (CLP), entry-level driver training for most first-time Class A and B drivers, at least 14 days with the CLP, and a passed three-part skills test. In Las Vegas, CDL services are at the Silverado CDL building at 9780 S. Valley View Blvd., part of the new Silverado facility.
Written by the DMV Appointment Las Vegas team · Verified by Ryan Parker & Ethan Miller · Last updated: October 2026
Nevada CDL step checker
Answer a few quick questions to see your next steps, the training you need and the DMV fees that apply.
Book or manage a Las Vegas CDL appointment
The Silverado CDL building uses the DMV’s free WaitWell page in two ways: you can join a line online for CDL, Motor Carrier or driver history help, or book an appointment for a knowledge test. The DMV’s CDL office list says skills tests are by appointment only, so once you have passed every knowledge test, ask CDL staff how to schedule yours, in person or by joining the CDL line online.
Book, view, reschedule or cancel
The office is set to the Silverado CDL building, the only Las Vegas office with CDL services.
CDL bookings are managed the same way as other Nevada DMV appointments, through “Find Appointment” on the official appointments page.
Silverado CDL building
9780 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89141 · Mon–Fri 8–5
What are the Nevada CDL classes?
Nevada issues three CDL classes. Class A covers combination vehicles of 26,001 pounds or more that tow over 10,000 pounds; Class B covers a single vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more; Class C covers smaller vehicles that carry 16 or more people, including the driver, or placarded hazardous materials.
Nevada CDL endorsements
- HHazardous materials
- NTank vehicles
- PPassenger vehicles
- SSchool bus
- TDouble or triple trailers
- XHazmat and tank combined
Age matters as much as class. Drivers 18 to 20 can hold a Nevada CDL with an intrastate-only (K) restriction and no passengers or hazmat (R restriction). You must be 21 for interstate driving and for the passenger and hazmat endorsements, and 25 to drive combinations over 70 feet.
How do you get a CDL in Nevada, step by step?
Start with a valid Nevada license and any medical exam you need, then get a commercial learner permit by passing the knowledge tests. Finish entry-level driver training, hold the CLP for at least 14 days, pass the skills test and pay the license fee for a temporary CDL.
- Meet the requirements
Hold a valid Class C driver’s license and be at least 18, or 21 for interstate commerce. If your type of driving requires it, get a DOT medical exam from an examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry.
- Get your commercial learner permit
Visit a CDL office with your documents, self-certify your type of driving, and pass the general knowledge test, the air brake test if your vehicle has air brakes, and any endorsement tests.
- Complete training and practice
Finish entry-level driver training (ELDT) if it applies to you, and practice with a qualified CDL holder. You must hold the CLP for at least 14 days before the skills test.
- Pass the skills test
The test has three parts: vehicle inspection, basic controls and a road test. Book it only after you have passed every knowledge test you need.
- Receive your CDL
Submit your final paperwork and pay the license fee. You leave with a temporary CDL, and the DMV says the hard card arrives by mail in about 10 business days.
What do you need for a Nevada CLP?
Apply in person at a DMV office that handles CDLs. Bring your valid Nevada license, proof of identity, Social Security and Nevada residency, a medical certificate if your driving type requires one, and the Application for Commercial Driving Privileges (CDL 002), which lists every state where you held a license in the last 10 years.
Bring with you
- Valid Nevada driver’s license
- Proof of identity and Social Security number
- Two Nevada residency documents
- CDL 002 application, filled in before you go
- Medical Examiner’s Certificate, if required
CLP rules to know
- A CLP is valid for 180 days
- Only P, S and N endorsements can go on a CLP
- Expired 30+ days? You retake the knowledge tests
- Interpreters aren’t allowed during CDL tests
- Out-of-state CLP holders can’t skills test in Nevada
The residency and identity rules are the same ones Nevada uses for Real ID, so our Nevada document checklist is a good way to gather them. Study from the official CDL Driver Handbook (DMV 702); the regular car knowledge test is a separate exam covered in our Nevada written test guide.
Who needs entry-level driver training (ELDT)?
ELDT is required for first-time Class A or Class B applicants, Class B holders upgrading to Class A, and anyone getting the school bus (S), passenger (P) or hazmat (H) endorsement for the first time. The school must be on the federal Training Provider Registry and upload your completion record before your test.
Check the school twice. The DMV warns that a school on the federal registry also needs a Nevada DMV business license, or your ELDT may not be accepted. Look it up on the Training Provider Registry and then on the DMV’s licensed training school list. Colleges with accredited CDL programs are the exception and won’t appear on that list.
What happens at the Nevada CDL skills test?
The CDL skills test has three parts: a vehicle inspection, a basic controls test in a tight space and a road test in traffic. Bring your valid license and the CLP you have held for at least 14 days, plus an empty vehicle that matches the class you want, its registration and Nevada insurance.
What to bring on test day
- ✓Your valid driver’s license and a Nevada CLP held for at least 14 days
- ✓A vehicle with a readable manufacturer plate showing its GVWR or GCWR, and the same for any trailer
- ✓An empty vehicle; placarded tankers need a purge certificate
- ✓Your own pointer, like a stick or PVC pipe, for the inspection
- ✓Registration for the vehicle and trailer, and a Nevada Evidence of Insurance card (SR-22 isn’t accepted)
- ✓For a rented or leased truck, the rental agreement and usually a “Permission to Test” letter
Arrive 15 minutes early. The DMV may cancel a late or unprepared appointment, and the next opening can be weeks away. If the GVWR can’t be verified from the plate or VIN, you’ll have to come back with another vehicle.
Taking a regular Class C road test for a car license instead? That’s a different test, covered in our Las Vegas drive test guide.
How much does a Nevada CDL cost?
The Nevada DMV lists $141.50 for a commercial learner permit, $57.50 to complete the learner permit, and $141.50 for an original or transferred CDL that needs knowledge and skills tests. Endorsements cost $14 each plus a $3.50 photo fee; school and medical exam costs are separate.
| DMV transaction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commercial learner permit | $141.50 |
| Completion of learner permit | $57.50 |
| Original or transfer needing knowledge and skills tests | $141.50 |
| Original or transfer needing knowledge tests only | $111.50 |
| Driving skills test for a full license, restriction or endorsement | $30.00 + $3.50 photo |
| Add a CDL endorsement | $14.00 each + $3.50 photo |
| Renewal, knowledge tests only or no tests (8 years / 4 years) | $111.50 / $57.50 |
| Renewal needing knowledge and skills tests (8 years / 4 years) | $141.50 / $87.50 |
| CDL duplicate | $22.50 |
Fees from the Nevada DMV’s CDL offices and fees page. The DMV takes cash, checks, exact-amount money orders, Visa, Mastercard and Discover, but not PayPal or cryptocurrency.
Where is the Las Vegas CDL office?
The Las Vegas CDL office is the Silverado CDL building at 9780 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89141, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It handles every CDL service, including skills tests. The old Donovan Way CDL office in North Las Vegas closed on October 9, 2026. The new Silverado facility, CDL building included, is now open.
- Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m., closed state holidays
- Appointments or walk-ins; skills tests by appointment
- Join a line or book a knowledge test ↗
The CDL building sits next to the new Silverado Ranch DMV main office, and both are now open. See Silverado Ranch DMV’s buildings and hours for directions and parking.
East Sahara, West Flamingo and North Decatur don’t handle CDLs. Northern Nevada drivers can use the Reno CDL office at 890 Trademark Dr.
How do you add a hazmat endorsement in Nevada?
To add hazmat (H), you must be 21 or older, complete hazmat ELDT, and pass a TSA background check before you take the knowledge test at a CDL office. TSA fees total $86.50, results take about 30 days, and the DMV says the whole process usually takes 30 to 45 days.
- 1Apply with TSAOnline or at (855) 347-8371, with your CDL or permit number.
- 2Get fingerprintedAt an IdentoGO site only; cash isn’t accepted.
- 3Wait for approvalAbout 30 days. Don’t go to the DMV before the letter arrives.
- 4Test at a CDL officeBring the approval letter, your CDL and the CDL 002 form.
The TSA check lasts five years. The DMV mails a reminder about 90 days before it expires, and letting it lapse without renewing or removing the endorsement can suspend your license. Full details are on the DMV’s hazmat endorsement page.
Moving to Nevada, renewing or upgrading a CDL
New residents must transfer an out-of-state CDL at a CDL office, not a regular DMV counter. A CLP is needed again for an upgrade or change that needs a skills test, or if your CDL has been invalid for more than four years. Keep your medical certificate current, or the DMV can downgrade your commercial privileges.
For the rest of a move, including your car’s registration and the 30-day deadline, see our new Nevada resident guide. The DMV’s own CDL transfers, renewals and upgrades page covers special cases.
Nevada CDL FAQ
Can I get a CDL at 18 in Nevada?
Yes. Drivers 18 to 20 can get a Nevada CDL, but it carries a K restriction (intrastate only) and an R restriction (no passengers or hazmat). You need to be 21 to drive across state lines or add the passenger or hazmat endorsement.
How long does it take to get a CDL in Nevada?
The Nevada DMV says the process typically takes several weeks. You must hold your commercial learner permit for at least 14 days before the skills test, and training time depends on your school.
How long is a Nevada commercial learner permit valid?
A Nevada CLP is valid for 180 days. If it has been expired for 30 days or more, you have to retake all the knowledge tests.
Can I use a rented truck for the CDL skills test?
Yes. Bring the rental or lease agreement, and note that most rental companies require a specific “Permission to Test” letter. The vehicle also needs a readable GVWR plate, registration and a Nevada Evidence of Insurance card.
Do I need a medical card for a Nevada CDL?
Most drivers do. If you self-certify as non-excepted interstate, you must submit a Medical Examiner’s Certificate from an examiner on the FMCSA National Registry. Your self-certification category decides whether it’s required.
Can I bring an interpreter to the Nevada CDL test?
No. The DMV doesn’t allow interpreters for CDL knowledge or skills tests.