Commercial Driver License Holder License Reciprocity by State (2026)
Federal CDL — one licence, valid nationwide
A commercial driver's licence is a federal credential issued under FMCSA rules, so there is no reciprocity question to solve: one CDL issued by your state of residence is valid for interstate driving throughout the country.
- Covers:
- Commercial driver's licence (CDL) and endorsements held by a U.S. resident.
- Governing body:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
What to know before you rely on it
- You hold one CDL, issued by your state of domicile, and it carries nationwide validity for interstate operation.
- Moving state means transferring the CDL to your new state of domicile, not applying for a second licence.
- Endorsements and restrictions travel with the licence, but medical certification must stay current.
- The Clearinghouse query and self-report obligations are federal and follow the driver, not the state.
Verify this first: Confirm CDL transfer steps and medical certification requirements with your new state of domicile's licensing agency.
FMCSA — Commercial Driver's License ↗State-by-state reciprocity notes
12 of 51 states have a published reciprocity note in our dataset. For the remaining states, the note is not published — check both state boards before you move. Operates commercial vehicles (Class A/B/C). Requires FMCSA-compliant state testing: written knowledge tests, a skills test, and a medical card.
| State | Reciprocity note | Verify with |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) — Motor Vehicle Division ↗ |
| California | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | California Department of Motor Vehicles ↗ |
| Florida | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles ↗ |
| Georgia | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Georgia Department of Driver Services ↗ |
| Illinois | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Illinois Secretary of State — Driver Services ↗ |
| Michigan | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Michigan Department of State (SOS) ↗ |
| New York | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | New York State Department of Motor Vehicles ↗ |
| North Carolina | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles ↗ |
| Ohio | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles ↗ |
| Pennsylvania | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) ↗ |
| Texas | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Texas Department of Public Safety ↗ |
| Washington | Yes — CDL issued under FMCSA standards; recognized nationwide via CDLIS (one CDL per driver) | Washington State Department of Licensing ↗ |
| Alabama | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Alaska | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Arkansas | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Colorado | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Connecticut | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Delaware | check both state boards | board site pending |
| District of Columbia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Hawaii | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Idaho | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Indiana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Iowa | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Kansas | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Kentucky | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Louisiana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Maine | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Maryland | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Massachusetts | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Minnesota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Mississippi | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Missouri | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Montana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Nebraska | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Nevada | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Hampshire | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Jersey | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Mexico | check both state boards | board site pending |
| North Dakota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Oklahoma | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Oregon | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Rhode Island | check both state boards | board site pending |
| South Carolina | check both state boards | board site pending |
| South Dakota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Tennessee | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Utah | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Vermont | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Virginia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| West Virginia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Wisconsin | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Wyoming | check both state boards | board site pending |
Frequently asked questions
How does a CDL license transfer between states?
A commercial driver's licence is a federal credential issued under FMCSA rules, so there is no reciprocity question to solve: one CDL issued by your state of residence is valid for interstate driving throughout the country.
Which states participate in Federal CDL — one licence, valid nationwide?
A commercial driver's licence is a federal credential issued under FMCSA rules, so there is no reciprocity question to solve: one CDL issued by your state of residence is valid for interstate driving throughout the country. Confirm the current position with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Does Federal CDL — one licence, valid nationwide mean I skip the exam entirely?
Not automatically. You hold one CDL, issued by your state of domicile, and it carries nationwide validity for interstate operation. The only reliable answer for your situation comes from the destination board, so verify before you pay application fees.
Can I transfer my CDL license to another state?
In our dataset, 12 states have a published reciprocity note (see the table). For every other state the rule is not published here — check both state boards before moving.
What does reciprocity mean for a license?
Reciprocity lets an already-licensed professional from one state qualify for a license in another state without repeating the full education and exam process. Some states have formal agreements or compacts; others require a state-specific exam or extra coursework even when they accept your license. Many states do not grant a license on reciprocity at all — they grant it by comity or endorsement, meaning you still file an application and meet their requirements.
Why do some states say "check both state boards"?
State reciprocity tables are not consistently published in machine-readable form. When a state has not published an official note in our verified sources, we point you to both boards rather than guess. That is the safest answer for a decision that can affect your eligibility to work.
Does holding a license in one state guarantee a license in another?
No. Every state sets its own licensing law. Even in states with reciprocity or a compact, you typically still file an application, pay a fee, pass a background check and sometimes pass a state-specific exam. Always confirm directly with the destination state board.
Plan your move with CDL data
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Reciprocity rules and compact membership change frequently and are set by each state legislature and board. “Check both state boards” means the note is not published in our dataset — it is not a negative answer. Mechanism data retrieved 2026-09-13; always verify with both boards before relocating.