How Long Is a CDL Good For in Texas: Terms, Lapses, and Renewal

A standard Texas commercial driver’s license is good for eight years, counted from your next birthday after it’s issued or renewed. Two things change that number. A CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement expires after five years instead of eight, and a driver aged 85 or older gets a two-year license. The expiration printed on the card is only part of the story, because your medical certification and federal drug-and-alcohol clearinghouse status can end your commercial driving privileges well before the card itself runs out.¹

The Standard Eight-Year Term

Under Texas Transportation Code Section 522.051, an original CDL expires eight years after your next birthday, and a renewal follows the same eight-year cycle counting from your previous expiration date.¹ Federal regulations cap CDL validity at eight years, so Texas sits right at the federal ceiling.²

You can start the renewal process up to one year before your CDL expires, but not earlier than that.³

If you are 85 or older, your CDL is good for only two years from your next birthday.⁴

Five Years with a Hazmat Endorsement

A CDL that carries a hazardous materials endorsement expires five years after your next birthday rather than eight.¹ The shorter cycle exists because the Transportation Security Administration requires a background check and security threat assessment every time you renew the endorsement, and you have to be fingerprinted during each renewal cycle. TSA’s fee for the assessment is separate from the DPS renewal fee, and the amount depends on whether you qualify for a reduced-scope review.⁵

A 2024 Federal Register notice set the standard TSA assessment fee at $57.25 for non-agent states, with a reduced $31.00 fee for applicants who have already completed a comparable assessment.⁵ Confirm the current amount with TSA when you apply, since the figure can change.

What Can End Your CDL Before the Card Does

The date on your card is the outer limit, not a guarantee. Two separate rule sets can shut down your commercial privileges well before expiration.

Medical Certificate Lapse

Every CDL holder must self-certify to DPS which of four categories of commercial operation they perform: non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate.⁶ Drivers in either non-excepted category must keep a valid medical examiner’s certificate on file. The excepted categories cover narrow situations such as certain government and farm vehicle operations where the medical card requirement does not apply.⁷

Fail to keep a current medical certificate on file and DPS will downgrade your CDL, stripping your authorization to drive any vehicle that requires commercial credentials.⁶ DPS sends a courtesy notice roughly 60 days before your medical certificate expires, but the responsibility to renew on time is yours.

As of June 23, 2025, FMCSA electronically transmits medical examination results and medical variance information straight to state licensing agencies through the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.⁸ In states that have fully implemented this system, the paper medical examiner’s certificate no longer serves as proof of medical certification. Any state that missed the June 2025 deadline must continue using the paper-based process until it completes implementation.⁹

Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Status

Since November 18, 2024, every state licensing agency must query the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before issuing, renewing, transferring, or upgrading a CDL.¹⁰ If that query shows a prohibited status, the state cannot process your CDL transaction and must begin downgrade procedures.²

A prohibited status comes from a verified drug or alcohol program violation, such as a positive test, a refusal to test, or an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher. You remain prohibited from performing any safety-sensitive function until you complete the full Return-to-Duty process, which includes evaluation by a Substance Abuse Professional, any recommended education or treatment, a follow-up testing plan, and a negative return-to-duty test.¹¹ Owner-operators have to work with a designated Consortium/Third-Party Administrator to complete these steps, since the process normally runs through an employer.

If Your CDL Has Already Expired

There is no grace period. Once your CDL passes its expiration date, it is no longer valid for operating a commercial vehicle. Driving with an expired license in Texas is an offense under Section 521.457 of the Transportation Code. A first offense without aggravating factors is a Class C misdemeanor. With a prior conviction under the same statute, the charge escalates to a Class B misdemeanor, which carries up to 180 days in jail and a higher fine ceiling.¹²

A judge may dismiss an expired-license charge if you renew within 20 working days or before your first court appearance, whichever comes later. The court can assess a reimbursement fee of up to $20 for the dismissal.¹³ Banking on that is a bad strategy; renew before you expire.

The statute also treats a long-expired CDL differently from one that just lapsed. A CDL expired less than two years follows the standard renewal path. Once a CDL has been expired for more than two years, expect to retake both the knowledge and skills tests, essentially requalifying as a new applicant.¹ Third-party skills testing fees can run several hundred dollars, so letting a CDL lapse that long gets expensive fast.

Renewal Fees

DPS charges the following for CDL transactions:⁴

Standard CDL, ages 18–84: $97 for an eight-year renewal.
CDL with hazmat endorsement, ages 18–84: $61 for a five-year renewal.
CDL, age 85 and older: $26 for a two-year renewal.
Replacement or changes: $11 to replace a lost or damaged CDL, change your address or name, or test to add or remove endorsements.

How to Renew

CDL holders without a hazmat endorsement may be eligible to renew online or by phone if all of the following apply: you renewed in person last time, you are under 79 years old, your health has not significantly changed, you have a valid medical certificate on file, and your license is in good standing with no outstanding warrants.³ A CDL with a hazmat endorsement cannot be renewed online and always requires an in-person visit.

For in-person renewal, you can schedule an appointment at a DPS driver license office to avoid long waits. Bring a completed DPS Form DL-14A, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence if not already on your DPS record, and proof of identity such as your current CDL or a passport. At the office you will provide your signature and thumbprints, have a new photograph taken, and pass a vision exam. After you pay the fee and complete these steps, DPS will mail your renewed CDL to you.³

1
State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 522.051 – Expiration of License or Permit
2
eCFR. 49 CFR 383.73 – State Procedures
3
Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID
4
Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
5
Federal Register. Hazardous Materials Endorsement Threat Assessment Program Security Threat Assessment Fees
6
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Medical
7
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. How Do I Determine Which of the 4 Categories of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operation I Should Self-Certify To
8
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. National Registry II – Fact Sheet for Drivers
9
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. If a State Has Not Implemented National Registry II by the June 23 2025 Compliance Date
10
eCFR. 49 CFR Part 382 Subpart G – Requirements and Procedures for Implementation of the Commercial Drivers License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
11
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The Return-to-Duty Process and the Clearinghouse
12
State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.457
13
State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.026 – Dismissal of Expired License Charge