To renew your CDL in Texas, you need a completed Commercial Driver License Application (Form CDL-1), a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate, a self-certification form showing how you drive commercially, proof of identity, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, two documents proving Texas residency, and the renewal fee of $97 for a standard eight-year CDL or $61 for a CDL with a hazardous materials endorsement, which runs five years.1Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID2Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees Hazmat holders also need a current TSA security threat assessment and must renew in person.
When You Can Renew
A Texas CDL can be renewed up to one year before the expiration date printed on your card. That is a tighter window than a regular Texas driver license, which opens two years early.1Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID
Don’t wait until the last week. Scheduling a DPS appointment, getting your DOT physical, and pulling paperwork together realistically takes a few weeks. If you hold a hazmat endorsement, the TSA security threat assessment can take 45 days or more during busy periods, so start that part at least 60 days ahead.3Transportation Security Administration. HAZMAT Endorsement
The Documents You Bring
Missing a single document is the most common reason drivers leave a DPS office empty-handed. Pull everything together before your appointment or online submission.
Form CDL-1
Download the Texas Commercial Driver License Application (Form CDL-1) from the DPS site and fill it out completely before you arrive. The form covers your personal information, employment history, and driving background.4Texas Department of Public Safety. CDL-1 – Texas Commercial Driver License Application
Proof of Identity
DPS sorts identity documents into primary, secondary, and supporting tiers. A valid U.S. passport or certified birth certificate is a primary document. Without a primary document, you need two secondary documents or one secondary plus two supporting documents. A Social Security card and a W-2 showing your full Social Security number are common supporting documents.5Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence
One document showing U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status is required. A birth certificate, U.S. passport, certificate of citizenship, or permanent resident card all work. If a prior DPS transaction already established this, you may not need to show it again, but bring it anyway in case your record is flagged.6Department of Public Safety. U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence Requirement
Two Proofs of Texas Residency
You need two documents showing your name and current Texas residential address. Utility bills, mortgage statements, bank statements, and government mail all qualify. Most of these must be dated within 180 days of your application — not 90 days, which is a common misconception.7Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards A current deed or lease agreement also works and does not carry the 180-day limit.8Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 15.49 – Proof of Domicile
Your Medical Examiner’s Certificate
Every CDL holder in non-excepted commercial driving must maintain a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Form MCSA-5876).9Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC), Form MCSA-5876 The physical has to be done by a medical professional listed on the FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Your regular doctor won’t count unless they’re on the registry.10Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners DOT physicals typically run $65 to $75, though prices vary.
If your medical certificate expires and you don’t submit a new one, DPS will downgrade your CDL to a regular Class C license. You lose your commercial driving privileges and may have to retake both the knowledge and skills exams to get them back.11Department of Public Safety. Commercial Driver License (CDL) Medical Certification Requirement A narrow exception: if the downgrade happened within the last 12 months, your license has not been expired for more than two years, and you submit a valid medical certificate to the National Registry, you may be upgraded without retesting.12Department of Public Safety. Commercial Driver License (CDL) Frequently Asked Question
Your Self-Certification Category
Federal law requires every CDL holder to declare which type of commercial driving they do. Texas uses two forms: Form CDL-4 for interstate drivers and Form CDL-5 for intrastate drivers.11Department of Public Safety. Commercial Driver License (CDL) Medical Certification Requirement Picking the wrong category can mean you’re carrying the wrong medical documentation or missing a required physical altogether.
The four categories:
- Non-Excepted Interstate: you cross state lines and must carry a current medical examiner’s certificate at all times. This is the most common category for long-haul and regional drivers.
- Excepted Interstate: you cross state lines but only perform operations specifically exempted from DOT medical requirements, such as certain government or emergency vehicle operations.
- Non-Excepted Intrastate: you drive only within Texas and must meet state medical qualification requirements.
- Excepted Intrastate: you drive only within Texas and perform operations exempted from the state’s medical requirements.
If you already filed a self-certification and nothing about your driving has changed, you don’t need to refile. Confirm your category is still on record with DPS before your appointment.
Online or In Person
If your CDL does not carry a hazardous materials endorsement, you may be eligible to renew online at texas.gov. The DPS appointment scheduler will tell you whether you qualify when you start the process.1Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID Drivers with hazmat endorsements must renew in person.
For office visits, DPS is appointment only. Walk-ins are not accepted. The Texas Scheduler lets you book up to 180 days out.13Department of Public Safety. Section 1 – Applying for or Renewing a Driver License, Identification Card, or Commercial Driver License At the counter, the clerk takes a new digital photo, captures your signature, and conducts a vision screening. You’ll leave with a temporary paper permit that lets you keep driving while your permanent card is produced and mailed, usually two to three weeks later.14Department of Public Safety. Apply for a Texas Driver License
What It Costs
Renewal fees for drivers between ages 18 and 84:
- Standard CDL renewal: $97, valid for eight years from your previous expiration date.
- CDL with hazmat endorsement: $61, valid for five years.
Both amounts include a $1 administrative fee that is waived for transactions completed by mail.2Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees DPS accepts credit cards, cash, and money orders.
If You Have a Hazmat Endorsement
Hazmat adds steps and cost. TSA requires a security threat assessment for every driver who holds or renews the endorsement. You visit a TSA application center to provide fingerprints, submit identification, and pay a non-refundable $85.25. If you already hold a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), the fee drops to $41.3Transportation Security Administration. HAZMAT Endorsement
TSA recommends starting the threat assessment at least 60 days before you need the eligibility determination. Processing can exceed 45 days during periods of high demand, and the assessment itself is valid for five years.3Transportation Security Administration. HAZMAT Endorsement Certain criminal offenses or incomplete applications can result in a finding of ineligibility, so don’t treat approval as automatic. Once TSA clears you, book an in-person DPS appointment to complete the renewal.
The FMCSA Clearinghouse Check
Since November 2024, state licensing agencies must query the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before completing any CDL renewal, upgrade, or transfer.15Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse – General FAQ A “prohibited” status, meaning an unresolved drug or alcohol violation, blocks the renewal until the violation is resolved and you complete the return-to-duty process.
DPS runs the query automatically. You don’t need to do anything extra. But if you suspect a violation might be on your record, such as a failed or refused drug test through a previous employer, check your Clearinghouse status before your appointment. Finding out at the counter means a wasted trip and a CDL you can’t use in the meantime.
Things That Can Block Your Renewal
Texas law lists specific offenses that disqualify you from holding a CDL. A first conviction for driving under the influence, leaving the scene of a collision, using a vehicle to commit a felony, or causing a death through negligent driving triggers a one-year disqualification. An alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher while operating a commercial vehicle, or 0.08 or higher in any vehicle, also results in a one-year disqualification. If hazardous materials were involved, the disqualification period is three years.16State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 522.081 – Disqualification
Your current license also must not be revoked, canceled, or suspended under any jurisdiction. Outstanding warrants or unresolved citations can hold up processing. Federal law requires that you hold only one driver license at a time, so if you have licenses from two states, you’ll need to surrender one before Texas processes your renewal.17Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Motor Carriers
If Your CDL Already Expired
If you renew within the first year after expiration, the process is essentially a standard renewal: same fee, no retesting. Past the one-year mark, expect to retake both the written knowledge test and the driving skills test, with additional appointments, test fees, and lost income during the gap.
If your CDL was downgraded to a Class C because your medical certificate lapsed (rather than the license itself expiring), the path back is easier. As long as the downgrade happened within the last 12 months, your license has not been expired more than two years, and you submit a valid medical certificate to the National Registry, DPS may restore your commercial privileges without retesting.12Department of Public Safety. Commercial Driver License (CDL) Frequently Asked Question Outside that window, you’re starting the testing process over. Set a calendar reminder six months before your medical certificate expires.