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How to Renew a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) in West Virginia

Updated on Thu, 4/28/2011

Renewing a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) in West Virginia is a relatively simple process compared to applying for a new CDL.

PROCEDURES FOR RENEWING YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE

  1. A renewal notice will be sent to you indicating when your current CDL will expire. If your CDL has been lost or stolen, you will need to apply for a replacement CDL, rather than a renewal.
  2. You must renew your CDL in person, at your local DMV office.
  3. Bring the following items with you to the local DMV office, when renewing your commercial driver's license:
  4. Your current West Virginia commercial driver's license.
  5. Residential address proof.
  6. Your West Virginia Commercial Driver's License renewal notice.
  7. A valid West Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT) long form physical. If you are currently employed by a city or county, the state of West Virginia or the Federal government, and your job requires a valid CDL, you are exempt from the DOT physical requirements. However, you must bring a letter from your present employer verifying your employment and indicating that you are exempt from the physical requirements.
  8. You must also bring the correct CDL state's website. Fees vary, depending on your age and the endorsements on your CDL. Check with your local DMV office on the exact fee before arriving for the renewal.

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL ENDORSEMENT (HAZMAT)

If your CDL includes a Hazardous Material Endorsement that you wish to retain, you must undergo a fingerprint and background check by the Transportation Security Administration.

  1. You must pay a non-refundable fee of $94.00 to initiate the process. Call the Integrated Biometrics Technologies (IBT) Help Desk at 1-877-429-7746, or visit their website at www.hazprints.com.
  2. Contact one of the locations listed on the IBT site to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.
  3. Bring your commercial driver's license and social security card to the IBT office on the scheduled date.
  4. An approval letter will be mailed to you from the TSA, indicating that you have successfully completed the background check.
  5. Bring the TSA approval letter to your local DMV office, and you will be permitted to test for HAZMAT at the time of renewal. A HAZMAT endorsement holder renewing a CDL is given three attempts to pass the HAZMAT endorsement on a non-expired CDL. If your CDL has already expired, you must obtain a HAZMAT test card from the CDL office in Charleston before taking the test.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • If you did not receive a commercial driver's license renewal notice, you must complete a CDL-1 application, available at your local DMV office.
  • An additional fee of $5.00 will be charged for an expired commercial driver's license. If your CDL has been expired for more than six months, you will need to take several tests in order to renew your CDL. Refer to the West Virginia CDL driver's manual for the test requirements and rules.
  • See our Commercial Drivers Education section for more information on CDLs.
  • See also Applying for a new CDL and Replacing a Lost CDL.