Indiana CDL Requirements Guide

This page summarizes what Indiana requires of Class A Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) applicants, with links to the official government sources. Requirements come from Indiana's licensing agencies and federal regulations; FLO LLC's own training standards appear separately below. Sources were checked on 2026-10-13. Where anything here differs from the agency, the agency controls.

• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)

Official Indiana CDL Manual

Commercial Driver's License Manual (Modernized), Version: September 9, 2022 (Indiana BMV) — published by the state. FLO LLC links to the state's own document; it does not copy or host it.

READ INDIANA CDL MANUAL

Opens the official PDF in a new tab. If it does not open, use the state's manual page: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — manual page.

Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) requirements

• A CLP is valid for one year; passed knowledge exam results are valid for one year. CLP holders may operate a CMV only when accompanied by a valid CDL holder with the proper class and endorsements.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

CDL eligibility and age requirements

• You must be at least 18 to transport property within state lines, and at least 21 to operate a school bus.
• Federal rule: a driver must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)).

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers

Interstate versus intrastate driving

• Federal rule: a driver must be at least 21 years old to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce (49 CFR 391.11(b)(1)).
• Every CLP and CDL applicant must self-certify one of four types of commercial driving — non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate — and non-excepted drivers must provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 383.71(b)(1)).
• Confirm Indiana's current procedure on the official Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) page linked below.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 391.11 — General qualifications of drivers · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Identity and residency documentation

• Confirm Indiana's current procedure on the official Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) page linked below.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page

Legal-presence requirements

• Federal rule: CLP and CDL applicants must prove U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency, or qualify under the federal non-domiciled rules (49 CFR 383.71).
• Confirm Indiana's current procedure on the official Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) page linked below.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Medical certification and self-certification

• When applying for your first CDL or CLP you must have a current Medical Examiner's Certificate on file with the BMV and must keep a valid MER/MEC on file to maintain the CLP or CDL. The BMV accepts only forms completed by an examiner certified on the FMCSA National Registry.
• Every CLP and CDL applicant must self-certify one of four types of commercial driving — non-excepted interstate, excepted interstate, non-excepted intrastate, or excepted intrastate — and non-excepted drivers must provide a current medical examiner's certificate (49 CFR 383.71(b)(1)).

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CDL page · Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.71 — Driver application and certification procedures

Knowledge examinations required

• You must pass the applicable written test(s) to obtain the CLP; all CDL written tests and skills exams are valid for one year.
• Class A applicants take the General Knowledge and Combination Vehicles knowledge tests, plus Air Brakes for an air-brake vehicle (Indiana manual, Section 1.1). Endorsements require their own tests.
• Federal standard: at least 80% correct is required to pass each knowledge test (49 CFR 383.135).

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CDL page · Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.135 — Passing knowledge and skills tests

Steps to obtain the CLP

• 1. Study the official Indiana CDL manual (link above).
• 2. Gather the identity, residency, Social Security and legal-presence documents the agency lists, and complete your self-certification (and medical examination if you are non-excepted).
• 3. Pass the required knowledge tests with the Indiana BMV.
• 4. Receive your CLP.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page

CLP holding period

• You must hold the CLP 14 days before attempting the CDL skills exam.
• Federal rule: a CLP holder may not take the CDL skills test during the first 14 days after the CLP is first issued (49 CFR 383.25(e)).

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CDL page · Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR 383.25 — Commercial learner's permit

Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) requirements

• For Class A/B, School Bus or Passenger applicants, ELDT completion is verified by the 3rd-party CDL skills test site before the skills test is scheduled.
• Federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) applies to anyone obtaining a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading to Class A or B, or obtaining a first school bus, passenger or hazardous materials endorsement (49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F).
• ELDT has two parts — theory (classroom/online) and behind-the-wheel (range and public road) — and both must be completed with providers listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, which reports your completion electronically before you may take the skills test.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CDL page · Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Behind-the-wheel training requirements

• ELDT behind-the-wheel training must be taken from a behind-the-wheel provider listed on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, on a range and on public roads, in a vehicle of the class you are training for. The instructor decides when you are proficient; federal rules set no minimum number of hours (49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F, Appendix A).
• FLO LLC's online course is ELDT THEORY only. It does not provide behind-the-wheel training.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F — Entry-Level Driver Training · FMCSA Training Provider Registry

Skills examination procedures

• Take the CDL skills exam in a vehicle representative of the class you will receive. Appointments must be scheduled with an approved 3rd-party CDL skills test site at least two days before the exam date.
• The skills test has three parts taken in order — vehicle inspection, basic vehicle control and on-road driving. The Indiana manual's basic control section describes the Modernized exercises: Forward Stop, Straight-Line Backing, Forward Offset Tracking and Reverse Offset Backing.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CDL page · Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page

Licensing office and scheduling resources

• Use the official Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) pages linked below to find offices, schedule tests and confirm current procedures.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page · Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CDL page

Steps to receive your Class A CDL

• Before obtaining a CDL you must watch an instructional video on how to recognize, prevent and report human trafficking, complete ELDT, and obtain a CLP.

Sources: Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CDL page · Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) — CLP page