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CDL Road Skills Test Waived — But the Window Is 90 Days

The District waives the road skills test for a Class A or B commercial licence where you were employed in a military position operating a commercial-equivalent vehicle within the LAST 90 CALENDAR DAYS. A DD-214 is accepted, so a recently separated veteran qualifies — but only just barely, and only for three months. It asks for age 21 or over, a valid DC non-commercial licence, two years of military commercial-vehicle driving, two years of good driving history, and a commanding officer's certification. Knowledge tests are not waived.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

The District waives the road skills test for a Class A or B commercial licence where you were employed in a military position operating a commercial-equivalent vehicle within the LAST 90 CALENDAR DAYS. A DD-214 is accepted, so a recently separated veteran qualifies — but only just barely, and only for three months. It asks for age 21 or over, a valid DC non-commercial licence, two years of military commercial-vehicle driving, two years of good driving history, and a commanding officer's certification. Knowledge tests are not waived.

What it's worth: The road skills test waived for a Class A or B CDL

  • The window is 90 CALENDAR DAYS from having been employed in the qualifying military driving position. It is the tightest window of any benefit in this corpus.
  • A DD-214 is accepted, so a recently separated veteran qualifies — within that 90 days.
  • You must be 21 or over and hold a valid DC non-commercial driving licence.
  • It asks for two years of military commercial-vehicle driving experience and two years of good driving history.
  • A commanding officer's certification is required, which is very much easier to obtain before you leave than after.
  • KNOWLEDGE TESTS ARE NOT WAIVED. Only the road skills test is.
  • S and P endorsements still require the air-brakes knowledge test and the air-brakes portion of the skills test.
  • What it saves is the cost and time of skills testing, which is substantial but not published as a figure.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You have qualifying military driving experience.
  • You hold a DC licence.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Count the days first. The window is 90 calendar days from the qualifying military driving employment, and nothing reopens it.
  2. 2Get the commanding officer's certification BEFORE you separate. Inside 90 days it is possible; after that it usually is not.
  3. 3Get a valid DC non-commercial licence in place — it is a precondition, and obtaining one takes time you may not have.
  4. 4Book the knowledge tests. Those are not waived, and only the road skills test is.
  5. 5If you want S or P endorsements, expect the air-brakes knowledge test and the air-brakes portion of the skills test regardless.
Form
DC DMV CDL skills test waiver application
File with
DC Department of Motor Vehicles
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.

Sources

Why only one source type: The DMV both sets and operates this waiver and its service page carries every condition — the 90-day window, the experience requirement and the endorsements that are not waived. There is no separate statutory or operating source.

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.