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Two Road Tests You Need Not Sit — CDL and Motorcycle

New York waives the CDL skills (road) test for military personnel and veterans with qualifying commercial motor vehicle driving experience. It ALSO waives the MOTORCYCLE ROAD TEST for a New York resident armed forces member who completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION. The second one is genuinely obscure — thousands of members take that course on base and then sit a road test at home that they did not need to. All other licensing requirements still apply in both cases.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

New York waives the CDL skills (road) test for military personnel and veterans with qualifying commercial motor vehicle driving experience. It ALSO waives the MOTORCYCLE ROAD TEST for a New York resident armed forces member who completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION. The second one is genuinely obscure — thousands of members take that course on base and then sit a road test at home that they did not need to. All other licensing requirements still apply in both cases.

What it's worth: CDL road test waived; motorcycle road test waived after the MSF course on base

  • CDL: the SKILLS (ROAD) TEST is waived for military personnel and veterans with qualifying commercial motor vehicle driving experience.
  • MOTORCYCLE: the ROAD TEST is waived for a NY-resident armed forces member who completed the MSF BASIC RIDER COURSE ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION.
  • ALL OTHER LICENSING REQUIREMENTS STILL APPLY, including written tests and fees.
  • The motorcycle route needs no commercial driving experience at all — it is the course certificate that matters.
  • New York residency is required for the motorcycle waiver.

Who is entitled to it

  • You serve or served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You drove heavy vehicles in service.
  • New York licensing.

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. 1For the motorcycle waiver, find your MSF Basic Rider Course completion card from the base course. That card is the whole application.
  2. 2For the CDL waiver, gather evidence of qualifying commercial vehicle experience and any commanding-officer certification DMV asks for.
  3. 3Apply to DMV. Both waivers are of the road test only.
  4. 4Prepare for the written tests — those are not waived.
  5. 5If you took the MSF course on base years ago, ask anyway; the certificate does not obviously expire.
Form
Application to the Department of Motor Vehicles
File with
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal needed
Worth knowingThe motorcycle waiver is the one to remember. A great many members take the MSF course on base as a condition of riding there, and then queue for a road test at home.

Sources

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