Virginia CDL Classes, Age Limits, and Application Documents

Virginia Class A covers a combination with a GCWR of 26,001 pounds or more when the towed vehicle exceeds 10,000 pounds GVWR. Class B covers a single vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more and such a vehicle towing 10,000 pounds or less. Class C applies below those weight groups when the vehicle carries placarded hazardous material or is designed for 16 or more occupants including the driver.

A Virginia intrastate CDL may be issued at age 18. Interstate operation, hazardous-material transportation, and transporting interstate freight such as mail within Virginia require age 21. An under-21 credential carries the K restriction and does not authorize operation outside Virginia or in interstate commerce.

A person who never held a Virginia license or ID presents identity, legal presence, Social Security evidence, two Virginia residency proofs, any current out-of-state credential, name-change proof when needed, and a federally required eligibility document. Originals are subject to verification.

Virginia DMV currently has stopped original, reissue, duplicate, transfer, and upgrade transactions for limited-duration non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs while implementing the federal eligibility changes effective September 29, 2025. Older DMV 60V language that describes routine temporary-status issuance is therefore not current transaction authority.

Identity and residence, federal eligibility, medical self-certification, knowledge exams, CLP issuance, the 14-day hold, ELDT, skills testing, TSA review for H or X, and credential payment are separate gates. Passing one gate never cures failure at another.

Apply each rule to the exact Virginia credential, age, residence, legal-presence status, medical category, test stage, date, vehicle group, brake system, passenger use, cargo, and route. Current Virginia DMV webpages supersede older supplement text when a procedure or transaction changed after May 1, 2023.