What Else Do I Need to Know?

Do I Need a Chauffeur License?

A chauffeur base license is required when a person is:

•  Employed for the principal purpose of operating a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR or GVW  or GCW of 10,000 pounds or more.

•  Operating a motor vehicle as a carrier of passengers or as a common or contract carrier of property.

•  Operating a bus, school bus, taxi or limousine.

•  Drivers operating vehicles singly or in combination with a GVW, GVWR, GCW or GCWR of 10,000 pounds or more must meet the commercial driver medical requirements (including possession of the appropriate medical card or medical waiver).
• If required, the CDL group designator and CDL endorsements are added to the chauffeur base license.

What is Required to Convert My Out-of-State CDL to a Michigan CDL?

When moving to Michigan from another state, you must apply for a Michigan CDL to operate commercial vehicles. To

obtain a Michigan CDL, you must visit a Secretary of State branch office and:

•  Surrender your out-of-state CDL.

• Complete a computer check of your eligibility status through national and state records. If your driving privilege is suspended, revoked, denied or cancelled for any reason in any other state, you cannot receive your Michigan CDL until the out-of-state licensing issue(s) are resolved. The driving record check must be completed by the branch office before your CDL can be issued.

•  Pass the vision test.

What is Required to Convert My Out-of-State CDL to a Michigan CDL? (continued)

• Take and pass the appropriate Michigan CDL written tests if you are upgrading your group designator, adding endorsements or removing an air brake restriction. To keep your H-Hazardous Materials endorsement, you must always take and pass the Hazmat written test. Otherwise, written tests are not required if you are not upgrading your CDL.

• Take and pass the Michigan CDL skills test if you are upgrading your group designator, adding the PPassenger endorsement or removing a CDL limitation such as the air brake restriction. If a CDL skills test is required, you must wait until you receive your photo Michigan base license (operator or chauffeur) to take the test. Your Michigan photo driver license must be presented to the third party driver skills test organization before your CDL skills test can be administered. Generally, your regular driver license (operator or chauffeur) will be mailed to you within ten (10) days.

• Receive your Michigan CDL upon proper and successful completion of any necessary CDL tests and payment of fees.

Do “Incidental” Drivers Need a CDL?

Unless exempt, any driver who operates a commercial motor vehicle on roads or highways that are accessible to the

public, must have a CDL regardless of the distance driven or amount of driving time.

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