You accepted a job in West Virginia, signed a lease, and your CDL still has another state's name on it. What now? If you need to transfer a CDL to West Virginia, the main thing to know is the clock. You have 30 days from establishing residency to apply to transfer, and the paperwork is easy to get wrong if you wait until the last week.
How long do you have to transfer a CDL to West Virginia?
To drive a commercial vehicle in West Virginia as a resident, you must apply to transfer your CDL within 30 days of establishing residence. Residency means having a West Virginia physical address. The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) checks your driving history before it issues anything, so give yourself time. Do not treat day 30 as the day to start gathering documents.
Start the move checklist with your medical card and your driving record. Those two items cause more transfer delays than anything else, and both depend on other offices.
What documents do you need to transfer a CDL to West Virginia?
The DMV's CDL manual lists the documents for a transfer. Bring all of them in one trip:
- One proof of identity.
- One proof of your Social Security number.
- Two proofs of West Virginia residency.
- Legal name change documents, if your name differs from your identifying documents.
- Your DOT Medical Examiner's Report and Medical Certificate, if you drive in non-excepted status.
- Your out-of-state license or a certified driving record.
- A Universal Enrollment Services (UES) approval letter, if you want a hazmat endorsement.
The manual that lists these is an older edition, so check the current DMV requirements before you go.
What does the DMV check before it transfers your CDL?
Before issuing a CDL or CLP, the DMV checks national driver records and each state where you have been licensed. These include the commercial driver license information system, the National Driver Register and the Problem Driver Pointer System. In some cases the records check may take up to 48 hours, and your CDL will not transfer until it is complete. If you are suspended, revoked, disqualified or canceled in another state, West Virginia will not issue a license until that state reinstates you.
Do you keep your old CDL after you transfer?
No. You must surrender your out-of-state CDL to obtain a West Virginia CDL. The state also follows the one-license rule. CDL holders may not have any other type of driver's license, and drivers may not hold more than one license at a time. Employers may not knowingly allow it either. If you carry both licenses in your wallet after the move, you are creating a problem for yourself.
What about hazmat and medical requirements?
A hazmat endorsement needs a TSA fingerprint and background check through UES. Take the UES approval letter to a DMV regional office to test for the endorsement. No oral tests are given for hazardous materials. Do not assume your hazmat endorsement carries straight across. Plan the background check early.
Medical status has its own deadlines. A non-excepted driver must keep a current Medical Examiner's Certificate on file with the DMV. If proof of a valid certificate is not on file, the medical status becomes NOT-CERTIFIED ten days after the current certificate expires. If no valid certificate is provided within 30 days after expiration, the CDL is downgraded to a Class E license, which does not allow commercial driving.
What do you do about tickets and disqualifications?
West Virginia holds commercial drivers to federal disqualification rules. A first DUI or chemical test refusal in a commercial vehicle disqualifies you for one year, or three years if you were hauling hazmat, and a second offense is generally a lifetime disqualification. Speeding 15 mph or more over the limit counts as a serious traffic violation. A second one within three years brings 60 days, and a third brings 120 days. If you are convicted of a traffic offense (other than parking) in another state, report it to the West Virginia DMV within 30 days. If you lose your driving privileges, tell your employer before the end of the next business day.
Transfer mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until the 30th day to apply.
- Forgetting a second proof of residency.
- Bringing an old medical certificate. One valid for less than 30 days cannot be accepted, and one more than two years old is not current.
- Keeping the old state's CDL after you transfer.
- Starting the hazmat background check at the last minute.
West Virginia CDL transfer FAQ
How long do I have to transfer my CDL to West Virginia?
You must apply to transfer within 30 days of establishing residence, which means having a West Virginia physical address.
Do I have to take a test to transfer a CDL to West Virginia?
The manual says a transfer requires a records check and documents, and it describes testing for a hazmat endorsement. Check the current DMV requirements for any other testing.
Can I keep my old state's CDL after moving to West Virginia?
No. You must surrender your out-of-state CDL to obtain a West Virginia CDL, and CDL holders may not have any other type of driver's license.
What happens if my medical certificate expires in West Virginia?
Your medical status becomes NOT-CERTIFIED ten days after it expires if no valid proof is on file. If none is provided within 30 days, the CDL is downgraded to Class E.
How long does the records check take for a West Virginia CDL transfer?
In some cases it may take up to 48 hours, and the CDL will not transfer until it is complete.
Procedures and documents can change, so confirm the current steps with the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles before you go.