CDL Renewal in Arizona: Medical Certificate, Documents, and Fees

An Arizona CDL renewal runs on an eight-year cycle, and you can start as early as six months before the expiration date on your card. Many drivers can now finish the whole thing online at AZ MVD Now, but you’ll still need an in-person visit if you carry a HazMat endorsement or your license photo is due for an update. Before you begin, make sure your medical certificate is current and your Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status is clear, because either problem will stop the renewal cold.¹

When to Renew

An Arizona CDL is valid for up to eight years from the date of issue.² The state opens a six-month window before expiration, and using it is the safest move. There is no grace period once the card expires, and if the CDL lapses for 12 months or more, you have to retake the written and skills tests to get it back.³

Can You Renew Online

Arizona lets many CDL holders renew at AZMVDNow.gov instead of visiting an office. To qualify, your address on file must be current, you must already have a valid primary identity document on file with MVD, and your license cannot have any suspensions or holds. Drivers with a HazMat endorsement are not eligible for online renewal.⁴

You’ll also need to come in if your photo is due. Arizona requires a new photo every 12 years, and MVD sends a notice as that deadline approaches.⁵ If you’re not sure whether you qualify, log into AZ MVD Now and check your credential status before you go anywhere.

Your Medical Certificate Has to Be Current

Every CDL holder operating in non-excepted commerce must hold a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate. Federal rules at 49 CFR 391.41 require you to be medically certified as physically qualified before operating a commercial motor vehicle.⁶ The certificate lasts up to 24 months, though a medical examiner can set a shorter period based on your health.⁷

Your medical certificate must stay current at all times, independent of when the CDL itself expires. If it lapses, your commercial driving privileges are suspended. You then have two options: submit a new valid certificate and pay a reinstatement fee through AZ MVD Now, or downgrade to a standard Class D license.³

In most cases the certificate reaches MVD without you doing anything. Your certified medical examiner submits it electronically, and MVD receives it within about 24 hours. You can verify it posted by checking “My Credential” on AZ MVD Now. The exception: if your CDL carries a K restriction limiting you to intrastate-only driving, bring the paper certificate and long form yourself.⁷

Check Your Clearinghouse Status Before You Start

Since November 18, 2024, Arizona and every other state must query the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before renewing any CDL. A “prohibited” status stops the renewal.⁸ Prohibited means an unresolved drug or alcohol program violation on record, and it stays until you complete the return-to-duty process with a Substance Abuse Professional.⁹

The consequence is bigger than a renewal denial. Drivers in prohibited status also lose their existing commercial privileges, because the state is required to downgrade the CDL until return-to-duty is finished.¹⁰ Some drivers get caught by violations from years ago with a former employer. Check your status for free by creating a Clearinghouse account at clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov before you begin.

Documents You’ll Need

Arizona’s CDL documentation requirements come from ARS 28-3153(D) and 49 CFR 383.71.¹¹ Whether you’re renewing in person or updating your file to qualify online, plan on having:

Your existing Arizona CDL, or a state-issued motor vehicle record from the last 30 days.
Proof of legal presence in the United States, such as a certified birth certificate, U.S. passport, or permanent resident card.
One document showing your Arizona residential address, such as a utility bill, rental agreement, or mail from a government agency.
Two documents showing your Social Security number. Accepted documents include your Social Security card, a U.S. military ID, a VA card, a medical insurance card, or a U.S. passport. You’ll also provide your SSN on the application.
Your Medical Examiner’s Certificate, which should already be on file electronically. Bring the paper certificate and long form if you hold a K restriction.

MVD offices don’t accept photocopies for most categories, so gather the originals before you go. A missing document means a wasted trip.

Renewing at an MVD Office

If you don’t qualify for online renewal, you can visit any MVD office or an authorized third-party provider. Third-party locations handle the same transactions but may add a convenience fee.¹² Schedule an appointment through AZ MVD Now to skip the walk-in wait.

At the counter, the representative reviews your CDL, verifies your identity and residency documents, and confirms your medical certificate is current in the system. You’ll take a vision screening. Federal standards require at least 20/40 acuity in each eye (with or without corrective lenses), a horizontal field of vision of at least 70 degrees in each eye, and the ability to distinguish standard traffic signal colors.¹³ If a new photo is due, they’ll take it during the same visit.

After you pay, you receive a temporary credential that covers you while the permanent card is produced and mailed to your address on file.

Renewing a HazMat Endorsement

A HazMat endorsement adds two requirements on top of the standard renewal: a HazMat knowledge test and a TSA security threat assessment. The knowledge test has to be taken at an MVD office or authorized third-party location, which is why HazMat holders can’t use the online renewal.⁴

The TSA threat assessment is valid for five years, while the CDL itself lasts eight, so the two expiration dates rarely line up. TSA recommends starting the renewal at least 60 days before your assessment expires, because processing can exceed 45 days during busy periods. The fee is $85.25 for new and renewing applicants, or a reduced $41 if you hold a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential.¹⁴ MVD cannot issue the renewed endorsement until it receives electronic confirmation of TSA approval, so don’t leave this for the last week.

What It Costs

Arizona’s CDL renewal fees, set by statute, depend on the license class and whether a written test is involved.¹⁵

Renewal without a written exam:

Class A or B: $15 (includes any endorsement other than HazMat)
Class C: $10 (includes any endorsement other than HazMat)

Renewal with a written exam, including the HazMat knowledge test:

Class A or B: $25
Class C: $12.50

These are state fees only. Third-party providers add a convenience fee.¹² The $85.25 TSA fee for HazMat holders is paid separately to TSA, not to MVD.¹⁴ Your DOT physical is another out-of-pocket cost, typically ranging from $75 to $225 depending on the provider.

If You Let Something Lapse

What happens depends on what expired and for how long. A lapsed medical certificate suspends your commercial privileges immediately. You can get them back by obtaining a new certificate from a medical examiner and paying a reinstatement fee through AZ MVD Now. No driving tests are required for a medical lapse alone. If you’d rather stop maintaining the medical card, you can downgrade to a standard Class D license at an MVD office.³

If the CDL itself expires, you have 12 months to renew without retesting. Once the card has been expired for a full year, you must pass the written and skills tests again, essentially starting the CDL application from scratch.³ That’s the strongest argument for renewing early in your six-month window rather than letting the date slide.

1
Arizona Department of Transportation. Renew Your License
2
Arizona Legislature. Arizona State Senate Fact Sheet for HB 2173
3
Arizona Department of Transportation. FAQ – Commercial Driver License CDL
4
Arizona Department of Transportation. Renew Arizona CDLs Online at AZMVDNow.gov
5
Arizona Department of Transportation. When Will I Need to Update My Photo
6
eCFR. 49 CFR 391.41 – Physical Qualifications for Drivers
7
Arizona Department of Transportation. Getting Your Commercial Driver License
8
eCFR. 49 CFR 383.73 – State Procedures
9
Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
10
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. FMCSA Shares Updates on the Second Clearinghouse Rule
11
Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona CDL Documentation Requirements
12
Arizona Department of Transportation. Authorized Third Party Providers
13
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Examining FMCSA Vision Standard for CMV Drivers and Waiver Program
14
Transportation Security Administration. HAZMAT Endorsement
15
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-3002 – Fees Driver Licenses Disposition Exemption