Arkansas commercial driver license renewal: three clocks to watch
Renewing an Arkansas CDL is a short visit to a revenue office. What sends drivers back to the testing line is a clock they stopped watching: the license, the medical certificate, or the hazmat background check.
Written by Inely Baez
Arkansas CDL renewal in numbers
Arkansas commercial driver license renewal is done in person at a state revenue office. The CDL is issued for five years and the state fee is $50. Bring proof of legal presence, complete your self-certification, and keep your medical certificate current. A CDL expired for a year or more means retesting.
An Arkansas CDL renewal rarely goes wrong at the counter. It goes wrong in the months before, when a medical certificate lapses, a hazmat background check starts too late, or an expiration date lives only in the driver's wallet.
I lead operations at Simplex, and I treat a renewal the way I treat any recurring process: every date has an owner and a reminder set well ahead of it. This guide covers the Arkansas side. For the federal rules on an expired CDL, see our separate guide.
The full briefing, read aloud
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Generated with AI text-to-speech from this article's key insights, in order, rather than reading it word for word. Chapter times come from a transcript of the audio. The article itself was written and reviewed by Inely Baez.
Key takeaways
Five years, $50
Since January 1, 2022, Arkansas issues CDLs for five years, with a $50 state fee.
Renewal happens in person
DFA's online services don't include CDL renewal. You renew at a state revenue office, with a vision exam and a new photo.
Expired a year or more means retesting
An expired CDL can be renewed without testing only if it has been expired for less than one year.
The medical card can end your CDL first
Your license shows Not Certified when the card expires, and the CDL is downgraded if you're not recertified within 60 days.
Hazmat needs a 90-day head start
Keeping the H endorsement takes a TSA threat assessment and the hazmat knowledge test. DFA says to allow at least 90 days.
Class A drivers need one more certificate
Arkansas requires the Truckers Against Trafficking certification to issue or renew a Class A CDL.
In this articleContents
How does Arkansas commercial driver license renewal work?
Arkansas commercial driver license renewal is an in-person transaction at a state revenue office, handled by the Department of Finance and Administration's Office of Driver Services. Since January 1, 2022, Act 753 has set the Arkansas CDL term at five years and the fee at $50.
Federal rules let a state issue a CDL for up to eight years. They also require every state to check the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before renewing a CDL, and to refuse the renewal if the driver is listed as prohibited. If that could apply to you, read our Clearinghouse guide first.
Can you renew an Arkansas CDL online?
No. None of the online services on DFA's MyDMV portal renews a CDL. Online, you can check your CDL medical certificate status, change your self-certification, book a revenue office appointment, and sign up for renewal notices by email or text.
What do you need to renew an Arkansas CDL?
The list for a standard renewal is short. According to DFA's renewal checklist, you need:
- Proof of legal presence: a birth certificate, valid passport, or employment authorization card
- Your self-certification: you complete it at the office, so know which driving type applies to you
- A vision exam and a photo: both done at the office
- Class A only: proof of your Truckers Against Trafficking certification, which Act 922 of 2017 requires to issue or renew a Class A CDL
- Hazmat only: a completed test packet and a TSA security threat assessment (covered below)
Want a REAL ID? Arkansas issues the federal-compliant CDL for the same fee. The state's document list adds two proofs of Arkansas residency, usually dated within six months, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
Which self-certification type are you?
| Type | Who it covers | Medical card |
|---|---|---|
| 1: Non-excepted interstate | Interstate drivers subject to the federal physical qualification rules in 49 CFR Part 391 | Required |
| 2: Excepted interstate | Interstate drivers working only in operations excepted under 49 CFR 390.3(f), 391.2, or 391.68 | Not required |
| 3: Non-excepted intrastate | Arkansas-only drivers subject to the federal physical qualification rules | Required |
| 4: Excepted intrastate | Arkansas-only drivers working only in those excepted operations | Not required |
Arkansas doesn't let you claim an exception just because you aren't driving right now. If you don't fit Type 2 or Type 4, you must keep your medical certification or downgrade to a non-commercial license.
How long can an Arkansas CDL be expired before you retest?
Less than one year. In its FAQs, DFA says you can renew an expired CDL without testing as long as it has not been expired for one year or longer. After that, plan on testing again.
The same one-year line applies to a downgraded license. If your commercial license is downgraded or voluntarily surrendered for a year or more, Arkansas requires you to retake all phases of the CDL exam.
What happens if your medical card expires?
If you are a Type 1 or Type 3 driver, your medical card can end your CDL before the license itself expires. Arkansas marks your license Not Certified when the card expires. If you don't get a new card within 60 days, the state downgrades your CDL and you can no longer operate a commercial vehicle.
To restore your commercial privileges, DFA tells drivers to get a new card from a certified DOT medical examiner. A driver who no longer needs a card can switch to Type 2 or Type 4 on MyDMV instead.
How exam results reach Arkansas
Since June 23, 2025, medical exam results for non-excepted interstate drivers have gone from the examiner to FMCSA, which sends them to the state electronically under 49 CFR 383.71(h). DFA's MyDMV portal also says non-excepted drivers submit through the National Registry.
Type 3 drivers can still hand in their card at any revenue office, or send it by email or mail. Whatever your type, check your status on MyDMV after every exam instead of assuming it posted.
If your card is valid only with an FMCSA vision or diabetes variance or a Skill Performance Evaluation certificate, submit those documents with it. Arkansas shows a variance as a V restriction on the license.
How do you renew a hazmat endorsement in Arkansas?
To keep the H endorsement, you need a TSA security threat assessment and a passed hazmat knowledge test. Federal rules require both at every renewal under 49 CFR 383.71(d). DFA tells drivers to allow at least 90 days for the TSA process.
- Buy a CDL-1 test packet at a DFA revenue office. It costs $10.
- Take the hazmat knowledge test at an Arkansas State Police testing site. The ELDT Hazmat Theory course is for first-time applicants, and drivers who have held an H endorsement may be exempt.
- Enroll with TSA for fingerprints and a background check. The fee is $85.25 for new and renewing applicants, and the assessment is valid for five years.
- Go back to the revenue office to have hazmat added to your renewed CDL.
The Arkansas State Police renewal sheet lets you take the test before or after the fingerprinting. If you're moving to Arkansas, the state won't carry over the remaining validity of another state's hazmat endorsement.
How to renew an Arkansas CDL, step by step
Each step closes one of the gaps that usually send a renewal off track.
Step 1: Put every date on one calendar
That means the CDL expiration, the medical card expiration, and the TSA assessment if you haul hazmat. Sign up for DFA's renewal notices by email or text as a backup.
Step 2: Confirm your medical status online
Check MyDMV before you book anything. If the status is wrong, schedule the physical or correct your self-certification first.
Step 3: Start hazmat at least 90 days out
Buy the CDL-1 packet, book the TSA enrollment, and schedule the knowledge test in the same week.
Step 4: Gather your documents
Bring proof of legal presence, your Truckers Against Trafficking certificate for Class A, and two residency documents if you want a REAL ID.
Step 5: Book a revenue office appointment
Appointments are made through MyDMV. Leave enough time before expiration that a missing document doesn't cost you a day on the road.
Step 6: Update the driver file
Carriers should record the new expiration dates in the driver qualification file on the day of renewal. Our DQF checklist shows what the file needs, and our driver qualification file service can keep it current for you.
How Simplex helps keep your drivers' CDLs current
Renewal dates, medical cards, and driver files all need tracking. We can take on that work for you.
Driver files that stay current
Our driver qualification file team keeps each driver's file complete and up to date, ready for an auditor's review.
Qualified drivers, verified
We check driver qualifications, including driving records for suspensions in any state, and keep those records up to date.
A program that keeps checking
Our compliance programs include driver qualification file management, CSA monitoring, and mock audits.
Frequently asked questions
How long can an Arkansas CDL be expired before you have to retest?+
How much does it cost to renew a CDL in Arkansas?+
Can I renew my Arkansas CDL online?+
What happens if my medical card expires in Arkansas?+
Do I need the human trafficking course to renew an Arkansas CDL?+
Where this information comes from
The requirements below come from Arkansas's Office of Driver Services, the Arkansas State Police, TSA, and federal regulation, checked on September 24, 2026.
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1
Arkansas DFA — Do You Have What You Need?
Documents for a CDL renewal, REAL ID for the same fee, and the hazmat packet and TSA requirement.
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2
Arkansas DFA — Recent Changes in the Law
Act 753: the five-year CDL and the $50 fee, effective January 1, 2022.
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3
Arkansas DFA — DSMV FAQs
An expired CDL can be renewed without testing if expired less than one year.
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4
Arkansas DFA — Medical Certification/SPE/Waiver and Exemptions
Not Certified status, the 60-day downgrade, retesting after a year downgraded, and how to submit a card.
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5
Arkansas DFA — Hazardous Materials Endorsement
The TSA threat assessment requirement and the 90-day lead time.
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6
Arkansas State Police — Driver Examination
Act 922's Class A trafficking course requirement and the CDL-1 test packet.
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7
TSA — Hazmat Endorsement
The $85.25 threat assessment fee and its five-year validity.
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8
eCFR — 49 CFR 383.73
The eight-year federal maximum and the Clearinghouse check before any CDL renewal.
Written by
Inely Baez
Chief Operating Officer, Simplex Group
Chief Operating Officer at Simplex Group, with nearly eight years at the company leading operational strategy and execution across compliance, technology, logistics, and performance systems. She is a Certified Public Accountant with a background spanning operations and finance, including leadership roles within Simplex's Freight 4 U division and Velox Transport Solutions. Her work focuses on building scalable, disciplined systems that support long-term performance and growth.
Published · Updated
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