What Is a P Endorsement (Passenger Endorsement)?
A P endorsement is an add-on to a commercial driver's license (CDL) that authorizes carrying passengers in a vehicle designed for 16 or more people including the driver. Getting it requires a knowledge test, a skills test in a passenger vehicle, and — for first-timers — Entry-Level Driver Training (49 CFR 383.93).
Who needs a P endorsement?
Any CDL driver operating a commercial motor vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver needs the passenger (P) endorsement. For a chauffeured operation, that's drivers of larger vans, small buses, and party buses.
How do you get a P endorsement?
- Pass the passenger-specific knowledge (written) test (49 CFR 383.117 covers the required topics).
- Pass a skills test in a vehicle representative of the passenger group you'll drive.
- First-time applicants must first complete FMCSA-approved Entry-Level Driver Training from a registered provider.
Is a P endorsement the same as a chauffeur license?
No — and operators mix these up constantly. The P endorsement is a federal CDL add-on tied to vehicle size. A chauffeur or for-hire license is a local permit to carry passengers for hire. They answer different questions, and many drivers need one but not the other.
Common questions
Who needs a P (passenger) endorsement?
Any driver of a commercial motor vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver needs a passenger (P) endorsement on their CDL — for chauffeured fleets, that's drivers of larger vans, small buses, and party buses.
How do you get a P endorsement?
Pass a passenger-specific knowledge (written) test, then a skills test in a vehicle representative of the passenger group you'll drive. First-time applicants must also complete FMCSA-approved Entry-Level Driver Training before the tests, per 49 CFR Part 380.
Is a P endorsement the same as a chauffeur license?
No. A P endorsement is a federal add-on to a CDL that authorizes carrying 16+ passengers. A chauffeur or for-hire license is a separate local (city or state) permit to carry passengers for money. A driver may need one, both, or neither depending on the vehicle and city.
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General information, not legal advice — verify against current federal (FMCSA/DOT) regulations and your state and local rules, or counsel, before relying on it.