Ohio ends non-domiciled CDL program; remaining licenses will be downgraded

Ohio will end its non-domiciled CDL program for drivers in the state. The state will downgrade the remaining non-domiciled CDLs to standard driver's licenses.

Ohio's BMV said it reviewed about 5,000 non-domiciled CDL holders in the state to check eligibility under updated FMCSA requirements. Since May, it has downgraded about 2,000 licenses because the holders did not meet the new federal rules.

The agency will send a letter to each remaining non-domiciled CDL holder. The downgrade will take effect 30 days after the date on that letter. A driver who is downgraded can ask for a hearing to challenge the decision.

The state stopped renewing or issuing new non-domiciled CDLs in September 2025. The federal rule is expected to affect about 200,000 non-domiciled CDL holders.

Under that rule, an Employment Authorization Document by itself is no longer enough to get a non-domiciled CDL. Asylum seekers, asylees, refugees, and DACA recipients are not eligible.

The Public Citizen Litigation Group, representing non-domiciled CDL holders, including DACA recipients, has asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to review the rule. The court heard arguments on September 15, and a three-judge panel is reviewing the case.

Source: Land Line — https://landline.media/state-puts-an-end-to-non-domiciled-cdls/