DL 121 is the Virginia DMV form on which a commercial driver's license (CDL) applicant self-certifies completing Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) after failing the CDL general knowledge or road skills test three times before February 7, 2022. It satisfies the requirement to complete driver training before testing a fourth time. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form itself is published by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
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What is DL 121?
CDL Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) Re-examination Course Completion Self-certification (DL 121) is a Virginia DMV form that lets certain commercial driver's license (CDL) applicants certify, on their own statement, that they completed Entry Level Driver Training before testing a fourth time.
The form's stated purpose is narrow. It may be used by CDL applicants who failed the CDL general knowledge or road skills test three times prior to February 7, 2022, to self-certify completion of ELDT so that they meet the requirement to complete driver training before a fourth attempt.
The form records the applicant's name, birth date and customer number, then the type of school or course completed. The classroom options are (A) a Virginia ELDT provider, (B) a non-Virginia ELDT provider and (C) online training from a Virginia or non-Virginia online provider. The behind-the-wheel options are (Y) a Virginia provider and (Z) a non-Virginia provider. Provider name, school code, completion date and address are entered for each course.
The form carries limits printed on it. It cannot be used to satisfy the requirement that the DMV or an authorized Third Party Tester check the Training Provider Registry for ELDT completion. It does not authorize a student to operate commercial motor vehicles, and it cannot be used to waive the commercial learner's permit holding period to obtain a CDL.
Who needs to file DL 121?
CDL applicants who failed the CDL general knowledge or road skills test three times prior to February 7, 2022 may use DL 121 to self-certify that they completed Entry Level Driver Training before taking the test a fourth time. The certification on the form says you completed the required ELDT as indicated on the form after failing a CDL general knowledge and/or skills examination three times before that date.
Do not rely on DL 121 for other purposes. The form states that it:
- cannot satisfy the requirement that the Virginia DMV or an authorized Third Party Tester check the Training Provider Registry for ELDT completion;
- does not authorize a student to operate commercial motor vehicles;
- cannot be used to waive the commercial learner's permit holding period to obtain a CDL.
The form is signed by the student. It prints no provision for a representative to sign on the applicant's behalf.
When to file DL 121
The form is tied to a specific moment: it is used to meet the training requirement before you test a fourth time on the CDL general knowledge or road skills test. It applies only if the three failed attempts happened before February 7, 2022. The form prints no separate due date or validity period, so complete it once your ELDT classroom and behind-the-wheel courses are finished and you have the provider names, school codes and completion dates in hand. The completion dates are entered in mm/dd/yyyy format, and the signature date uses the same format.
How to fill out DL 121
Enter your legal name
Under STUDENT INFORMATION, print your full legal name in the order the form asks: last, first, middle and suffix.
Add birth date and customer number
Enter your birth date and your DMV customer number in the fields beside the name.
Select the classroom course type
Under ELDT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION COURSE, choose the option that matches your training: (A) a Virginia ELDT provider, (B) a non-Virginia ELDT provider, or (C) online training from a Virginia or non-Virginia online provider.
Select the behind-the-wheel course type
Under ELDT BEHIND-THE-WHEEL INSTRUCTION, choose (Y) for a Virginia ELDT provider or (Z) for a non-Virginia ELDT provider.
Complete the classroom course details
In the ELDT CLASSROOM COURSE section, enter the provider name, school code (the form shows the pattern 000-0000), the date completed as mm/dd/yyyy, and the provider's street address, city, state and ZIP code.
Complete the behind-the-wheel details
In the ELDT BEHIND-THE-WHEEL COURSE section, enter the same items for that provider: name, school code, date completed in mm/dd/yyyy, street address, city, state and ZIP code.
Read the certification statement
The CERTIFICATION states that the information is true, that you completed the ELDT after failing a CDL general knowledge and/or skills examination three times before February 7, 2022, and that you make it under penalty of perjury.
Print your name, sign and date
Enter your printed STUDENT NAME, your STUDENT SIGNATURE and the DATE in mm/dd/yyyy format.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every entry against your training records, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver it to the DMV as described under How to submit.
How to submit DL 121
DL 121 is a certification made to the Virginia DMV: the certification statement refers to documents you have presented to DMV. The form prints no mailing address, portal or appointment rule of its own, so confirm how and where the DMV wants it delivered on the DMV forms page at https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/forms or with the DMV before you send it. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the DMV's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using DL 121 when the three failed CDL tests did not all happen before February 7, 2022; the form is limited to that group.
- Expecting the form to replace the Training Provider Registry check; it cannot satisfy the requirement that the DMV or a Third Party Tester check the registry.
- Treating the form as permission to drive a commercial motor vehicle; it does not authorize a student to operate one.
- Relying on the form to waive the commercial learner's permit holding period for a CDL; it cannot be used for that.
- Entering completion dates in a format other than mm/dd/yyyy.
- Leaving out the school code or provider address for the classroom or behind-the-wheel course you completed.
- Signing without confirming that every entry is true: the certification is made under penalty of perjury, and a knowingly false statement is a criminal violation.
- Submitting the form unsigned or without the student's printed name and date in the certification block.
Frequently asked questions
What is DL 121?
DL 121 is the Virginia DMV's CDL Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) Re-examination Course Completion Self-certification. A CDL applicant who failed the general knowledge or road skills test three times before February 7, 2022 uses it to self-certify ELDT completion before testing a fourth time.
Who can use the DL 121 self-certification?
CDL applicants who failed the CDL general knowledge or road skills test three times prior to February 7, 2022. The form states that this is its purpose, so it is not a general training certificate for every CDL applicant.
Does DL 121 replace the Training Provider Registry check?
No. The form states that it cannot be used to satisfy the requirement that the DMV or an authorized Third Party Tester check the Training Provider Registry for ELDT completion. It only serves as the applicant's self-certification.
Does DL 121 let me drive a commercial vehicle?
No. The form says it does not authorize a student to operate commercial motor vehicles, and it cannot be used to waive the commercial learner's permit holding period needed to obtain a CDL.
What information do I need to complete DL 121?
Your full legal name, birth date and customer number, plus for each course you completed the provider name, school code, completion date in mm/dd/yyyy, and provider address. You also choose the course type: A, B or C for classroom, Y or Z for behind-the-wheel.
What happens if I put false information on DL 121?
The certification is made under penalty of perjury, and the form states that knowingly making a false statement on it is a criminal violation. You also affirm that any documents you presented to the DMV are genuine.
Can I fill out DL 121 online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not the Virginia DMV, and it does not file or send the form; you deliver it through the DMV's channels.
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