How to get a car hauling job: requirements, training, and the first seat.

What the law requires

• Age 21 to drive a commercial vehicle across state lines.
• Class A CDL for a semi with a car carrier trailer, and since February 2022, entry-level driver training from a registered provider before the Class A skills test.
• DOT medical certificate, renewed at least every 24 months.
• English good enough to read signs, talk to officers and fill in reports; since June 2025 drivers who fail a roadside English check are put out of service.

What car hauling carriers ask for

Published requirements from car hauling carriers' careers pages, checked on 6 October 2026:

• Experienced only: a Class A, at least a year of CDL-A driving and 12 months of recent stinger car hauling.
• No car hauling experience needed: 21 or older, Class A, one year of verifiable tractor-trailer experience, no automatic-transmission restriction, a good driving record and able to lift up to 80 lb, with paid auto hauler training.
• New drivers welcome: Class A with a year of experience or a truck-school diploma, a high school diploma or GED, able to drive a manual, and no license suspension over 30 days in the last 36 months, with hands-on loading training and a mentor.

A year on a regular trailer is the usual way in. The car hauling part is taught.

Training programs

Carriers that hire drivers without car hauling experience train them on the dock and on the road. One car hauling carrier's program for service members leaving the military runs 121 to 150 days: CDL-A training in weeks 1 to 6, classroom in week 7, dock training in weeks 8 to 11 and one-on-one driving with a trainer in weeks 12 to 24. Ask any carrier how long its training lasts, whether it is paid, and what you owe if you leave early.

Without a CDL

A pickup with a car trailer can stay under the CDL threshold if the combination is rated and weighs under 26,001 lb or the trailer is rated 10,000 lb or less. Non-CDL hotshot car hauling is a real path, especially as an owner-operator, though the driver still needs a DOT medical card and, usually, logs on an ELD. Check your own setup with the CDL calculator and read hotshot car hauling.

How the pay works

Car hauling carriers usually pay a percentage of the load; two car hauling carriers publish 25%. Salary sites put company car hauler drivers at about $55,600 to $68,500 a year on average. The full picture, per mile, per car and per year: how much do car haulers make.

Getting hired

• Clean record first. Every carrier above checks your driving record; a recent suspension closes doors for years.
• Get the year in. If you are new to driving, a year of tractor-trailer experience opens most car hauling doors.
• Learn the job before the interview: inspections, damage codes and securement. The BOL and damage codes and securement rules.
• Apply where the carriers are hiring in your lanes. On loadez driver jobs, one application is read by car hauling carriers hiring where you want to drive.

Common questions

Can you get a car hauling job with no experience?

Yes, with a CDL. Some car hauling carriers hire drivers without car hauling experience and pay for auto hauler training, usually asking for 21 or older, a Class A and a year of tractor-trailer experience; one also accepts a truck-school diploma instead of the year. Others ask for 12 months of recent stinger car hauling.

Can you haul cars without a CDL?

Yes, with a pickup and a car trailer whose combined rating and actual weight stay under 26,001 lb, or with a trailer rated 10,000 lb or less. Hauling for hire across state lines still needs a USDOT number, operating authority or a carrier to drive for, a DOT medical card and usually logs on an ELD.

How old do you have to be to be a car hauler?

At least 21 to drive a commercial vehicle across state lines under 49 CFR 391.11, which covers almost all car hauling. Carriers that train new car haulers also ask for 21 or older.