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California CDL Requirements
California law requires all CDL drivers to meet Federal Motor Carrier qualification requirements under 49 CFR part 391 and have a valid DOT medical card.
- Non-Excepted Interstate
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. - Non-Excepted Intrastate
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
California does not have any State variances or exemptions from the federal physical standards. A commercial driver who does not pass the medical examination may qualify for a California intrastate restricted medical certificate (DL 51B). These drivers must submit a MER to DMV showing they did not pass the medical examination in order to be considered for an intrastate restricted medical certificate.
- Excepted
California does not issue a commercial driver license that is “Excepted” from driver qualification requirements.
Submit your Medical Certificate to California DMV
Drivers renewing their medical certificate may mail a copy of their forms MCSA-5875 and MCSA-5876.
Mail the completed MER and MEC to the address below at least four weeks prior to the expiration of your previous medical or your privilege to drive commercial motor vehicles could become invalid.
When submitting the MER, you are only required to submit pages 1-4. Page 5 of the MER addresses meeting medical standards with a State variance. A State variance would exempt a driver from the federal physical standards. California does not have any State variances or exemptions from the federal physical standards.
Mail to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
CDL Unit, G204
P.O. Box 944278
Sacramento, CA 94244-2780
Other Contact Information:
California Department of Motor Vehicles website: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/
California DMV Commercial Driver License information: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/commercial/commercial
CDL Helpdesk: 916-657-5771 or 916-657-5772
Other Info (California Only):
If you are required to have a commercial driver license as part of your job, your employer shall pay the cost of the examination unless it was taken before you applied for the job (Labor Code §231).
Special Information Updates Pertaining To ALL STATES
June 23, 2025: FMCSA electronic reporting requirements for DOT Medical Certificates will be fully enforced.
See detailed information at FMCSA Medical Examiner Certificate Reporting Requirements for CDL Drivers
CDL Drivers
The good news:
• You no longer have to go through the hassles of updating your medical card with your SDLA.
• You no longer have to carry your medical card with you.
Is there ‘not so good’ news?
Safeguard your CDL! How does the new DOT Medical Certificate reporting process affect your CDL?
Non-CDL Drivers
The electronic reporting requirements do not affect non-CDL drivers.
• The medical examiner must give you a physical MEC Form MCSA-5876.
• You should keep your medical certificate available at all times whilst driving a CMV.
• You will still need to provide a copy of the MEC to the companies you work for.
Your Feedback Is Welcome
Dealing with Federal DOT Regulations across the board is tough enough!
But when it comes to State Regulations — There are 50 different sets of rules. Someone could move the goal posts at any time…
To help us all avoid the black eye experience — AARGH! —
Please leave your feedback about your experience in this State.
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NOTE: This website is not affiliated with, or endorsed by FMCSA or any government or state agency.
updated 11/13/18
Hi im in California, I applied for a new job and they sent me to have a drug test, and new medical certification. when i did i selected the non exempted intrastate box because im only going to drive within the state. After employer got all background and drug results they said everything is fine but i need to change my status from non exempted intrastate to non exempted interstate and so i did. apparently this is not done on a computer so they have to send it to sacramento to process it, does anyone know how long will it take for the dmv to change that status? i sent it today.
@Luis
It’s not just a matter of changing the status on your self-certification form for DMV.
What’s most important is that your medical card will also need to reflect “interstate“, and that change needs to be made on your medical certification by the medical examiner. As long as your medical card is correct, and you have sent the new self-certification documentation and a copy of your medical card to DMV, you will be okay, even if it takes DMV a while to get the information into their system.
Just turned 63 today (12-18). My Medical Card expires in Jan ’15. With all the talk of Sleep Apnea going around, I was apprehensive about going to the physical exam today. As I had feared, the doctor “suspected” me of having sleep apnea, and recommended a sleep-test. She did allow a 90-day extension of my CDL Med Card, but now I am engaged in finding a second (or third, fourth, or fifth opinion, if necessary) to remove this diagnosis. My question is, if I am successful at getting a DOT physical (at a certified MD) that has no reference to sleep apnea, can I use the new opinion to take to my DMV to change the status of my CDL Med Card from 90 days to a full 2 years?
@Milton
As long as that is the only issue.
CME’s are looking at a very large picture and there may be other issues that have triggered the sleep study request.
You are allowed to have as many second opinions as you like, just don’t be doctor shopping for someone to embellish the results.
With the little information you have given, then yes, you can have your medical card extended. By what period will depend on the remainder of the DOT physical findings.
Hello. I want to thank you for your response to my inquiry on your website last December. I was not a “happy camper” when the first physician examined me (on 12-18-14) and concluded that due to my neck size, BMI, and (as she termed it) my “narrow airway,” that I was a prime candidate for OSA. Needless to say, that was when I made my inquiry on your website, and decided to get a second opinion. I scheduled an appointment with the local VA clinic here (they have one certified CDL examiner) and that physical was just last Friday, the 23rd. Her examination was thorough and complete, and she even ran an EKG on me due to irregular beats of my heart. I am happy to report that I passed the physical examination with no major problems. When I told her that I was here to perhaps get “some slack” regarding sleep apnea from the previous M/E, she informed me that neck size and BMI are only two of about 8 different criteria. That said, she did certify me for one (1) year, and advised to drop some weight. At the end of the year, I will be re-evaluated, but in her notes, she did say that I was “at low risk” to develop OSA. So, all things considered, the second opinion was a good move in that it got me a 1-year extension versus 90-days. Thank you again for your response.
My medical card expired last year…can I just renew it and submit it to the dmv?!
@Just wondering
If you have a CDL, it may have been downgraded by now. You’ll need to check your status with CA DMV.
can I have a nurse practitioner do the physical for the health card? thank you
@Dave
For a DOT medical card, the physical exam must be done by an examiner who is certified with FMCSA/DOT and registered on the national registry. Ask the nurse practitioner for their National Registry # to be sure.
For me to drive a dump truck only when they me to drive to job site to pick up or deliver equipment and my medical card is not active due to sleep apnea and taking insulin can I still drive even though its local and on call…..
@Tony
Oh you can drive, just don’t be surprised when they write you a ticket or take your drivers license away from you.
OR, get a valid intra-state only medical card and avoid all the potential hassle.
I got my dot medical certificate in march 2014 but I never submitted the DL 51 to the DMV. Is it too late to submit it to the DMV or do I need to pay for another exam? Also will I need to get another exam if I am applying for a class b license or will that certificate transfer over? Please let me know. Thank you for help.
@Jamie
You really need to check with your state DMV, each state is different and it would be tough to keep all the state information on top of the federal regs.
I have a California CDL, how long is the hazmat good for ?
Also my CDL expires in 2017, will I have to take the CDL written again? I have all my endorsements.
@Gabriel
Thanks for visiting our website. Our focus on this website is related to DOT medical card information that affects your CDL.
DOTPhysicalDOCTORS is not affiliated with any federal or state agency.
You’ll need to contact your state driver’s license department for questions related to your actual driver’s license.
I have been off work since 1-1-2014 (work related) is my medical card still valid?
@Brett
Any injury or illness that takes you away from behind the wheel requires that you have a new DOT medical examination and medical card.
If a California driver lets his medical card expire because he is retiring can he just continue to drive a car or motorcycle if he has those indorse meant
@ Jerry
Californication operates on their own set of rules. So far as I know, you would need to go down to the DLD and downgrade your drivers license. If your medical expire, they willkill the whole thing until you go and fix it. Check with CAL. DLD and see what they say.