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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…
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updated 11/13/18
hi,
i have a CA CDL class B currently, but my DOT physical is due in two weeks, if I don’t want to recertificate my CDL since I don’t work as a shuttle driver anymore, is DMV going to downgrade my license automatically, or do I have to do anything to downgrade my license?
@Ann
You’ll need to check with CA DMV about this.
Ann,
At last check your CDL B is still good to drive any B or C vehicle, but you must have a valid med card to be totally legal in A or B. You can go in to DMV and request a downgrade if you wish, but I would keep the B just in case you want to use it again.
I take oxycontin and have for past 7 years, . My dr has always certified me, has the law changed? will I not get a renewal due to taking this medication
@Carol
Have your prescribing doctor fill out your medical release form for you and then take it with you to the DOT examination. You should be good to go from there.
Is it true that when u are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes getting a med card requires a homeoglobin test?
@Antonio
No. It does require that you have your primary doctor complete a medical release form for you to take to the DOT examination. If there are questions, then you may need to have the hemaglobin test done by your primary. It is not the place of the DOT examiner to do that test.
My employer just notified me that our job might require a CDL for the truck we drive. The thing is that I don’t think the truck I drive does not require a CDL. Is it possible for the employer to still have a dot medical check done even though it doesn’t require it for the truck I drive? And also does any “controlled substance” that comes up during the test get reported to the employer? And also if any red flags come up during that test will an employer have every right to fire the employee due to the test result?
@Jaykay
If the vehicle you are driving is used for commercial usage, (has the company name posted on it) and it exceeds 10,001 pounds then you have to have a medical card to operate the vehicle in the state. Each state is different as to what type of vehicle has to have a CDL. That usually starts at about 26,001 pounds or air brakes.
As for the use of controlled substances, that will show in a random or pre-employment drug screen, not the DOT medical certificate examination.
I have my cdl permit and my medical certificate, but the certificate says non except intra state, to drive in state of CA only, i recently changed my mind and am considering regional, or OTR, now my questtion is, am i able to change my status to non excemppt interstate, if so how do i do that, go to the dmv or do i need to do another medical exam agaain, pls get bak at me asapp thanks
@Pablo
The medical examiner has to mark the interstate drivers side the medical card.
The guidelines and regulations for an interstate driver are a bit different from an intra-state driver.
Check with your examiner, he may make the change for you, if it has not been too long since the last DOT examination.
In a transportation service job who is responsible to make sure all drivers have a current medical certificate. I believe it is the drivers responsibility but does the employer have any responsibility?
@Marlene
It is ultimately up to the drivers to maintain his medical card. The employer has to maintain their records to confirm that all of their drivers are valid and legal to operate a commercial motor vehicle. It is helpful if the employer can remind the driver that his medical card is about to expire, but it is not the employers responsibility.
I had a CA Class B in 1995, but let the physical expire because I took a job that no longer had the need for a Class B. No I need it again. I have my interstate DOT physical done, taken all writing Tests to get my Class A just because it was pretty much the same price as the Class B. I am enrolled in a commercial trucking school that is sub standard. If I just bail from the school and go to CA DMV and present my physical, can I just get my Class B, or do I still need to do the skills/road test?
@Mark
We answer questions related to the DOT physical. For a question about your CDL you’ll need to contact your state DMV.
Is there a grace period after due date for turning DL-51 to DMV
@George
Your medical card expires at midnight of the date of expiration. According to the FMCSA, there is no grace period.
I have my class a drivers license my medical card expires on jan. 24, 2015. I don’t drive a truck any longer. If I don’t submit a new medical card will my license just revert to a class c? Someone told me I would have NO valid drivers license and I will have to take the regular written test. My current license does not expire until May 2016. I Don’t want to keep my class a any longer any way. Thank you for your help. I have gotten different answers from dmv
@Louie
In most states that I’m aware of, you would lose your driving privileges completely.
Just go down to your local DLD and downgrade your driver license. That keeps you with a valid drivers license and just remove the need for the medical certificate.