Click to find DOT physical locations in CALIFORNIA
Click to find DOT physical locations in OTHER STATES
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
MEDICAL EXAMINERS MUST CONTINUE TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES TO ALL DRIVERS
The FMCSA has requested that all medical examiners continue providing drivers with a paper copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate – Form MCSA-5876, so that Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders can provide a copy to the State licensing agency, and the non-CDL drivers can provide the documentation to their employers and Federal and State enforcement officials.
The Agency is currently completing efforts to put into place an electronic system to enable medical examiners to transmit the medical certificate information from the National Registry system to the State licensing agencies.
Until that system is completed, which compliance date according FMCSA is June 23, 2025, medical examiners must continue to issue paper copies of the medical certificates to drivers who pass the medical exam.
ALL DRIVERS MUST CONTINUE TO CARRY A PAPER COPY OF THEIR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
Commercial Drivers – You still need to carry a paper copy of your medical card, until FMCSA announces that this is no longer necessary.
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.
Go to the Questions and Comments box below and post your feedback.
! To save us all from zombie spammers, your feedback will not appear on this page until it has been approved. Visit this page again soon to see your comment, and others too.
P.S. Your email address will not be published.
NOTE: This website is not affiliated with, or endorsed by FMCSA or any government or state agency.
updated 11/13/18
I’m filling out the DL-51 for my ambulance drivers certificate and I’m a little confused. Do I mark non expected interstate or non expected intrastate?
@Russ
If your present medical card allows you to travel interstate, then do the interstate box. If your medical card is limited to intra-state only, then the intra-state box would be correct.
See this article for more information on self-certification categories.
I have class A drivers license for California I am not currently driving a Comercial vehicle do I still need a medical certificate or will my license be suspended
@John
Yes, you need a current medical certificate on file with CA DLD.
I just got my new California cdl. I was shocked to see I no longer have air brakes or a passenger endorsement and cannot comprehend how I was never informed of any changes. What could have happened!? I didn’t know of this!
Of course I have set a dmv appointment to ask and Change it. Has this happened to anyone else out there when they examine their new license?
Question for you as a medical examiner coming from WV/PA/OH where we used the form that is on the FMCSA site.
California DMV has their own form to use. Are we to use that form ONLY if it is INTRAstate, or do we NOT use the FMCSA medical form that we used in Ohio and use ONLY the Calif one for both INTRA and INTERstate CDLs?
Thanks for clarifying!
@ Katie
All depends on where your drivers license was issued. If you have a california drivers license, then you must use the DL-51 california examination papers. All others are using the standard FMCSA exam forms and that is for both interstate and intra-state drivers.
Its my first time applying for a class B DL, and first time dealing with the medical examination. Just want to know if I’m paying for it or if my insurance will.
Thanks.
@James
Insurance does not pay for a DOT medical examination.
Do you happen to know if medical examiners in California submit the physical exam form to the DMV, or is it solely up to the driver to do so??
@Dan
It is the driver’s responsibility to submit the form to the DMV.
How does an ambulance driver prove their medical has been updated with DMV? Since MDs are not yet able to submit to the state, is DMV not able to provide some receipt to the employee that their medical questionnaire has been received and accepted? This would be in California.
I just recently moved from Texas to California. I have a Class A CDL with Hazmat and Tanker Endorsements. I’m not going to have a job that requires me to have a CDL but I want to keep it anyway just in case something comes up. So does that mean I still need to get a dot medical card even when not driving a CMV? I couldn’t find any concrete answers from California’s laws. And I already have an up to date medical card from Texas as well.
@Kevin
California requires all CDL holders to have a valid medical card.
Best to visit your local California DMV and make sure you have all your ducks in a row. CA regulations are strict.
It is solely your responsibility to take the medical form to the DMV.