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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! —
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updated 11/13/18
Hi everyone
I just updated my medical card but question is I am leaving Cali tonight, had no time to go to DMV, can i still go to in another state just to update my CA CDL medical card?
@Ibra
California wants a fresh copy of your medical certificate before midnight of the one that is on file with the CA DMV. If they do not have one in the system by midnight of the expiration date, then your drivers license is suspended until they do have a valid medical certificate. So make sure they get a copy asap.
Hi, i would like to ask on advice concerning my medical card about to expire next month on the first, the problem is i know i cannot pass it because i will not be able to provide my sleep apnea compliance, i am new to the sleep apnea therapy so my doctor said she can only be able to give me compliance report after 30 days and so my next appointment is in 5 weeks from today, and my medical. Will expire in about one week and half, also i am not currently driving commercial vehicles do to quitting my job to fix this sleep apnea and get under therapy sadly now my medical is gonna expire and unable to provide the compliance report unti it has expired alreadt, any advice??? Some sort of extension until i get the results? Or restrictions until report is turned in, thank you guys, love your website, it is very helpful when in doubts of things. Hope to hear from you soon.
@Pablo
Best thing is to contact your local drivers license department and let them know your situation. They have their own process to put this on hold. Each state treats this process differently / their own way. Only they can tell you how to do this. Should not be a problem.
We periodically see medical exam certificates with the word “intrastate” written in the space for National Registry Number. Why is this happening? Is this permissible? If so, under what specific circumstances?
My driver Larry S (edited by admin) is being told the DMV will not accept his medical card because it’s not the original and it needs to be in original ink. We have NEVER had this problem before. It says nothing about having to be the original. This is becoming a huge problem for him. WHen and why has this changed?
@Jacie
It has not changed, just ask for a supervisor.
California, at one time, thought that they had to have the originals, but if you go up the authority chain you’ll find out that that is not the case. A copy will do, period, so ask for a supervisor if they give you a hard time.
My company is assisting a City employee in California who was denied his Class B CDL renewal due to being an insulin dependent diabetic. He has successfully managed diabetes for 20 years and recently became insulin dependent in 2013. He said that he applied for a federal exemption but was told he was not qualified for an exemption because he only works and drives in the state of California. Is it true that there is an absolute ban in California for insulin dependent drivers to get a CDL exemption even if they have been successfully managing their condition for years, or is the employee misinformed?
@Madeline
The driver falls under the state of California’s variances and not under federal DOT.
You only need to confirm that California will issue a insulin waiver and the the driver drives intra-state only. California DLD should be able to help you the best.
If my medical card expired 9 17 16. How long before Dev suspend my cdl? Is their a grace period in Georgia
@Jimmy
No.
I have a class c license but i drive a bobtail with hazmat endorsement but my dot exp on sat 9/17/16 so what if i go to doctors on that day it expires but i take back the dot exam papers to dmv on monday would i be ok still or would i get denied by dmv???
@Daniel
You should be fine as long as you walk it into DMV.
While applying to renew my school bus certificate, a California Highway Patrol officer demanded, and received, two complete copies of my DL-51 and DL 546A before systematically failing me. I was prepared to only provide my medical certificate. My understanding was if I didn’t provide all the information requested I would not be renewed.