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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
I am driving intrastate with a commercial vehicle in California only but do not need a CDL. Do I need to have a medical card?
@Darian
Yes, you need a medical card when you drive a vehicle for commerce, no matter what class drivers license you have.
So, in California and with my personal little SUV, in order for me to deliver restaurant food through Uber-eats, or deliver pizzas, I would need a med card? (I was disqualified due to migraines w/ vision deficits.)
How about working as a courier in a company car (<10,000lbs)? Am I confused about the definition of commerce? See below from the J.J. Keller web site:
"Who must have a medical exam and certificate (DOT medical card)?
The medical exam is often thought to go hand-in-hand with the CDL. Only those who need CDLs are subject to the medical exam requirements, right? Wrong! For interstate drivers, this is definitely not the case. For intrastate (in-state only) drivers, it may or may not be the case.
Those operating the following vehicles in interstate commerce need to have a DOT medical exam:
Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), or gross combination weight (GCW) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 10,001 pounds or more; or
Vehicles designed to transport more than 15 people, or more than 8 people when there is direct compensation involved; or
Vehicles transporting hazardous materials that require the vehicle to be placarded."
I thought it was saying that class "C," <10,001lbs, <8 passengers, and no HazMat does NOT need a med card?!!?
I also asked at the DMV and the CHP, and they thought I would be legal driving a "C" for an employer–but I certainly don' want to open myself to liability.
Thanks.
@ M.C.
Commercial, in most states is defined as any vehicle that is used in the production of income for someone. You only need to explain to the examiner that you will be driving a class c license vehicle and he/she should know the states variances that you would qualify under. You should not be denied a medical certification, if everything else is with in normal limits.
Does california dot phyisica require both corrected and uncorrected eye sight?
@Patrick
Yes.
My DOT physical is due July 17. It is now April 29. Is it too early for me to go and have my physical now, since DOT wants the results and report “not later than four weeks before the expiration date”? How early can I have the physical performed before my DOT physical due date?
@Eddie
Yes, you can have a new physical now and update CA DLD with the results. They are asking for at least 4 weeks notice, not less, to give them time to update their system.
What happens if you waited till it expired. Where do I take my renewal medical forms to the DMV or can I still mail them in.
@Michael
As soon as your medical card expires CA may suspend your drivers license. You best take your new medical card information into DMV as soon as possible.
If my medical card expired 2015, and I recently want to drive again, I go down and take a medical exam and take it to Dmv. Will they reinstate my CDL????
@mike
That’s up to your local drivers license department, so check with them
I have a commercial class A, but my medical card has expired over a month and a half ago. I still want to keep it updated just in case to have something to fall back on should this office job not work out for me. Will I need to retake a whole new driving test? or can I just update my medical. Is there a grace period as to how long we have until we need to go to a regular Class C license?
@AF
Only your local drivers license department can answer these questions. Each state treats this process differently.
Most likely CA has already downgraded your CDL. Best to check with them asap to see what you need to do for your CDL.
Mine expired a week ago but I took a new physical on the same day. The problem was I took it in illinoise and my cdl is California. I’m 3 days from getting home will I be shut down if I get inspected?
@ David L
If you are a California cdl holder, your cdl was suspended at mid-night of the expiration date on your last medical card. Get a copy to Calif. DLD ASAP.
Why is being 21 years old a qualification for being issued a DOT?
@Daniel
It’s not. You can get DOT medical certification at 18 years old for commercial driving.
I’m in the state of CA. I work for a local company in my city as a truck driver and only haul gravel, asphalt or sand to the local areas in my city. I wanted to know if the employer had to reimburse you every time you have to get a physical for DOT? I have been working with them for 10 years and they have never once reimbursed me for getting my truck driving physical for DOT.
@Veronica
Stated in California DMV information — “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 performed before you applied for the job (Labor Code §231).”
Check this Labor Code with your employer.
I’ve been told that California examiners no longer issue medical exam certificates to drivers. Instead drivers are only given and expected to keep the longform physical. Is this accurate?
@L
Not to our knowledge. Every CME passes out a new medical certificate. Most states, California included, are trying to put all medical certification information online with the drivers license. So you need to take your long form and your medical certificate to the drivers license department to be placed on your license. The new medical certificate are a 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper, no more small cards. But federal law does not want you to “have to” carry your long form. It does need to be available, so keep it safe and in a file at home. Take a picture of your medical card when you get it and leave it on your phone. That will suffice in most cases. And there are people that want to feel important, so you might keep a copy of your medical certificate only in the truck with you, but not the whole long form.
My medical card just found out was expired January 27 2017 but the DMV never send me a reminder letter or maybe the letter lost in mail I will go doctor on Monday January 30th to renew my medical card us we’ll go to dmv same day will the DMV accept my doctor 051 medical examination report.
@Rommel
The DL51 form is no longer being used for DOTs. When you go for your DOT physical exam, the medical examiner will have the correct forms.
Once you have your new Medical Examiners Certificate you should take it to DMV as soon as possible to get it updated on your drivers license record.