“Is there any grace period in place for DOT Medical Cards during the COVID-19 pandemic?”
Short answer: NO! not any longer.
LATEST UPDATE: October 21, 2022
FMCSA issued a series of Federal Emergency Declarations starting March 24, 2020.
The final update was issued on August 31, 2022 and expired after October 15, 2022.
No further updates have been issued by FMCSA and the FMCSA official website states for Federal Emergency Declarations
“There are no active Emergency Declarations at this time.”
Here is a history of FMCSA COVID-19 Federal Emergency Declarations.
FMCSA Update: August 31, 2022 Extension to October 15, 2022
Originally posted: March 24, 2020
FMCSA has issued both a Notice and a Waiver. Both are effective to June 30, 2020; September 30, 2020; October 31, December 31, 2020, February 28, 2021, May 31, 2021, August 31, 2021, November 30, 2021, May 31, 2022, August 31, 2022, October 15, 2022.
POST UPDATE: August 31, 2022
This notice continues the relief granted in Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002, as modified on June 15, 2020, August 15, 2020, December 1, 2020, August 31, 2021, and June 1, 2022, through October 15, 2022, subject to the restrictions and conditions set forth herein unless modified or terminated sooner. This extension of the modified Emergency Declaration addresses national emergency conditions that create a need for immediate transportation of essential supplies and provides necessary relief from the FMCSRs for motor carriers and drivers.
See FMCSA official website for more information.
POST UPDATE: May 27, 2022
FMCSA is continuing the exemption and associated regulatory relief in accordance with 49 CFR § 390.25, because the presidentially declared emergency remains in place, persistent issues arising out of COVID-19 continue to affect the U.S. including impacts on supply chains, and nationwide reporting continues to demonstrate substantial ongoing use of the regulatory relief under Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002. Therefore, a continued exemption is needed to support direct emergency assistance for some supply chains. This notice continues the relief granted in Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002, as modified on June 15, 2020, August 15, 2020, December 1, 2020, August 31, 2021, and May 13, 2022, through August 31, 2022, as amended, and subject to the restrictions and conditions set forth herein unless modified or terminated sooner. This extension and amendment of the modified Emergency Declaration addresses national emergency conditions that create a need for immediate transportation of essential supplies and provides necessary relief from the FMCSRs for motor carriers and drivers.
See FMCSA official website for more information.
POST UPDATE: February 27, 2022
Grace period for this waiver has been extended: In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.25, this extension of the modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 is effective at 12:00 A.M. (ET), March 1, 2022 and shall remain in effect until 11:59 P.M. (ET), May 31, 2022, unless modified or terminated sooner by FMCSA.
See FMCSA official website for more information.
4. Waives until May 31, 2022, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) issued for a period of 90 days or longer and expired on or after December 1, 2021.
POST UPDATE: November 29, 2021
Grace period for this waiver has been extended: This waiver is effective December 1, 2021 and expires on February 28, 2022, upon the revocation of the Declaration of National Emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) concerning the COVID-19 public health emergency, or upon early termination by FMCSA, whichever is soonest.
See FMCSA official website for more information.
4. Waives until February 28, 2022, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) issued for a period of 90 days or longer and expired on or after September 1, 2021.
POST UPDATE: September 1, 2021
Grace period for this waiver has been extended: This waiver is effective September 1, 2021 and expires on November 30, 2021, upon the revocation of the Declaration of National Emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) concerning the COVID-19 public health emergency, or upon early termination by FMCSA, whichever is soonest.
See FMCSA official website for more information.
4. Waives until November 30, 2021, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) issued for a period of 90 days or longer and expired on or after June 1, 2021.
POST UPDATE: May 26, 2021
Grace period for this waiver has been extended: This waiver is effective June 1, 2021 and expires on August 31, 2021 or upon the revocation of the Declaration of National Emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) concerning the COVID-19 public health emergency, whichever is sooner.
See FMCSA official website for more information.
4. Waives until August 31, 2021, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) issued for a period of 90 days or longer and expired on or after March 1, 2021.
POST UPDATE: February 25, 2021
Grace period for this waiver has been extended: This waiver is effective March 1, 2021 and expires on May 31, 2021 or upon the revocation of the Declaration of National Emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) concerning the COVID-19 public health emergency, whichever is sooner.
See FMCSA official website for more information.
4. Waives until May 31, 2021, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) issued for a period of 90 days or longer and expired on or after December 1, 2020.
POST UPDATE: January 01, 2021
Grace period for this waiver has been extended: This waiver is effective January 1, 2021 and expires on February 28, 2021 or upon the revocation of the President’s Declaration of National Emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) concerning the COVID-19 public health emergency, whichever is sooner.
See FMCSA official website for more information.
4. Waives until February 28, 2021, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided that they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) that was issued for a period of 90 days or longer and that expired on or after September 1, 2020.
POST UPDATE: September 22, 2020
Grace period for this waiver has been extended to October 31 OR December 31, 2020, depending on expiration date of current medical card.
- For CDL holders, CLP holders, and non- CDL drivers whose medical certification was valid on February 29, 2020 and expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 is waived until October 31, 2020.
- For CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers whose medical certification expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 is waived until December 31, 2020.
Link to the September 18, 2020 FMCSA Notice.
POST UPDATE: June 15, 2020
Grace period for this waiver has been extended to September 30, 2020.
“This Notice of Enforcement Policy, effective until September 30, 2020, extends a previous notice that was effective from March 24, 2020 until June 30, 2020. It provides needed relief from specified FMCSRs for CLP holders, CDL holders, and non-CDL drivers and motor carriers using those drivers. This Notice of Enforcement Policy applies to all CLP holders, CDL holders, and non-CDL drivers whose licenses were issued for less than the maximum period established by 49 CFR 383.25 and 383.73 and was valid on February 29, 2020 and expired on or after March 1, 2020.”
Link to the June 15, 2020 FMCSA Notice.
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March 24,2020 U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued this NOTICE
Notice Of Enforcement Policy Regarding Expiring Driver’s Licenses and Medical Examiner’s Certificates During COVID-19 National Emergency
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March 24,2020 U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued this WAIVER
Waiver in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency –
For States, CDL Holders, CLP Holders, and Interstate Drivers Operating Commercial Motor Vehicles
~~~
Please read both the Notice and the Waiver to fully understand if you qualify under the Terms, Conditions, and Restrictions.
We summarize the pertinent points regarding expired or expiring medical cards:
- The waiver applies to interstate and intrastate CDL holders and to interstate non-CDL drivers operating commercial motor vehicles.
- The waiver applies to drivers who have a medical examination and certification, provided that they have proof of a valid medical certification that was issued for a period of 90 days or longer and that expired on or after March 1, 2020.
- Drivers claiming relief under the waiver from the requirement for a valid medical certificate must have proof of a valid medical certificate that expired on or after March 1, 2020, and carry a paper copy of their expired medical certificates. Drivers who cannot produce evidence of a prior medical certification that expired on or after March 1, 2020, are not covered under the waiver.
- The waiver does not apply to medical examiner’s certificates originally issued for less than 90 days.
- Drivers who, since their last medical certificate was issued, have been diagnosed with a medical condition that would disqualify the driver from operating in interstate commerce, or who, since their last medical certificate was issued, have developed a condition that requires an exemption or Skill Performance Evaluation from FMCSA are not covered under the waiver.
In addition, to address circumstances that many State Driver Licensing Agencies are closed, the Waiver:
- Waives the requirement under 49 CFR 383.73(o)(2) that the State Driver Licensing Agency change the CDL or CLP holder’s medical certification status to “not certified” upon the expiration of the medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance, provided that the CDL or CLP holders have proof of a valid medical certification that expired on or after March 1, 2020.
- Waives the requirements under 49 CFR 383.73(o)(4) that the State Driver Licensing Agency initiate a CDL or CLP downgrade upon the expiration of the medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance, provided that the CDL or CLP holders have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after March 1, 2020.
So YES there is relief in the form of a grace period during the COVID-19 National Emergency for you to renew your Medical Examiner’s Certificate.
Take advantage of any downtime you have and don’t wait and get caught by the Waiver expiration. Get your new medical card as soon as possible!
During the #coronavirus emergency period many of our medical examiners are still open on a full-time schedule to serve you. Some are seeing drivers on an appointment only basis. We recommend calling first to ensure you’ll be promptly and personally taken care of.
Check out our DOTPhysicalDoctors nationwide for a driver friendly™ DOT physical exam.
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The entire staff,very professional, respect, eager to help and awesome place to visit thank you Joy for the extended help. I will continue to use this facility. And also recommend anyone else who need assistance in a DOT physical. 💯💥
@ DeTicia T
Would love to know which facility you used.
If my medical card expires on feb 18,2021 Is there an extention?
@ Michael p D
We are not presently aware of any new extensions at the moment. To be safe, get a new medical card as soon as possible and get it into your states data base.
Im in Florida and im in the hospital till dec 23rd my CDL medical card expires nov 21 2020
i have no way of leaving the hospital becouse im on IV antibotics do i have a grace period till dec 31 or will my cdl me suspended
@ andre m
Most states have some level of forgiveness for individuals who are in your same situation. Check with your local drivers license department and explain your situation. They should guide you from there.
The expiration date on your medical card has been automatically extended until December 31, 2020 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration due to the Covid 19 emergency for both interstate and intrastate license holders. However, at the DMV we’re dealing with computers and it might not get the message and may mistakenly suspend your license. When your well enough, go to a Driver Friendly examiner, and after you pass your exam bring it to the DMV and explain your situation. You should not have to pay the $70, if you ask me.
Im in the same position.. Did u find out? Thats the same question i have!! Im in California and my med exam is due next month..
I have CDL that expires in December and medical card went out 2016 although I haven’t operated a commercial vehicle since May 2016 do I still need a new medical card to keep my CDL although I will not be driving a commercial vehicle I just would like to keep my CDL worked hard for them.
@ Sharon
Most states require a valid medical card to maintain a cdl. Your cdl is state issued and they operate on different guidelines in each state. Best to check with your local drivers license department for the your answer.
My Medical card expired and I got a notice from Illinois SOS to surrender my License, I don’t need my CDL any more , I don’t want to mail it back until I get a New license, CDL expires 7-6-2022, What should I do??
@ Stephen G
Most states require a valid medical card to maintain a cdl. If you are going to down grade at this time you will need to go get a new drivers license.
I got suspended for dwi didn’t renew health card till after Harvey and covid 19 suspended 2016 just now paying fines and getting cleared once they get my fax with knew health card will they keep my cdl since I never kept card up to date during suspension.
@ Wesley E R
Your cdl/drivers license is state issued, so check with your local DLD for the best answer.
In Georgia will it also be a grace period for expired CDL’s if I have to get an appointment and my appointment is a few days after expiration date?
@ Curtis
Since your cdl is state issued, you will need to check with your local drivers license department for further information on this issue.
I have a driver in Florida that drives a bus with passengers. He has a CDL passenger endorsement. His medical card expired in August. and also developed a medical condition since then. Are they still allowed to drive passengers, and will they need to let the examiner know the new medical condition since his expired card was issued?
@ Peter H
Florida probably would not want him driving without a valid medical card. And yes, he will need to discuss his present medical condition.