Click to find DOT physical locations in GEORGIA
Click to find DOT physical locations in OTHER STATES
Georgia CDL Requirements
All CDL holders have to certify driving type and, if required, keep a valid medical card on file with Georgia Department of Driver Services. Your certification of driving type tells DDS which qualifications you must meet to hold a CDL.
- Non-Excepted Interstate (NI)
You must meet FMCSA driver qualification requirements. - Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA)
You must meet the medical requirements for Georgia.
If your medical examiner’s certificate is only valid with a vision, diabetes or a skills performance evaluation variance granted by FMCSA, you will also be asked by the DDS to provide a copy of that variance document. If you have a vision waiver granted by the DDS you will be required to provide a copy of that variance document.
CDL holders can no longer claim exemption from medical certification requirements because they are not currently operating in non-excepted interstate or intrastate commerce. If not specifically included above, they must maintain their medical certification or certify into an Excepted category.
If CDL holders are required to provide a medical certification then they must continue to carry all medical certification documents with them at all times even after completing the self-certification process with DDS.
CDL Self-Certification
Submit the following two documents:
- Commercial Driver Self Certification Form (DDS Form 1207) – download the form here from Georgia Department of Driver Services.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (Medical card only, not the long form.) Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
Online:
Visit the DDS website at https://online.dds.ga.gov/onlineservices/account/login.aspx
By Mail:
Department of Driver Services
Attn: RM-CDL
P. O. Box 80447
Conyers, GA 30013
By Fax:
(770)918-6271
Important: Submissions via fax must be for individual customers. Submission of documentation for multiple customers may be sent by mail.
In Person:
You can submit your self-certification to any DDS Customer Service Center.
Medical Certification Update
Your license will be downgraded if you fail to keep your medical certification current. You may be required to re-test if you remain in a downgraded class for a long period of time.
You must provide a copy of each new DOT medical card to the Department prior to the expiration of the current DOT medical card.
You are also responsible for applying to FMCSA for a renewal of your variance. If you have a variance issued by the DDS you must apply for renewal of that variance prior to its expiration.
You may submit your new medical certificate online, by mail, fax, or in person, as described above.
Other Contact Information:
If you have any questions you can call 678-413-8400 or 1-866-754-3687 and ask for a medical certification customer service representative.
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.
I have had type 1 diabetes since I was 7 and now I’m 43. I live in Ga and have always wanted to drive trucks and want to know of I am capable of getting my CDL to be allowed to drive locally in Ga?
@Todd
First you want to check with your local drivers license department and see what the process is going to be for you and your situation.
It is do-able, but needs the right type of paperwork and supporting documentation. Good Luck
What is blood pressure reading is to high to get a passing medical exam? I passed everthing else… Went back today and my reading were 141/88 and 130/90
@Reginald
Anything below 140/90 is acceptable. If you are on blood pressure medications then it has to be below 140/90 or less.
? I have a cdl but don’t drive any commerical vechs..my medical card is expired to I still need to maintain one..
@Harold
If your self-certification status is non-excepted, then yes you need a current medical card else your CDL will likely be downgraded.
Hello I was curious if I would have to redo my CDL because my medical card expired apparently 1 day ago I can get a new one tomorrow but don’t know if I will have to retake everything all over again or not I am in Georgia
I have not drove otr since 2009 , and have not used my license since (no local driving neither. I was not aware my license was switched to intra, now im trying to start back otr. would I have to take road test again? no dot card either.how do i get back otr?
@Yolanda
The only way you can know exactly what you need to do is to contact your local drivers license department. Your license has probably been downgraded or suspended.
We live in Georgia and my husband has to have a DOT card to drive the company truck, not CDL. He has a pacemaker with a defibrillator. He’s never had a heart attack but has a Pacemaker. The doctor told him that he can’t get a DOT card because he has a defibrillator. Is this true in all cases or just Georgia?
@Lynn
This is a state related question and you are trying to get your answer from your CME that is federally related.
So check with your local drivers license department and ask them what is needed. Since he will be driving intra-state only for work, they should have a policy that will get him a medical certificate and let him go from there. But it is up to the state to make the final decision if he is going to be intra-state only.
Yes, it’s true Georgia adheres to Federal laws
Diabetic 1, my sugar test 153 doctor said I failed as it should not be more than 140
Can I get a waiver regarding this?
@Nelson
How is the sugar being controlled?
For the DOT interstate cdl it would need to be below 140 and completely under control. So depending on how your condition is being controlled (insulin?) would determine your choices or whether you would need a waiver or not.
If I am on insulin but drive a company truck that doesn’t require a cdl do I have to have a dot card and if so can I get one on insulin?
@Shane
As far as I know every state requires a medical certificate for anyone driving a vehicle that is being used for commerce. That is any vehicle that has someone’s name on the side of the vehicle.
That being said, now you need to check with your local drivers license department and see what the states rules are regarding insulin. Fed. would require an insulin waiver, but the states have their own set of rules and their own waiver, which is what you will qualify for. Get the waiver first and then see what you have to do. Some states issue the waiver and the medical card for individuals in your situation, so check with your local DLD. Good Luck
In the state of Georgia, does an insulin dependent diabetic that drives INTRAstate only have to get the federal exemption?
@Angie
Check with your state, but I believe that your state has the basic waiver for intra-state only drivers on insulin.
Some states are following FMCSA guidelines, but most are establishing their own regulations for intra-state drivers.
I took a dot physical and passed everything but the vision cause im blind in my left eye. I only need for a non cdl job. Pls help me on what i can do to get a medical card .
@Shernard
If you passed everything else, then go to the state drivers license department and ask for a vision waiver from the state.
I am an federal employee with a CDL state of GA driving only military vehicle do I need to have a medical card?
@Anthony
You’ll need to check with your state. In most cases, as a military only driver, you would not need a card, but check with your branch officer or the state Drivers License Department.
My husband has his CDLs and interstate. We have always used the same doctor who does the DOT physical with all the forms. My question is when it is time to renew his physical card can he continue to go to the doctor he always has or now does he have to go to a doctor on the national registry of certified medical examiners? If so how would our current doctor who has always done them go about getting on the list of doctors on the National registry of certified medical examiners?
@Suzanne
Starting May 21, 2014, CMV drivers must have the DOT physical completed by a medical examiner who is FMCSA National Registry Certified.
See the FMCSA website for medical examiner certification.
I have CDL, the company that I work for promoted me to a position of not driving any more.
Do I have to maintain my medical card to keep my CDLs in the state of Georgia?
In Georgia they are linked to the Fed Motor Carrier dept. In Washington D. C. So you have the option of either agency. A certificate is only needed to drive commercially outside the exceptions rule. Exceptions being: To transport Farm products to the nearest receivers, in driving under emergency conditions as declared by FEMA. A certificate constitutes a privilege and us only valid up to 2 years. Once a medical card expires your CDL is maintained in a dormant state indefinitely until a new medical card is issued for reinstatement. No driving, skills test or other tests are required unless DDS determines it necessary.
I don’t have a medical card and have been driving on the weekends for a local company making short intrastate runs. I was told that I wasn’t required to have one as long as, I wasn’t crossing state lines when I last renewed my license at DDS, but my employer recently informed that I would need one. Has that changed?
@Ric
Georgia regulations state that intrastate non-exempt must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. See information above.
Quick question: : my fiancee is a driver and has to renew his CDL in february. His medical card says its vaid another several months. The question is do you have to renew your medical card when you renew your CDL or just stay current with the date on medical card??? Any knowldgeable help would be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!! THANKS in advance 🙂
@nicole
You only have to keep the medical card current. They do not have to be renewed at the time of the drivers license, just kept current.
D O T medical card has its own expiration date.
The expiration date on the medical card is the
determining date which the D O T medical card
should be renewed by.
I live in ga and had to have a hole fixed in my heart. The dr. I use for my medical card states that I have to wait a length oh time to get a new medical card in Ga but did not know what that length of time was, I am hoping you might know and also anything else I might need to know about getting a new medical card. Thank you
@Debora
Well first things first. You need to be completely healed from the surgery before you go back for a new DOT medical card.
Before you go for the examination, make sure your primary doctor completes your medical release form for you to take to the DOT examination.
The medical examiner may be looking for a recent stress test before he completes your examination, depending on the type and level of your most recent surgery. With all the information in hand you should not have any major hangups. Good luck
What happens if one of our intrastate drivers fails his dot physical? What are the fines if caught driving without a medical cert in GA? and what are the repercussions to the company?
@Sue
Driver can lose his commercial license, and the company is finable to around $10,000. And why would a company take that kind of a risk?
? is my florida medical card good for the state of georgia? or do i have to get new one? need to know asap already switch my cdl license to ga but i did own a fla cdl license
@Harold
If your medical card is Interstate, it is valid throughout the US, not state specific.
If your medical card is Intrastate Only then you’ll need to check with GA DDS to make sure it’s still valid. Most likely “yes”, because both FL and GA require Federal DOT medical certificate requirements for Intrastate.
If you drive OTR a.k.a. Interstate, your
DOT medical card is good in all u.s. states.
If you drove only INTRAstate in Fla., then highly likely your medical card was a Fla. state issued medical card and good Only in Fla. state. If so, then you will need to get a GA. state issued medical card IF your GA. CDL is INTRAstate for driving in GA. only.
I am 50 ys old , I have a Defibrillator and I’ve never collapsed, but I have had 3 heart attacks that have left my heart damaged. My doctor said he wanted to install a ICD so if I ever do have the big one it will jump start me. But now i have a chance of getting hired on with the state of Georgia DOT, But they require that I maintain my CDL’s . Is there any chance of holding on to my license if I stay within the state ?
@Jamie
I would check with the state, but I believe you can keep your CDL and still be an intra-state driver exclusively.
That’s how it’s done here in Utah for our CDL drivers that would be disqualified from interstate driving otherwise.
Just a update; Checked with the Georgia DDS. And they said GA. Adopted the FMCSA regulations and will not allow it. If you have diabetes you can get a exception, but not ICD.
Who would a driver need to provide an updated physical card to for the state of Georgia?
Thanks
@Alisha
A driver can submit a renewed medical card the same ways as described above for self-certification – by mail, fax, or in person.