Click to find DOT physical locations in TEXAS
Click to find DOT physical locations in OTHER STATES
Texas CDL Requirements
All Texas CDL holders are required to certify the type of commercial operation they’re engaged in. CDL holders operating in non-excepted interstate and non-excepted intrastate are required to submit a current medical examiner’s certificate and any variance they may have to the Department.
Non-Excepted-Interstate Commerce (Form CDL-4)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Non-Excepted-Intrastate Commerce (Form CDL-5 part B)
You must meet the Texas medical certificate requirements.
Submit Your Self-Certification Affidavit and Medical Certificate to Texas Department of Public Safety
Submit the following two documents:
- Texas Commercial Driver License Self-Certification Affidavit – Form CDL-4 or Form CDL-5.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (not the long form) and any variance you may have. Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
Texas Department of Public Safety
License and Record Service
Attention: CDL Section
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, Texas 78773-0320
By Fax:
512-424-2002 Attn: CDL Section
By Email:
CDLMedCert@dps.texas.gov
Documents must be in PDF format
Keep Your Medical Card Current With Texas Department of Public Safety
Drivers are required to keep a current medical variance or medical examiners certificate on file with DPS, and failure to do so will result in the downgrade of the individual’s CDL.
You must provide a copy of each new DOT medical card to the Department prior to the expiration of the current DOT medical card.
To prevent your commercial driver license from being downgraded, you will need to send a copy of your new DOT medical certificate to the Department within 15 days of the DOT medical certificate issuance date.
You may submit your new medical certificate by mail, fax, or email, as described above.
You can review a driver’s current CDL medical certification status by accessing driver eligibility.
Other Information:
Texas DPS official website: Driver License
Texas CDL Medical Certification Requirement
Texas DPS/CVE – Locate a commercial vehicle office – address and phone number
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! —
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.
Where or what website would I go to, to check & make sure my medical card got updated on my CDL? I’m in Texas.
@ Ronald R
You will need to check with Texas drivers license department for this information.
https://txapps.texas.gov/txapp/txdps/dleligibility/login.do
You can use this to verify it got processed onto your license and see if you have any fees owed to the state.
If my medical card just expired how long do I have to renew it before my CDL gets downgraded in Texas
@ Seferino G
This question will be best answered by your local drivers license department, since your cdl is state issued, not federal.
I’ve had a 1 year card for the past 3 years. I went to the Doctor that they sent me to which is in the pool of company Doctors.
I received a 2 year car. Some 2 weeks later someone in safety flagged my card for being 2 years.
So they sent me to the same facility and a different doctor there pasted me with a 2 year card again.
Now some 3 1/2 weeks later they say I need to go back and take another physical.
I’ve checked my status online with Texas DPS and my card is certified and it says that I am eligible to drive.
Can the company revoke my medical card ad or can the issuing Doctor?
Can’t find an answer online!!
@ Scott
It all depends on the reasoning behind the one year card for the last three years. Usually a one year card remains so until there is some evidence of health reversal, for the better. The company may have the right to question the changes. The company can not revoke the card, but they do not have to accept it if there are questions.
I work for a City in Texas and only use my CDL to drive a commercial vehicle in the City. Do i need a medical exam?
@ Norma M
You need to check with Texas drivers license department for your answer. Each state is different, with differing requirements.
Yes you do. Texas cdl holder here. You need it anytime you operate a cdl vehicle.
I have a driver that failed his med exam for his cdl, Can he continue to drive with what days he had left on the good one he has?
@ Butch C
If he failed and the CME entered the information into the federal data base, then your driver does not have a valid medical card. The new information over-rides the old medical card.
Clinics will tell you that your cerificate is filed with the state of texas when you sign. Do not believe this.You stlll have to file the certificate with the TXDPS yourself.. My CDL was downgraded due to this after 15 years. TXDPS always sends a notification. They did not, they just waited and sent a downgrade letter. What a scam. The clinic was saying it was filed thru the system and TXDPS did not send any notification. Hell, Russians are treated better than this shit.
@ joe
Most, not all, clinics only enter your data to the federal system. Always suspect that they do not file your data to the state. That is your responsibility in the end.
@ joe
So were you able to get it straightened out or do you have to start all over?
Wow, the same exact thing happened to me today…. $89 later 😩 I’m so furious because I was treated poorly today with no sympathy.
Hello, I can update my medical card online or by mail or I have to go to DPS to do it in person.
@ Yanda E H
Usually best to report it in person, that way no one lost it along the way.
I have a medical card that is good for a year and a half. After applying with a company, they had me do a physical but the doctor there only gave me a card good for 3 months until I do a sleep study. Do I have to do the sleep study and file the 3 month card or is my old DOT physical still good?
@ Alan
Once the CME does the examination and issues a new medical card, then your old card is invalid. DOT/FMCSA do not require a sleep study unless there are a multitude of symptoms. Get a second opinion, elsewhere.
Your new information overrides your old information that he put you have sleepapnea restriction on your DOT and without doing it, you can’t new your Lic, hope you have insurance is costly about 500.00 and you will end up with a machine to sleep with every night as well as you can only get 3 to 6 months exams now.
I am in Texas and I have been out of work and I am currently on disability and under a doctors care and will not be released by my doctor before my DOT physical expires. What do I do?
@ Scott
Basically your medical card is invalid as of the beginning of your doctors care. Check with your local drivers license department and inform them of the situation. They should be able to guide you through their process.
You can go and do your medical Exam yourself payout of pocket its about 95.00 to get a new one or your lic will be bumped back down to a Class C after time allowed expires. You most likely will do it again with a new employer under their lic
It’s my first time applying for cdl and got my dot exam done..do I need to email or fax to dmv now or after I get my cdl/clp
Take it with you to the dmv they can attach it to your license.
The day off my appointment?
@ Mike S
Check with your local drivers license department, they should be able to guide you through their process.
You can take that document to any Texas Department of public safety Office and give the document and they would handle it from there, or you might want to send it inn by mail get a tracker number showing they received it direct it to CDL Section. You have to do this yourself every time you renew 1yr or 2 yr same with 3 month or 6 month restriction for High Blood pressure and Sleepapnea.