Free · Validity guide · All US states (federal rule)
How long is a DOT medical card good for?
Up to 24 months
A DOT medical examiner’s certificate is valid for up to 24 months. The examiner can certify you for less, for example to monitor high blood pressure, and some conditions need yearly exams. The exam must be done by an examiner on FMCSA’s National Registry.
Work out your DOT medical card expiration date
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Pick a shorter period if your examiner certified you for less than 24 months.
Use the expiration date your examiner set. Drivers certified under the insulin-treated diabetes or vision standards need an exam at least every 12 months.
Enter a date to see when it expires, how many days are left, when to book the renewal, and to add reminders to your calendar.
Who needs a DOT medical card
Drivers of commercial motor vehicles who are subject to FMCSA’s physical qualification rules (49 CFR part 391), including most interstate CDL holders. Motor carriers must keep proof of each driver’s medical certification in the driver qualification file; for CDL drivers that is the state motor vehicle record showing medical certification status.
What happens if it expires
- A driver subject to part 391 must not operate a commercial motor vehicle without being medically certified.
- For CDL and CLP holders, the state must change the driver’s medical certification status to “not certified” within 10 days of the certificate expiring.
- The state then notifies the driver and must complete a downgrade of the CDL or CLP within 60 days unless the driver is re-certified or changes their self-certification.
- If an examiner finds a driver not physically qualified, on or after June 23, 2025, all previously issued certificates become invalid.
How to renew
Find a National Registry examiner
Only a medical examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners can do the exam.
Bring your medical records
Bring records for any condition being monitored, plus your glasses or hearing aids and a list of medications. This is practical advice, not an FMCSA rule.
Take the exam before the expiration date
The examiner sends the results to FMCSA electronically. For CDL and CLP holders, that record now counts as proof of certification.
Check your state record
Afterwards, check that your state driver record shows “certified” with the new expiration date. Carriers should pull the updated record for the qualification file.
When to book
4
weeks
Book the physical about a month before expiration, so any follow-up tests can be done in time. This is our suggestion, not an FMCSA rule.
A simple reminder plan: 60 days, 30 days, 14 days, 7 days before the expiration date. The calculator above puts these in your calendar.
Evidence to keep
- For non-CDL drivers: the medical examiner’s certificate (or a legible copy) and a note verifying the examiner is on the National Registry.
- For CDL drivers: the state motor vehicle record showing medical certification status, kept in the driver qualification file.
- Any FMCSA medical variance or exemption documents. Drivers with a variance must still carry that paperwork.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every card lasts 24 months. The examiner can set a shorter date, and that date is the deadline.
- Using an examiner who is not on the National Registry.
- Forgetting that the CDL itself can be downgraded if medical status lapses.
- Not updating the driver qualification file after a new exam.
When you would rather not remember
What this looks like when it runs itself
Add the date once and give it an owner. ExpiryEdge reminds them before it lapses, on the channel they actually read, and keeps the certificate and a record of who did what.
Try it with your own dates, free for 14 days, no cardExpiryEdge · Tracked item
DOT medical card · Class A driver, Route 12
ValidOwner
Fleet safety manager
Expires
2 years after issue
Reminders before expiration
60d
30d
14d
7d
Due
DOT medical card questions, answered
Up to 24 months. The medical examiner can issue a certificate for less than 24 months when it is desirable to monitor a condition, such as high blood pressure.
If you hold a CDL or CLP and have a current certificate, you no longer need to carry it on or after June 23, 2025. Non-CDL drivers still need to carry the original or a copy. Drivers with a medical variance must carry the variance paperwork.
You must not drive a commercial motor vehicle until you are re-certified. For CDL holders, the state marks you “not certified” within 10 days and must downgrade the CDL within 60 days unless you are re-certified.
Only a medical examiner listed on FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
Examiners can certify for less than 24 months to monitor a condition. Drivers certified under the insulin-treated diabetes or vision standards must be re-examined at least every 12 months.
Sources
Every rule on this page comes from these official sources.
1.
DOT medical exam and commercial motor vehicle certificationFMCSA · fmcsa.dot.gov · checked 28 Sep 2026
2.
49 CFR 391.45, Persons who must be medically examined and certifiedeCFR · ecfr.gov · checked 28 Sep 2026
3.
49 CFR 391.43, Medical examination; certificate of physical examinationeCFR · ecfr.gov · checked 28 Sep 2026
4.
49 CFR 391.41, Physical qualifications for driverseCFR · ecfr.gov · checked 28 Sep 2026
5.
49 CFR 383.73(o), State medical recordkeeping and downgradeeCFR · ecfr.gov · checked 28 Sep 2026
6.
49 CFR 391.51, General requirements for driver qualification fileseCFR · ecfr.gov · checked 28 Sep 2026
Guidance, not legal advice. This covers All US states (federal rule) and reflects the sources as checked on 28 Sep 2026. Check the official source or take professional advice for your situation.