Submit new medical card to state DMV (self-certification)
Submit each NEW medical certificate to your state DMV before the old one expires — the separate step that actually protects your CDL.
- Filed with
- Your state DMV (CDL self-certification)
- Cost
- Free (some states charge a small processing fee)
- Time
- ~10 minutes online or by mail, varies by state
What you'll need
- Your new ME Certificate (medical card)
- Your CDL number and self-certification category (usually non-excepted interstate)
Step by step
- 1
Get your new medical card first
Pass the DOT physical before the current card expires.
- 2
Submit it to your state DMV
Every state accepts mail; most accept online or email uploads — check your state's CDL medical-certification page.
- 3
Confirm your CDL record updated
Verify the DMV shows the new expiration date — the submission, not the exam, is what prevents a downgrade.
Worth knowing
- States downgrade the CDL automatically when the certificate on FILE expires — even if you passed a new physical and forgot to submit it.
- During the 2026 NRII transition (Apr 11–Oct 11), a temporary waiver lets enforcement accept a paper MEC for up to 60 days — but submit to the DMV anyway.
Fact-checked June 2026. Fees, screens, and dates change — always reconfirm at the official source at filing time.
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