Medical variances and the 'V' restriction

If your USDOT Medical Examiner's Certificate indicates "must be accompanied by a Diabetic, Hearing, Seizure or Vision waiver exemption or an SPE Certificate," you must obtain a Medical Variance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

FMCSA sends the Medical Variance directly to DMV. Visit the FMCSA website for more information about the Medical Variances.

If you have a Medical Variance, you must have a "V" Restriction placed on your CDL. If you have a Medical Variance and a V Restriction is not present on your driver license document now, you must visit a DMV office with a copy of your current USDOT Medical Examiner's Certificate to amend your CDL. A license amendment fee will apply.

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV

See medical certification requirements for more information.

To receive email and/or text reminders from DMV about the status of your medical certification and medical variance, go to Get email and/or text reminders