DOT Physical
San Diego, California
$75 DOT Physical Exams
Now Located at 4529 College Ave, San Diego, CA 92115
San Diego DOT exam clinic, “SoCal DOT Physicals” provides affordable DOT medical cards for drivers and operators whose jobs require them. We help individuals throughout San Diego county including National City, North Park, Logan Barrio and Kearny Mesa.
Our office is located in downtown San Diego (a.k.a.: “America’s Finest City”) at 4529 College Ave. You can find our building on the Rolando Village side of College Ave., between Estelle St. and Acorn St.
We are easily accessible from points north and south via I-805 and CA-15. If traveling from downtown or La Mesa, I-8 and CA-94 are you the quickest routes We are also a 0.2 mile walk from the El Cajon Blvd & College Av transit stop. Parking is available in our private plaza parking lot.
We provide affordable DOT medical cards to drivers, contractors and operators throughout San Diego county. Whether you’re an OTR driver, equipment operator, laborer, or other, SoCal DOT Physicals is here to make the exam process as hassle-free as possible.
As a leading DOT clinic in San Diego, we have a streamlined operation that gets drivers in-and-out the door fast, so you can stay compliant without wasting an entire afternoon in an urgent care waiting room. If you are in the San Diego area and have any questions, please give us a call to speak with one of our DOT-certified doctors for more in-depth information regarding the DOT exam process.
What Does a DOT Physical Consist Of?
A Department of Transportation (DOT) exam is a medical evaluation required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMSCA) to verify that one is healthy enough to safely drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).
At our San Diego office we have a simple 3-step process to keep your appointment as hassle-free as possible. The entire DOT exam lasts less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
DOT Physical Steps
Complete the Medical Examination Report Form. This single page form is the only paperwork you’ll need to complete. You’ll be asked to supply your contact information, medical history and any medications that are currently prescribed to you.
If you’re in a hurry you can print and complete the form (available here) prior to your appointment.
Next, our DOT-certified provider will perform a basic hands-on exam. This will consist of the following:
Vital signs (blood pressure and heart rate)
Vision (distance, peripheral and color recognition)
Hearing
Heart
Lungs (breathing)
Back/Spine (range-of-motion)
Legs/Arms (mobility, strength and reflexes)
Neurological
Overall well being
Urinalysis (this is not a drug test)
Upon successful completion of the history and exam, we complete your paperwork. Sign all the necessary documents including your new DOT medical card. Your information will be uploaded into the National Registry.
How to prepare for your DOT physical
To avoid any delay in receiving a DOT medical card, you'll want to bring a few things to your appointment, including (if applicable):
Driver's license (or other form of photo ID)
Glasses or contacts
Hearing aids
A full bladder (for the basic urinalysis)
Current medication list
Most recent Ha1C (if a diabetic)
Form MCSA-5870 if an insulin-dependent diabetic
CPAP compliance log (last 90 days, if diagnosed with sleep apnea)
Recent tests results and clearance letter from your cardiologist and/or neurologist (if you have a history of heart disease, stroke, seizures or other neurological disorders),
Last 12 months of INR readings (if you are prescribed a blood thinner).
If you’re in the San Diego area and have questions about your health situation, please call us at 619-486-5881 for specific advice relevant to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Our office is located on the Rolando Village side of College Ave of San Diego - less than 2 miles east of Balboa Park.
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The DOT physical is a federal exam and thereby can be performed on any resident within any state. The residency of your license has no bearing on where you are eligible to receive a DOT medical card.
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Per the FMSCA, since a medical exam is required to operate a commercial vehicle in Mexico, an (additional) US medical card is not necessary. Note: some US employers do require all employees (residents or not) to get a US DOT medical card.
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No. While the physical does include a urinalysis, the use of drugs is not being detected. The DOT urinalysis looks for the presence of blood, sugar or protein in one’s urine.
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No, insurance (including Cal-Med) does not cover the DOT physical. Some drivers are able to use health savings of flex spending funds to pay for their physicals.
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A DOT card can be valid for up to two years. Some health conditions restrict certifications to less time.
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If you fail to renew your card before the expiration, you are not allowed to continue operating a CMV. Individuals with a CDL risk getting dropped down to a lower class license.
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Yes, insulin-dependent diabetes are eligible to receive a 1-year medical card, but they must bring form MSCA-#### with them to their physical and a copy of their most recent Ha1c.
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A DOT medical card will designated whether one is a CDL driver/applicant or not. CDL drivers are additionally required to inform the state of California what type of commerce they engage in and whether they are required to keep an up-to-date medical card. This process is referred to as CDL self-certification.
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If you need a DOT medical card, call today for an appointment. We can typically squeeze someone in same day or next day if a physical is needed ASAP.
Our office is located on the outskirts of downtown San Diego (92101), but we frequently work with drivers as far north as Sorrento Valley to Imperial Beach south.
If you need a DOT physical but are not local to San Diego, please click the locations tab to find another clinic near you.