Driving eyesight requirements
Before you start to learn to drive, make sure you are aware of the eyesight requirements. If you need to wear glasses or corrective lenses to meet the requirements you must wear them every time you drive.
If you have an eyesight condition
When applying for your driving licence you should let the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) know if you have any visual condition which affects:
- both eyes – not including short or long sight or colour blindness
- your sight – not including short or long sight or colour blindness - for example, if you have sight in one eye only
If you have had sight correction surgery you should declare this when you apply for your provisional licence.
You can search the medical conditions A to Z to see if you need to notify DVLA of your visual condition.
Eyesight requirements for the practical driving test
At the start of the practical driving test, your driving examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle.
The distance requirement for the eyesight test is:
- 20 metres for vehicles displaying the new-style number plate
- 20.5 metres for vehicles displaying old-style number plates
If you can’t read the first number plate correctly, you’ll be asked to read a second number plate.
If you can’t read the second number plate correctly, you’ll be allowed to walk forward until you are just over the appropriate distance away. If you can’t read the second number plate correctly, the examiner will measure the distance to a third number plate.
The third number plate will be at the measured distance - 20 or 20.5 metres – which will depend upon whether it is a new or old style plate.
New-style number plates are easily identifiable starting with two letters followed by two numbers, for example AB51 ABC.
If you can’t speak English or have difficulty reading, you may copy down what you see.
If you can’t read the third number plate
If the examiner is satisfied that you don’t meet the required eyesight standard, you’ll fail the driving test, and the practical test will not continue.
This test failure will be marked on the driving test report form. Your interpretation of the number plate along with the correct one will be written on the back of the form along with the measured distance.
Wearing glasses or corrective lenses to pass the eyesight test
If you wear glasses or corrective lenses for the eyesight test, the law requires you wear them whenever you are driving and throughout your test. You are not allowed to remove your glasses or corrective lenses when carrying out test manoeuvres (reversing and so on).
If you wear glasses or corrective lenses to read the number plate and remove them during the practical test, your examiner will remind you the law requires you to wear them. If you refuse to wear them, the test will not continue.
If you have broken, forgotten or brought the wrong glasses, you should tell your examiner at the start of the test. If you don’t tell the examiner and attempt and fail the eyesight test, your test will be recorded as a failure. The remainder of the test will not go ahead.
Failing the eyesight test
If you fail the eyesight requirement:
- the examiner will ask you to sign a form stating you were unable to comply with the eyesight requirements
- the examiner will notify the DVLA that you did not meet the eyesight requirements
- your licence will be revoked
To reapply for your licence, send an ‘Application for a driving licence’ (D1) to DVLA. The form is available from the DVLA form ordering service or Post Office® branches. You can also download and complete the medical questionnaire V1 and return it with your D1 form.
When your application arrives at DVLA they may ask the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to conduct a separate eyesight test for you at a test centre. If you are successful you’ll still have to pass the DSA standard eyesight test at your next practical driving test.
