Driving Test Eyesight Requirements UK 2026

The Eyesight Check: How It Works

Every practical driving test begins with an eyesight check. The examiner asks you to read a number plate from a set distance:

• For new-style number plates (September 2001 onwards): read from 20 metres
• For old-style number plates: read from 20.5 metres

If you fail the eyesight check, the test ends immediately. You'll receive a fail and lose the test fee. You'll need to book a new test.

Glasses and Contact Lenses

If you wear glasses or contact lenses and need them to meet the eyesight standard:

• You must wear them for the eyesight check
• You must wear them throughout the entire test
• Your licence will be marked with condition 01 ("Eyesight correction") — you must wear correction when driving legally

Never attempt the test without your required corrective lenses. If you're caught driving without them after passing, your licence conditions are violated.

DVLA Conditions That Must Be Declared

Certain eye conditions must be declared to the DVLA. These include:

• Bioptic lenses (miniature telescopic lenses fitted to spectacles)
• Monocular vision (sight in one eye only)
• Diplopia (double vision)
• Night blindness (nyctalopia) affecting driving
• Glaucoma affecting visual field
• Macular degeneration affecting central vision

Failure to declare a relevant visual condition is a criminal offence that can void your insurance and licence. Always consult your optometrist and GP if in doubt.

What If You Think You Might Fail the Eyesight Check?

Test your eyesight before your test. Visit an optometrist — a sight test costs around £25 and provides certainty. Many optometrists offer a free driving standard screening if you explain you're preparing for a test.

Never assume you'll be fine. Eyesight can deteriorate gradually without you noticing. If you've not had an eye test in the past 12 months, book one before your driving test.

The Visual Field Requirement

Beyond visual acuity (clarity), you must also meet a visual field standard: at least 120 degrees of uninterrupted binocular vision. Conditions affecting peripheral vision may fail this standard even if central vision is good. An optometrist can check your visual field specifically.