
The DMV will list this as a restriction on your driver’s license. In some cases, you may need to take a driving test to prove to the DMV you can drive safely.Īnd remember, if you have to wear glasses or contacts to pass your vision test, you need to wear them when you're driving too. Your vision will be retested during this visit. Wear your new glasses or contact lenses when you go back to the DMV - and don't forget to bring the signed form from your eye doctor. In that case, you'll need to schedule a comprehensive eye exam, where an eye doctor can measure your eyesight and provide an updated prescription for glasses or contacts. If you fail the vision test while wearing your eyeglasses or contacts, your prescription could be outdated. This form might be called "Report of Vision Examination" or "Explanation for Eye Specialist" - or a similar name.

The DMV will give you a special form for your eye doctor to complete and sign. Restricting where or what time of day you can legally drive Whether the vision condition will worsen over timeĭepending on your individual situation, the state may place a restriction on your license. Whether the condition can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or vision surgery Whether the condition affects one or both eyes How the condition affects your central and peripheral vision If you don’t pass the eye exam, the DMV employee may consider a variety of issues before they decide the next step. What happens if I fail my DMV vision test? Receive a restricted license with 20/70 vision in one eye and at least 20/100 vision in the other eye.Īgain, remember that you can (and should) wear your corrective lenses if you need to, no matter which state you live in.ĭMV vision requirements change all the time, so make sure to check with your state's driver's license office for up-to-date information before you go in. Receive an unrestricted license with 20/40 vision. These restrictions are common in other states too.Īs another example, Florida applicants can: However, someone with 20/70 vision in Texas may receive a restriction on their license that only allows them to drive during the day at speeds of 45 miles per hour or less. In Texas and New York, however, you'll only need to have 20/70 vision in the better eye.

20/40 is better than 20/60, 20/20 is better than 20/40, and 20/15 is even better than 20/20.įor example, in California, you need to meet these requirements to get a standard, non-commercial driver's license:Ģ0/40 or better in one eye and 20/70 or better in the other eyeĢ0/40 or better with both eyes tested together Remember, the lower the second number is, the sharper your vision. Minimum vision requirements for driving vary by state. What are the minimum eyesight requirements to get a driver's license? Like the measurements of your visual sharpness, different states also have different requirements for peripheral and color vision. You may also need to complete a short color blindness test. During a visual field exam, you'll look straight ahead and watch for lights to the sides of your central field of view.

Some states also require you to complete a visual field test, which is used to check for peripheral (side) vision loss. If you have difficulty reading the eye chart, you may be asked to complete additional distance vision tests on a testing machine. Test your vision before you go to the DMV with our free, printable eye chart. The state will place a restriction on your license that requires you to wear your prescription lenses any time you're behind the wheel. But only wear them at the DMV if you need to wear them while you're driving too. You're allowed to wear your glasses or contact lenses during this part of the eye test.

They can measure the sharpness of your eyesight based on the smallest row of letters you can read. They have one big letter at the top (usually an "E") and several rows of gradually smaller letters below.Ī DMV employee will ask you to read certain rows to find out how well you can recognize the characters on the chart. If you've ever had an eye exam, you might be familiar with these charts. How a Snellen chart and a "tumbling E" chart might look at your eye doctor's office.
