What are the eyesight rules for driving?

For people who need to meet the eyesight standard to drive legally.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

You must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres, with glasses or contacts if you need them. You also need visual acuity of at least 0.5 (6/12) and an adequate field of vision.

Tell DVLA about eyesight problems affecting both eyes; being short or long sighted or colour blind doesn't count.
You can be prosecuted for driving without meeting the standard.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Read a plate at 20 metres
Acuity 0.5 (6/12)
Tell DVLA of problems

The eyesight standard for car and motorcycle drivers

To drive a car or ride a motorcycle, you must meet all of these, using glasses or contact lenses if you need them:

Number plate test: read a number plate from 20 metres away. That is about the length of 5 parked cars.
Sharpness of sight: have visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale. This is measured with both eyes together, or with one eye if you only have sight in one eye. Your optician can check it.
Field of vision: have an adequate field of vision, which means how much you can see around you while looking ahead. Your optician can test this too.

If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the standard, you must wear them every time you drive.

Conditions you must and must not report

You must tell DVLA about any problem with your eyesight that affects both of your eyes, or your remaining eye if you only have one.

You do not need to tell DVLA if you are:

short-sighted
long-sighted
colour blind

You also do not need to tell DVLA about surgery to correct short sight, as long as you still meet the standard. GOV.UK has an A to Z of medical conditions you can search to check a specific eye condition.

Higher standard for lorry and bus drivers

Test	Standard
Best eye	Visual acuity of at least 0.8 (6/7.5)
Other eye	Visual acuity of at least 0.1 (6/60)
Glasses	Correction of no more than (+) 8 dioptres
Field of vision	At least 160 degrees across, with at least 70 degrees to the left and right and 30 degrees up and down

There is no limit on correction with contact lenses.

The eyesight check on your driving test

At the start of your practical test, the examiner asks you to read a number plate on a parked car. If you cannot, you fail and the test does not go on. Your licence will be revoked (taken away). When you reapply, DVLA will ask you to take an eyesight test with DVSA.

Who cannot drive

You cannot drive if you do not meet the standard. You could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting it. If your condition affects your driving for 3 months or more, or your doctor tells you to stop driving for 3 months or more, you should give up your licence to DVLA. Giving it up yourself makes it easier to reapply later.

How to check you meet the standard

Try reading a number plate from 20 metres, with your glasses or contacts on if you use them.
Ask an optician to test your visual acuity and field of vision.
If you have an eye condition, search the GOV.UK A to Z of medical conditions to see if you must tell DVLA.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Scotland and Wales follow the same DVLA rules as England.

In Northern Ireland, you tell the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) instead. Its standard says you must read a standard number plate from 20.5 metres, or from 20 metres where the plate uses narrower 50mm characters. You must also have an adequate field of vision. You can be fined up to £1,000 for not telling the DVA about a relevant medical condition.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Check medical conditions

Common questions

Do I have to wear glasses to drive?

If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the eyesight standard, you must wear them every time you drive.

Can I drive with sight in only one eye?

You can if you meet the standard, including visual acuity of at least 0.5 (6/12) in that eye. You must tell DVLA about any eyesight problem affecting your remaining eye.

What happens if I fail the eyesight check on my driving test?

You fail the test and it does not continue. DVLA is told and your licence is revoked.

What are the eyesight rules for lorry and bus drivers?

You need visual acuity of at least 0.8 (6/7.5) in your best eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) in the other eye.

Source: Driving eyesight rules

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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