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If you have an eyesight condition

When you apply for your driving licence, you must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) 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

If you have had sight correction surgery you should declare this when you apply for your provisional licence.

Find out if you need to tell DVLA about your condition

You can search the medical conditions A to Z to see if you need to tell DVLA of your visual condition.

• Medical conditions A to Z

• What happens after telling DVLA about your medical condition

The practical driving test eyesight test

At the start of the practical driving test, your driving examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a parked vehicle.

You'll have to read the number plate from a distance of:

• 20 metres for vehicles with a new-style number plate
• 20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate

New-style number plates start with two letters followed by two numbers, for example AB51 ABC.

If you can't speak English or have difficulty reading, you can write down what you see.

• Special needs and the practical driving test

If you can't read the first number plate

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

If you can't read the second number plate correctly, the examiner will measure the distance to a third number plate. This is your final chance to read a number plate correctly.

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 your driving test
• your driving test will not continue

What happens if you fail the eyesight test

If you fail the eyesight test:

• the examiner will ask you to sign a form stating you were unable to comply with the eyesight requirements
• DVLA will be told that you did not meet the eyesight requirements
• your licence will be revoked

How to reapply for your licence

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.

• DVLA form ordering service Opens new window

• Download 'Questionnaire V1' (PDF, 270K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

What happens when DVLA gets your application

When your application arrives at DVLA they may ask the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to conduct a separate eyesight test for you. This will be at a driving test centre. If you are successful you’ll still have to pass the DSA standard eyesight test at your next practical driving test.

Wearing glasses or contact lenses while driving

If you wear glasses or contact lenses for the eyesight test, the law requires that you wear them whenever you are driving. This includes during your driving test.

Wearing glasses or contact lenses during your test

You are not allowed to remove your glasses or contact lenses when carrying out test manoeuvres (reversing and so on).

If you wear glasses or contact lenses to read the number plate and remove them during the test, you'll be reminded you must wear them. If you refuse to wear them, the test will not continue.

If you don't bring your glasses to your test

If you have broken, forgotten or brought the wrong glasses, tell your examiner at the start of the test. If you don't tell the examiner and you attempt and fail the eyesight test, your test will be recorded as a failure. The rest of the test will not go ahead.

More useful links

• Practical test for cars explained

• Rules for cars used for driving tests