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To hold an unconditional car licence in Australia, you need visual acuity of at least 6/12 with both eyes open, or in your better eye, without glasses. If you only reach 6/12 with glasses or contact lenses, you get a licence with a condition that you wear them when driving. If the better eye is worse than 6/24, a car licence is refused. Your visual field must also meet the standard: a horizontal field of at least 110 degrees. There is no colour vision standard for drivers.
These are the national Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022) standards for private (car) drivers. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist can tell you how your own eyes measure up. This page only explains the rules.
Visual acuity: the 6/12 rule
Acuity is measured on a standard letter chart at 6 metres. 6/12 means reading the 6/12 line (the standard uses five letters on that line).
| Your best acuity (both eyes or better eye) | Car licence outcome |
|---|---|
| 6/12 or better without glasses | Unconditional licence (for vision) |
| 6/12 or better only with glasses or contacts | Conditional licence: you must wear them when driving |
| Slightly worse than 6/12 | A conditional licence may be considered on an optometrist’s or ophthalmologist’s recommendation, if you are otherwise fit |
| Worse than 6/24 in the better eye | Licence refused |
Visual field: 110 degrees
- The standard is a binocular (both eyes) horizontal field of at least 110 degrees.
- There should be no significant defect in the binocular field within 20 degrees of fixation above or below the horizontal midline.
- If the horizontal field is under 110 but at least 90 degrees, an optometrist or ophthalmologist may support a conditional licence.
- The reference test is the binocular Esterman field test. Your eye specialist decides which test you need.
If you have a condition that affects your field of vision, expect the licensing authority to ask for a field test result from your eye specialist.
Driving with vision in one eye
People with sight in one eye can drive a car in Australia. Under the national standard, a conditional licence may be considered if:
- the horizontal visual field is at least 110 degrees, and
- visual acuity in the better eye meets the standard.
The better eye must be reviewed at least every two years.
Colour blindness
There is no colour vision standard for car or commercial drivers in Australia. Clinicians are expected to talk to drivers with a significant colour deficiency about how it may affect their response to signal lights.
Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye conditions
There is no separate rule for each eye disease. What matters is whether you still meet the acuity and field standards. South Australia lists “vision and eye disorders” among the conditions to report, and its handbook says you may need an Eyesight Certificate completed by your doctor or an eyesight specialist. Progressive conditions usually mean regular reviews.
Licence conditions for glasses or contacts
| State | How it shows |
|---|---|
| South Australia | Condition S (corrective lenses) on the card. To remove it, your doctor or optometrist completes eyesight certificate MR204. |
| Western Australia | If you need glasses or contacts to pass the eyesight test, your permit and licence are endorsed to say you must wear them. |
| Other states and territories | A corrective lenses condition is printed on the licence. Check the code with your licensing authority. |
If your licence has this condition, you must wear your glasses or contacts every time you drive, including on your driving test.
Common questions
Is the learner eyesight test the same as the standard?
The counter test is a quick screen. If you don’t pass, you are usually asked for an optometrist’s report. What each state does is in eyesight tests for your learner licence in each state.
Can I drive at night with glasses?
Yes, if your licence has no night restriction. A night or daylight-only condition is only added if your eye specialist or the authority decides it is needed.
Can bioptic telescopes help me meet the standard?
Not under the national standard, which says there is not enough evidence to set one. See bioptic telescopes and driving in Australia.
Related guides
- Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
- Eyesight tests for your learner licence in each state
- Older drivers’ licence rules in each state
Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free Australia letter chart on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen, not an eye test.
Sources
- Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive” (AP-G56-22), Vision and eye disorders chapter (austroads.gov.au)
- Government of South Australia, “Report a medical condition”, “Remove an eyesight condition from your licence” and “Licence conditions” (sa.gov.au)
- Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook” (MR200, 2026), Medical fitness to drive (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe” handbook (transport.wa.gov.au)