Photo: Antoni Shkraba / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
To drive in Great Britain you must be able to read a car number plate from 20 metres, about the length of 5 parked cars. You must also have a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale using both eyes together, and an adequate field of vision. Glasses or contact lenses are allowed if you need them. Your practical driving test starts with this number plate check, and if you fail it, the test ends and your licence is revoked. This guide explains the standard, the test-day check, and when you must tell DVLA.
Key facts
- Number plate: 20 metres for a new-style plate, 20.5 metres for an old-style plate (on the driving test).
- Acuity: at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) on the Snellen scale, both eyes together (or the one eye if you have sight in only one).
- Field of vision: must be adequate. An optician can test it.
- Glasses or lenses: if you need them to meet the standard, you must wear them every time you drive.
- Fail the test-day check: the test stops, you fail, DVLA is told and your licence is revoked.
The three parts of the eyesight standard
| Requirement | What it means | Who checks it |
|---|---|---|
| Read a number plate at 20 metres | With glasses or lenses if you use them for driving | Your examiner, at the start of the practical test |
| Visual acuity of decimal 0.5 (6/12) | Measured on the Snellen letter chart, both eyes together | An optician |
| Adequate field of vision | How wide an area you can see | An optician |
Meeting the number plate distance alone does not prove you meet the acuity and field standards. If you are unsure, see an optician.
How the eyesight check works on the driving test
- Before you drive, the examiner points to a parked vehicle.
- You read its number plate aloud: from 20 metres for a new-style plate, or 20.5 metres for an old-style plate.
- New-style plates start with 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, such as AB51 ABC.
- Wear your glasses or lenses if you drive in them.
What happens if you fail the eyesight check?
- You fail the driving test and it does not continue.
- DVLA is told and your licence is revoked.
- When you reapply, DVLA will ask you to take an eyesight test with DVSA at a driving test centre.
- Even if you pass that, you must still pass the standard eyesight check at your next practical test.
Eyesight is one of the checks covered in the top reasons people fail the driving test.
Practise at the right distance
Measure 20 metres, about 5 parked car lengths, and try reading plates before your test. You can also use the on-screen tools: driving eyesight practice and the approaching car challenge. If you struggle, book an eye test before your driving test, not after.
Do you need to tell DVLA about your eyesight?
You must tell DVLA if you have any eyesight problem that affects both eyes, or your remaining eye if you have only one.
You do not need to tell DVLA about:
- being short-sighted or long-sighted
- being colour blind
- surgery to correct short sight, if you can meet the standard afterwards
Check specific conditions in the A to Z of medical conditions on GOV.UK. If you report a condition affecting your vision, DVLA may refer you to one of its contracted opticians for a free test. You can send results from another optician instead, if they include an Esterman visual field test, but you will pay for it and DVLA does not guarantee to accept it. More on medical reporting: fitness to drive and telling the DVLA.
Glasses and code 01 on your licence
If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the standard, you must wear them every time you drive. Code 01 on the back of a licence means eyesight correction. See licence categories and codes.
Penalties for driving below the standard
- You could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting the standards of vision for driving.
- Code MS70, driving with uncorrected defective eyesight: 3 penalty points.
- Code MS80, refusing to submit to an eyesight test: 3 penalty points.
For new drivers, 3 points is half the 6-point limit in the first 2 years. See the New Drivers Act.
Lorry and bus drivers: a higher standard
Lorry and bus drivers need acuity of at least 0.8 (6/7.5) in the best eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) in the other. They also need a horizontal field of at least 160 degrees, and must tell DVLA about any problem affecting either eye.
Common questions
How far away do you have to read a number plate for the driving test?
20 metres for a new-style plate and 20.5 metres for an old-style plate.
Can I wear glasses for the eyesight check?
Yes. If you need them to meet the standard, you must wear them whenever you drive.
What does 6/12 mean?
It is the minimum visual acuity for car drivers on the Snellen chart, written as decimal 0.5. An optician can measure it for you.
Does colour blindness stop me driving?
No. You don’t need to tell DVLA about colour blindness.
Do I get a second go if I misread the plate?
The official guidance says only that you must correctly read a number plate, and that failing ends the test. Practise beforehand rather than rely on a retry.
Is the eyesight standard the same in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland licensing is run by the DVA. Check nidirect for its rules.
Related: what to bring to your driving test and the practical driving test guide. Back to the main guide: Learning to Drive in Great Britain.
Sources
- GOV.UK, “Driving eyesight rules” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Driving test: cars: What happens during the test” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Driving licence codes” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Penalty points (endorsements): Endorsement codes and penalty points” (gov.uk)