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Most people applying for a first car or motorbike learner permit in Ireland need only an eyesight report (form D502), completed by an optician or doctor. You need a full medical report (form D501) instead if you have certain medical conditions, take medication likely to affect your driving, are applying for a truck or bus permit, or will be 75 or older. This guide explains which applies to you, what the eyesight standard is, and what the forms involve.
Key facts
- Eyesight report: form D502, by a registered ophthalmic optician or registered doctor.
- Medical report: form D501, by a registered doctor.
- You sign the form in front of the optician or doctor.
- A medical report covers your eyesight too, so you don’t need both.
- Under the 2006 Regulations you don’t need a new eyesight report if you have already provided one, or a medical report, with an earlier application.
- Mandatory medical report age: 75, raised from 70 in February 2022.
Do you need an eyesight report or a medical report?
| Your situation | What to send |
|---|---|
| First learner permit for a car, motorbike, moped or work vehicle (B, A, A1, A2, AM, W), no relevant medical condition | Eyesight report (D502) |
| You have a condition on the medical list below, or take medication likely to affect your driving | Medical report (D501) |
| You will be 75 or older on the day the permit starts, or will turn 75 within 3 months of applying | Medical report (D501) |
| Truck or bus permit (C1, C, D1, D and their trailer categories) | Medical report (D501) |
| You already gave an eyesight or medical report with an earlier application | No new eyesight report needed, though a medical condition that develops or changes still needs a D501 |
The RSA also asks for a D502 if you used to need glasses or contact lenses for driving and no longer do, so your licence record can be updated. See how to get a learner permit in Ireland for the full application.
Which conditions need a medical report (D501)?
The Rules of the Road lists these. It says the list is not exhaustive:
- diabetes treated with insulin or sulphonylurea tablets (not diabetes managed by diet or other tablets)
- epilepsy
- stroke or TIA with symptoms lasting more than one month
- fits or blackouts
- brain surgery, brain abscess, severe head injury needing in-patient treatment, brain or spinal tumour, or spinal injury
- an implanted cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator (ICD)
- repeated attacks of sudden disabling dizziness
- chronic neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease
- serious memory problems or periods of confusion
- persistent alcohol or drug misuse or dependency
- serious psychiatric illness or mental health problems
- sleep apnoea syndrome or narcolepsy
- any condition affecting your peripheral vision, total loss of sight in one eye, or a condition affecting both eyes (not colour blindness, short sight or long sight)
- a serious hearing deficiency that has worsened since your last application
- a persisting arm or leg problem that means you need a certain type of vehicle or adapted controls
- severe learning disability
If you have had a serious heart rhythm problem that ever made you lose consciousness, the RSA says to see your doctor before applying. You cannot hold a learner permit if you depend on, or regularly abuse, mind-altering substances. If in doubt about whether a condition counts, ask your GP and check the current NDLS guidance before you apply.
What is the eyesight standard for driving in Ireland?
The Licensing of Drivers Regulations 2006, as amended, and the current NDLS D502 form set out the eyesight standards. For a car or motorbike:
- visual acuity of at least 0.5 (decimal) using both eyes together, with glasses or contact lenses if you need them
- an adequate horizontal field of vision
- with total functional loss of vision in one eye or use of only one eye, acuity of at least 0.5 (6/12) in the remaining eye, with corrective lenses if needed. A competent medical authority must confirm adaptation, and that eye must meet the applicable field standard
If you need glasses or lenses to meet the standard, the report says so and your permit and licence carry code 01 (sight correction). You must then wear them every time you drive, including on your driving test.
How the forms work
- Download the D501 or D502 from the NDLS website, or get it from the optician or doctor.
- The optician or doctor completes the form. You sign it in front of them.
- Upload or post it with your learner permit application. The 2006 Regulations require the report to be dated no more than one month before you apply. Check the current validity period on the NDLS form.
Learner permits and licences at 70 and over
Until 21 February 2022 anyone aged 70 or over needed a medical report with every application. S.I. 53/2022 raised that age to 75. Car licences for older drivers also run for shorter periods: if you are 65 to 71 when the licence starts, it runs until the day before your 75th birthday, and from 72 it is granted for 3 years.
Common questions
Do I need an eyesight test for a learner permit in Ireland?
Yes, for a first car or motorbike permit you need an eyesight report (D502), unless you are sending a medical report (D501) instead.
Can an optician fill in the D502?
Yes. A registered ophthalmic optician or a registered doctor can complete it. Only a registered doctor can complete the D501 medical report.
I wear glasses. Is that a problem?
No. You can meet the standard with glasses or contact lenses. Your licence will show code 01 and you must wear them whenever you drive.
Is colour blindness a problem for driving in Ireland?
The Rules of the Road medical list excludes colour blindness from the eye conditions that need a medical report.
I have type 1 diabetes. Can I still learn to drive?
Diabetes treated with insulin is on the list that needs a D501 medical report. Your doctor assesses whether you meet the fitness standard, so talk to them before you apply.
Do I need a new eyesight report for my second or third learner permit?
Not if you already provided one with an earlier application. See learner permit rules from November 2026.
Back to learning to drive in Ireland. Related: Irish driving licence categories and after you pass in Ireland.
Sources
- Road Safety Authority, “Rules of the Road”, Section 1 Eyesight and medical reports, and Appendix 1 List of medical report requirements (Revision 5, hosted on garda.ie)
- Irish Statute Book, “S.I. No. 537/2006, Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006”, Regulation 41 and Schedules 3 and 7 (irishstatutebook.ie)
- Irish Statute Book, “S.I. No. 53/2022, Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) Regulations 2022” (irishstatutebook.ie)
- Irish Statute Book, “S.I. No. 193/2025, Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) Regulations 2025”, licence codes table (irishstatutebook.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “Learner permit” (rsa.ie)
- Government of Ireland, S.I. No. 544/2010, substitution of Schedule 7 Eyesight standards, Group 1 paragraph 2(d), 11 November 2010 (irishstatutebook.ie)
- National Driver Licence Service, current D502 Eyesight Report, Group 1 paragraph D (ndls.ie)