A guide to visual standards for drivers

Circumstances in which DVA doesn't routinely require notification

If you are the holder of a car, moped or motorcycle driving licence (group one) you may not need to tell DVA of an eye condition. However, if your eyesight condition should worsen and you can't read a number plate or you lose any of your field of vision you must write and tell DVA.

In the interests of road safety, you must be sure at all times that you can safely control a motor vehicle.

Sight in one eye only

If you only have sight in one eye you may still be able to meet the visual standards for driving set out below.

It may take up to three months for you to adapt safely to driving with one eye, be prepared for this. In particular your ability to judge distances accurately may be affected and you may not be aware of objects to either side of you.

Following the removal of cataracts

If you have had surgery to remove cataracts, your eyesight following surgery must be within the required standard given below to allow you to continue driving.

Visual acuity standards

You must be able to read a standard size number plate (with glasses or corrective lenses if necessary) from 20.5 metres (67 feet) or 20 metres (65 feet) where narrower characters 50mm wide are displayed. This requirement is set in law and any person driving on a public highway who is unable to do this is guilty of an offence.

The 'number plate test' may be self-administered, allowing you to keep a regular check on your visual ability. You should also be aware that if the police have reason to suspect that a driver is driving with defective vision they can require the driver to take a 'number plate test'. Failure may lead to prosecution.

Visual field standards

You must also make sure that you have an adequate field of vision. The field of vision standard requires a specific width of visual field without significant defects in the sensitive central area. If you have total loss of sight in one eye you must not have any defect in the visual field of the remaining eye.

If you have any doubt about whether you can meet the requirements, your GP (doctor), optician or eye specialist will be able to advise you.

Static Visual Field Defects

Applicants for, and holders of, driving licences who do not meet the visual field standard may be issued with a licence under the exceptional cases criteria outlined in the Exceptional Cases Criteria section below.

Exceptional Cases Criteria

You must meet ALL of the following strict criteria:

The defect must have been:

• present for at least 12 months

and

• caused by an isolated event or a non-progressive condition

• There must be no other condition or pathology regarded as progressive and likely to be affecting the visual fields (certain medical conditions, for example glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa, would always be considered as progressive and do not fall within the exceptional cases criteria)

You must have:

• sight in both eyes
• no uncontrolled diplopia
• no other impairment of visual function, including no glare sensitivity, contrast sensitivity or impairment of twilight vision
• clinical confirmation of full functional adaptation

Application Process

Provisional Driving Licences

To be considered under the exceptional cases criteria process, you will need to include evidence showing that each point listed above can be met. 

• Download the Exceptional Cases Criteria Checklist

You will need to have this form completed and sent to DVA with your driving licence application. 

If you meet all the required exceptional criteria, DVA will issue a Disability Assessment licence valid for one year, provided you agree to accept certain conditions:  you must, at all times, be accompanied by a qualified driver who, in an emergency, will be able to take control of the steering and braking functions.  

This licence will allow you to have driving lessons for a period of one year.  Once your driving instructor can provide a supportive letter stating that you have sufficient basic driving competence, you can contact DVA to arrange an on the road assessment with Disability Action to determine whether the visual field defect adversely affects your ability to drive safely.  If the assessment is favourable, you will be re-issued with an unrestricted provisional licence to enable you to complete your driving instruction and take the theory and practical driving tests.

Previous and Existing Licence Holders

If your licence was revoked because of a visual field disorder, you may be able to have your licence re-issued if you meet all of the exceptional cases criteria.

• Download the Exceptional Cases Criteria Checklist 

You will need to have this form completed and sent to DVA with your driving licence application.

If you develop a visual field disorder, you must tell DVA.   You will be issued with medical forms to check whether you meet the relevant medical standards of fitness to drive.

If you meet all of the exceptional cases criteria, and provided there are no other disbarring medical factors, DVA will require a satisfactory on the road disability driving assessment.

If you don’t tell DVA about a medical condition

It is an offence if you do not tell the DVA about a medical condition that may impact your ability to drive and is punishable, on conviction, of a fine of up to £1,000.

It is also an offence to drive after making a false declaration about your health to the DVA and is punishable, on conviction, of a fine of up to £2,500.

Further information

If the above information indicates that you do need to tell DVA about your condition, you can do so by printing off and completing the optician's report below and sending it to:

• Acuity of vision form
   

Alternatively if you meet all the requirements set out above, DVA don't require notification.  

If you have been advised by your doctor, optician or eye specialist that you should not be driving you may wish to voluntarily surrender your licence and re-apply for its return in the future when you have the support of your doctor(s).

• How to surrender your driving licence and return to driving at a later date  

More useful links

• Motoring and transport
• At a glance guide to the current standards of fitness to drive - GOV.UK website