The DMV vision test
Before you can get a permit, you have to pass a vision screening. It checks that you can see well enough to drive, usually by reading letters on a chart or in a machine.
How to prepare
- If you haven't had your eyes checked recently, see an optometrist before your appointment. It's the only real preparation, and it may show you need glasses.
- Bring the glasses or contact lenses you use. If you need them to pass, your license will normally require you to wear them when driving.
- If you don't meet the standard, your state's agency will tell you the next step, which may include a report from your own eye doctor.
There is no "answer key" for the vision test: the letters vary, and the point is to make sure you can see the road safely.
Vision standards by state
| State | Vision standard |
|---|---|
| Alabama | You need visual acuity of at least 20/60 in at least one eye and a horizontal field of vision of at least 110 degrees from center (temporal). Wear glasses or contacts if you need them to meet this. |
| Alaska | At least 20/40 in each eye or with both eyes together; corrective lenses must be worn if needed to qualify. A certified statement from a physician or optometrist may be submitted instead of the DMV vision test. Required for original, renewal and duplicate licenses. |
| Arizona | Uncorrected vision of 20/40 or better in at least one eye for an unrestricted license; those who need glasses or contacts to meet it get a 'B' restriction (corrective lenses required). A visual field test is also given. |
| Arkansas | Uncorrected acuity 20/40 for an unrestricted license, or corrected 20/70 for a restricted license (lenses required); field of vision 140° with two functional eyes or 105° with one. Vision test and ASP-90 referral form valid one year; referral forms must be from an Arkansas optometrist. |
| California | You need 20/40 with both eyes together, and 20/40 in one eye and at least 20/70 in the other, with or without glasses or contacts (Snellen chart). If you fail, you are referred to an eye specialist to complete a Report of Vision Examination (DL 62). Applicants with acuity of 20/200 or worse may not be scheduled for a drive test. Passing with glasses or contacts adds a corrective lens restriction. |
| Connecticut | At least 20/40, with or without glasses or contact lenses, for all license classes. You also need 140 degrees of peripheral vision with both eyes. If you are blind in one eye, the other eye must be at least 20/40 with a field of vision of 100 degrees or more. |
| Delaware | 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without glasses or contact lenses. Daylight-only driving may be allowed with vision between 20/40 and 20/50. |
| Washington DC | With or without corrective lenses: at least 20/40 in the better eye, or at least 20/70 in the better eye with a field of vision of at least 140 degrees. |
| Florida | 20/40 or better in each eye (with or without corrective lenses) meets the standard without referral; 20/50 or worse in either eye is referred to an eye specialist; 20/70 in either eye or both eyes together may pass after referral if the worse eye is better than 20/200; if one eye is blind or 20/200 or worse, the other eye must be 20/40 or better. Minimum field of vision 130 degrees. Telescopic lenses are not recognized. Applicants also take a hearing screening. |
| Georgia | 20/60 in one eye, with or without corrective lenses, and a horizontal field of vision of at least 140 degrees (non-commercial) |
| Hawaii | Categories 1-3: 20/40 (Snellen) or better in one eye, corrected or uncorrected, and a horizontal field of 70 degrees or more using one eye. Outside rear-view mirror restriction if the binocular field is 70-139 degrees or only one eye meets 20/40; corrective lens restriction if needed. Vision test required for permits, new licenses and renewals; may be waived with an eye exam certificate from the last six months. |
| Idaho | 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses (lens restriction if glasses/contacts are worn). |
| Illinois | Minimum visual acuity 20/40 with or without corrective lenses; acuity between 20/41 and 20/70 is limited to daylight driving only. At least 140 degrees of peripheral vision. A Vision Specialist Report from an optometrist, ophthalmologist or physician dated within 6 months may be submitted instead of the DMV screening. |
| Indiana | Without glasses: 20/20 to 20/40 in both eyes = no restriction; 20/40 or better in one eye with 20/50 to blind in the other = restriction F (outside mirrors/rearview camera). With glasses: restrictions B (corrective lenses), F and G (daylight only) apply at 20/50-20/70 levels. Vision screening is required for every permit/license and in-branch renewal. |
| Iowa | Screened without lenses: 20/40 or better (both eyes or better eye) = no restriction; less than 20/40 but at least 20/70 = no driving when headlights are required. Screened with lenses: same thresholds plus a corrective-lens restriction. A driving test is required the first time acuity measures below 20/40, and an applicant who cannot reach 20/40 gets a two-year license. If an applicant cannot attain 20/40 in at least one eye (but can attain 20/70), the license is not issued until a vision specialist's report is submitted. Below 20/70 = denied (discretionary review possible). Left eye below 20/100 = outside mirrors on both sides. Binocular field at least 140 degrees = no restriction; 110-139 degrees (or one eye at least 100 degrees) = outside mirrors both sides; less = denied (discretionary review possible). |
| Kansas | At least 20/40 in one eye, with or without corrective lenses, when screened at the driver license station. Applicants who fail must have a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist complete the Driver Licensing eye examination form (DV-124V); reports must be within 90 days. |
| Kentucky | Screening: 20/40 (corrected or uncorrected) to proceed to the written test; applicants who don't meet it are referred to a specialist and may test with 20/60 or better. Medical Review Board standard: at least 20/60 in at least one eye, horizontal field at least 35° left and right, vertical field 25° above and below fixation. Bioptic Driving Program for lower acuity. |
| Louisiana | 20/40 in one or both eyes (minimum standard). Failing applicants get a vision report for a specialist to complete. Corrective-lens restriction code 01. |
| Maine | Visual acuity at least 20/40 in the better seeing eye (and 20/100 in the fellow eye under exceptional-case criteria) and at least 110 degrees of continuous horizontal field. Corrective lenses required if uncorrected acuity is worse than 20/40 in both eyes; daylight-only driving for 20/50 to 20/100 in the better eye. Screening is free at the written exam or by an eye care specialist on form MVE-103. |
| Maryland | Unrestricted license without corrective lenses: binocular vision, 20/40 or better in each eye, and a continuous field of vision of at least 140 degrees. Restricted license: acuity between 20/40 and 20/70 in one or both eyes and/or a field of at least 110 degrees, or a need for corrective lenses. Special review (Modified Vision Program): 20/70-20/100 and/or a field of 70-110 degrees. |
| Massachusetts | At least 20/40 in the better eye (corrected) and at least 120 degrees horizontal peripheral vision (both eyes) for a full license; 20/50 to 20/70 in the better eye may qualify for a daylight-only license. Screening covers acuity, color and peripheral vision; a Vision Screening Certificate from an eye doctor may be accepted instead. |
| Michigan | Unrestricted license: visual acuity of 20/40 and a peripheral field of 140 degrees. Below 20/40 down to 20/50 with a field of 140 to 110 degrees may be accepted with an ophthalmologist's or optometrist's statement. A restricted license with conditions is possible with a field of less than 110 down to 90 degrees. The license is denied if acuity is below 20/60 with progressive abnormalities, below 20/70 otherwise, 20/100 or less in one eye with less than 20/50 in the other, or an unaided field below 90 degrees. 'Daylight driving only' limits may be set based on a vision statement. |
| Minnesota | At least 20/40 (normal or corrected) and peripheral vision of at least 105 degrees |
| Missouri | Acuity at least 20/40 with either or both eyes; peripheral vision at least 55 degrees in each eye or 85 degrees in one eye. If both natural and corrected acuity are worse than 20/160, or combined peripheral is worse than 70 degrees, no driving test and no license. |
| Montana | At least 20/40 vision in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses. |
| Nebraska | 20/40 with both eyes (with or without corrective lenses) for an unrestricted license; 20/50 to 20/70 may be licensed with restrictions (e.g. G daylight only, F outside mirrors, X maximum speed); 20/80 or worse is denied. Field of vision 140 degrees or more unrestricted, 100-139 degrees with restrictions, under 100 degrees denied. |
| Nevada | Minimum acceptable vision 20/40 in at least one eye. Glasses/contacts needed to pass → restriction B. |
| New Hampshire | 20/40 in both eyes; 20/30 if sight in only one eye. Corrective lenses needed to pass = 'B' restriction. |
| New Jersey | 20/50 visual acuity with or without corrective lenses (basic license). One eye only: that eye must meet 20/50 and a physician must sign documentation. CDL: 20/40 in both eyes and must distinguish red, green and amber. |
| New Mexico | At least 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses (new and renewal) |
| New York | 20/40 in at least one eye, with or without corrective lenses |
| North Carolina | 20/40 or better in at least one eye for an unrestricted license; a corrective-lens restriction is required if acuity is less than 20/40 in either eye or both eyes together. Corrective lenses must then be worn at all times while driving; driving without them is treated the same as driving without a license. |
| Ohio | Binocular vision: 20/40 or better (both eyes together) for a license without vision restrictions; poorer than 20/40 but not worse than 20/70 allows daylight-only driving; worse than 20/70 is denied. Monocular vision (one eye 20/200 or better): 20/30 for no restriction; poorer than 20/30 but not worse than 20/60 daylight only; worse than 20/60 denied. Visual field: 70 degrees on both sides of center for an unrestricted license; at least 70 degrees on one side and 45 on the other qualifies with a mirror restriction. If you need glasses or contacts to meet the standard, you get a corrective-lens restriction. |
| Oklahoma | Class D: visual acuity of 20/60 or better in both eyes, or 20/50 or better in one eye, with or without glasses or contacts. A restricted license (speed, area, time) may be issued down to 20/100. Horizontal field of vision of at least 70 degrees (restricted license possible down to 60 degrees). Vision is screened for new drivers and for renewals of licenses expired more than 3 years; it is not required for renewals expired less than 3 years. |
| Oregon | You need visual acuity of 20/70 or better looking through both eyes (or through the one eye with usable vision; with two usable eyes, one eye at 20/70 or better is enough) and a field of vision of at least 110 degrees. If your best eye is worse than 20/40 but no worse than 20/70, DMV restricts you to daylight driving unless a licensed vision specialist advises otherwise in writing. DMV tests your eyesight at no charge. If you test wearing glasses or contacts, you must wear them to drive. If you fail, you get a form for a licensed vision specialist. Drivers 65 and older must have their vision tested in person at renewal. |
| Pennsylvania | 20/40 or better combined vision to drive without corrective lenses; under 20/40 must wear lenses correcting to 20/40. If 20/40 can't be reached: daylight-only driving with 20/60 combined (or 20/70 on a professional's recommendation); 20/70-20/100 combined allows only a restricted license (annual vision exam, driver's exam, no freeways); worse than 20/100 cannot drive. Combined horizontal field of at least 120 degrees. One-eyed drivers are restricted to vehicles with mirrors showing 200 feet to the rear. Telescopic lenses not accepted for acuity. |
| Rhode Island | At least 20/40 with corrective lenses; vision test at DMV or a Vision Examination Card signed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. |
| South Carolina | 20/40 or better; the minimum standard does not require more than 20/40 corrected in one eye. A corrective-lens restriction ('A') is added if lenses are needed to meet the standard. Certificates of Vision Examination from an eye care professional are valid 36 months. |
| South Dakota | 20/40 or better with both eyes, and no worse than 20/50 in either eye, for a license without restrictions |
| Tennessee | At least 20/40 in each eye individually and both eyes together, with or without glasses or contacts; otherwise an eye specialist statement is evaluated |
| Texas | Without corrective lenses, 20/40 or better in each eye and both together means no restriction. With corrective lenses, 20/50 or better in the best eye or both together means a corrective-lenses restriction. 20/60 or 20/70 in the best eye means corrective lenses plus daytime-only driving, a 45 mph limit and other restrictions as advisable. Worse than 20/70 in the best eye fails. One eye: 20/25 or better without lenses means no restriction. Color vision is checked on all original applicants. |
| Utah | 20/40 in at least one eye and a visual field of at least 90 degrees for Class D; applicants older than 65 must pass a vision test |
| Vermont | 20/40 on the DMV vision-screening device; otherwise referral to a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist who evaluates whether restrictions are needed. |
| Virginia | Unrestricted license: 20/40 or better in one or both eyes AND at least 110 degrees horizontal field in one or both eyes. Daylight-only license: 20/70 or better in one or both eyes AND at least 70 degrees horizontal field (one-eyed drivers: 30 degrees toward the nose and 40 toward the temple). Daylight-only means half an hour after sunrise to half an hour before sunset. Drivers who need corrective lenses get restriction code C. |
| Washington | Vision screening at a licensing office. If your acuity is worse than 20/40 (both eyes together, with or without glasses or contacts), you need an eye exam. Vision that can't be corrected to 20/100 fails, and vision that can't be corrected to 20/70 fails for night driving. Corrective lenses are noted on the license. |
| West Virginia | 20/40 or better using both eyes, with or without conventional corrective lenses, and no serious visual defect (one eye: 20/40 in that eye). Bioptic/telescopic lenses may not be used to meet the acuity standard. Below standard: DLAB-Form 2 from a vision specialist; possible Driver's License Advisory Board review. |
| Wisconsin | For an unrestricted license you need visual acuity of at least 20/40 in one eye (with or without glasses or contacts) and a 70-degree field of vision from the center of each eye. The minimum for a regular license is 20/100 in at least one eye and a 20-degree field from center in at least one eye. Vision below 20/40 or 70 degrees may require a vision specialist referral, a skills test or license restrictions. Bioptic lenses may not be used to meet the standards. |
| Wyoming | 20/40 acuity with both eyes, with or without glasses, and a combined horizontal field of at least 120 degrees. Worse than 20/40 but at least 20/100 requires a driving skills test. Failing the screening requires a vision statement from an eye specialist. |
From each state's handbook or licensing agency.