Eye Test for Car Sharing and Rental Cars in Germany

Introduction

Eye test for car sharing is a question that many expats ask when they arrive in Germany and want to use a car without owning one. Car sharing services such as Miles, Sixt Share, and Share Now, and rental car companies such as Sixt, Europcar, and Enterprise, are everywhere in German cities, and they make it easy to drive for a few hours or a few days. But do you need a separate eye test for car sharing? The short answer is no. There is no special eye test for car sharing or for rental cars in Germany. What you need is a valid driving licence, and you can only get that licence after you have passed the official eye test. This guide explains how eye test for car sharing works in practice, which licence you need, and what to check before you book a car.

Eye test for car sharing matters because many expats arrive in Germany with a foreign driving licence and are not sure whether it works for a car sharing service. The rules for a foreign licence are different from the rules for a German licence, and the car sharing company will check your licence in its app before it lets you unlock a car. If your licence is from the EU or the EEA, it is usually accepted at once. If it is from outside the EU, it may be accepted for the first six months after you move to Germany, and after that you will need a German licence, which means that you will need to pass the eye test. The same rules apply to rental cars, although some rental companies have stricter age limits.

In this article, you will learn whether you need an eye test for car sharing, which driving licences are accepted by car sharing and rental companies in Germany, what the age and experience rules are, how to register with a service, and what happens if your licence has a glasses condition on it. You will also find practical advice on driving a rented car in Germany, and answers to the questions that expats ask most often about car sharing, rental cars, and the eye test.

Do You Need an Eye Test for Car Sharing?

Eye test for car sharing is not a separate test, and no car sharing company in Germany will ask you to take one. The company checks your driving licence, not your eyesight, because your eyesight was already checked when your licence was issued. In Germany, every driving licence applicant must pass the Sehtest, the driving licence eye test, before the licence can be issued, and that test is the proof that you can see well enough to drive. The car sharing company trusts that proof, and it does not repeat the test. The same applies to a rental car company: it will ask for your licence, your identity card or passport, and a credit card, but it will not ask for an eye test certificate.

That does not mean that your eyesight is irrelevant. If your licence has a condition that you must wear glasses while driving, the car sharing company expects you to follow it, and the police can fine you if you drive without your glasses. The condition is written on the back of your licence as code 01.01 for glasses or 01.02 for contact lenses, and it applies to every car you drive, whether it is your own, a shared car, or a rental car. The terms of the car sharing company usually say that you must hold a valid licence and follow all legal rules when you drive, and that includes the glasses condition.

Eye test for car sharing is also a good reminder to have your eyes checked regularly, even if no company asks you to. Germany has no routine re-test for car drivers, so it is easy to forget that your vision may have changed since you passed the test. If you use a shared car in a new city, in the dark, or in bad weather, your eyes need to be at their best. A quick visit to an optician every two years is enough to check your prescription and to make sure that you still see well enough to drive safely.

Eye Test for Car Sharing: Which Licences Are Accepted?

Eye test for car sharing starts with the licence, and the rules depend on where your licence was issued. A driving licence from an EU or EEA country, such as France, Poland, or the Netherlands, is valid in Germany without any time limit, and it is accepted by all car sharing companies. You can register with a service using that licence, and you do not need a German eye test, because your licence was issued after a test in your home country. A licence from a country outside the EU, such as the United States, India, or Turkey, is valid in Germany for six months after you register your address, and then it must be exchanged for a German licence.

Exchanging a foreign licence is the point where the eye test for car sharing becomes important. To exchange a licence from outside the EU, you will usually need an eye test certificate, a first aid course, and in some cases a theory and practical driving test, depending on the country. The eye test certificate is the same Sehtest that German applicants take, and it costs a few euros at an optician. Some countries have an agreement with Germany that makes the exchange easier, and some do not, so check the rules for your country before you apply, or read the country-specific guides on this site.

Car sharing companies also check the date on your licence, because many of them have a minimum holding period. Most services require that you have held your licence for at least one year, and some require two years for a larger car or for a van. Rental car companies are often stricter: the minimum age is usually 21, and for larger cars and for sports cars it can be 25, and a young driver surcharge may apply until you are 25. These are commercial rules, not legal rules, but they are part of the terms that you accept when you register.

How to Register with a Car Sharing Service

Eye test for car sharing is not part of the registration process, but the registration itself is usually done in an app. You download the app for the service, take a photo of your driving licence and your identity card, and wait for the company to check them. The check usually takes a few minutes to a few hours, and the company will tell you if your licence is accepted. Some services also ask for a video identification, called Video-Ident, in which you show your licence to a camera and answer a few questions. The app will ask you to confirm that your licence is valid and that you are fit to drive, and it will show you the terms and the insurance cover.

When you book a car, the app will show you the nearest car on a map, and you can unlock it with your phone. The car will be clean, fueled or charged, and insured, and the keys are usually in the glove box. When you finish, you park the car in the permitted area, lock it from the app, and the service charges you for the time or distance you used. The price includes the fuel, the insurance, and the parking, which is why car sharing can be cheaper than owning a car in a city, especially if you only need a car for a few hours a week.

Rental Cars in Germany: The Rules

Eye test for car sharing applies in the same way to rental cars, because a rental car company is also a commercial service that checks your licence, not your eyesight. Sixt, Europcar, Enterprise, and Avis all ask for the same documents: a driving licence, an identity card or passport, and a credit card in the name of the driver. The credit card is used for the deposit, and it must be in your name, not in a friend’s name. A debit card is sometimes accepted, but the deposit is higher, and the conditions are worse. Bring the driving licence itself, not a copy, and bring the original eye test certificate only if you are applying for a German licence, not for a rental car.

Rental cars in Germany also have their own rules about age, about additional drivers, and about where you can take the car. A driver under 25 will usually pay a young driver surcharge, and a driver under 21 may not be able to rent at all. An additional driver must also have a valid licence, and the fee is usually between 5 and 10 euros a day. Taking the car to another country, for example to France, Italy, or Poland, is usually allowed, but you must tell the company in advance, and the price may be higher. Driving a rental car without telling the company that you are crossing a border can void your insurance.

The eye test for a driving licence page on this site explains the standard test that you need for your licence, and the eye test in Berlin page shows the kind of local information that helps you to find a test in a big city where car sharing is most popular.

What to Check Before You Drive a Shared or Rented Car

Eye test for car sharing is the wrong question if you want to be safe in a car you have never driven before. The right questions are about the car itself. Check the outside of the car for damage before you unlock it, and report any damage in the app, so that you are not charged for it later. Check the inside for the fuel level or battery charge, for the keys, and for the warning triangle and first aid kit, which are required in Germany. Adjust the seat, the mirrors, and the steering wheel before you drive, and put on your glasses if your licence requires them.

Drive the car for a few minutes in a quiet street before you join fast traffic, so that you can get used to the pedals, the steering, and the indicator, which may be in a different place from the car you know. If the car is an electric car, the acceleration is much quicker than a petrol car, and the braking is stronger when you lift your foot from the accelerator. A short practice drive in a car park can prevent a shock on the road, and it is a habit that experienced drivers have, whether they rent a car or borrow one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special eye test for car sharing in Germany?
No. Eye test for car sharing is not a separate test. You need a valid driving licence, which you got after passing the official eye test, and the car sharing company checks your licence, not your eyesight.

Can I use car sharing with a foreign driving licence?
Yes, if your licence is valid in Germany. An EU or EEA licence is valid without a time limit. A non-EU licence is valid for six months after you register your address in Germany, and then you need a German licence, which requires an eye test.

Do rental car companies ask for an eye test certificate?
No. Rental companies ask for your driving licence, your identity card or passport, and a credit card. They do not ask for an eye test certificate, because your licence already proves that you passed the eye test.

What happens if my licence says I must wear glasses?
The glasses condition applies to every car you drive, including a shared car and a rental car. You must wear glasses or contact lenses while driving, or you can be fined by the police and your insurance may be affected.

Can I use car sharing before my German licence arrives?
It depends on your foreign licence. If it is an EU licence, you can register at once. If it is a non-EU licence, you can register for the first six months. After that, you will need a German licence to continue using car sharing services.

For the official legal text behind the rules in this article, see the German driving licence regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung).

Eye test for car sharing is not a separate test in Germany. Eye test for car sharing is about having a valid licence, and a valid licence means you passed the eye test. Eye test for car sharing is simple once you know the licence rules.

Conclusion

Eye test for car sharing is a simple idea once you understand it: there is no separate test for car sharing or for rental cars in Germany. You need a valid driving licence, and you need to follow any conditions on it, such as wearing glasses. Your licence was issued after you passed the eye test, and that is enough for the car sharing company and for the rental company. If your licence is from the EU, you can register at once. If it is from outside the EU, it is valid for six months, and then you must exchange it for a German licence, which means a new eye test. Check the age limits, bring your licence and your credit card, and take a few minutes to check the car before you drive. Car sharing and rental cars are a convenient way to drive in Germany without owning a car, and a valid licence is the only document you need.