Eye Test in Cologne: Where to Go and What It Costs

Introduction

Eye test in Cologne is the first step for anyone who wants a driving licence in Cologne, and it is one of the easiest parts of the application. Cologne, or Koeln, is one of the largest cities in Germany, and it has dozens of opticians who do the official driving licence eye test every day. You do not need to book weeks in advance, you do not need a referral from a doctor, and you do not need to speak perfect German. This guide explains where to go for an eye test in Cologne, what it costs, and how the test fits into the driving licence application at the Cologne licence office.

Eye test in Cologne is the standard German driving licence eye test, the Sehtest, and it is the same test in Cologne as in every other German city. The optician checks your visual acuity, called Visus, and your visual field, and the result is written on the Sehtest-Bescheinigung, which you take to the driving licence office. You need a visual acuity of at least 0.7 with both eyes together, with or without glasses or contact lenses. The test takes ten to twenty minutes, the certificate is valid for two years, and the fee is between 6.43 and 15 euros.

In this article, you will learn where to take an eye test in Cologne, which opticians are best for expats, how much the test costs in Cologne, how to reach the opticians by tram and U-Bahn, and what the Cologne driving licence office asks for. You will also find a practical plan for your visit, tips for the test day, and answers to the questions that expats ask most often about eye tests and driving licences in Cologne. By the end, you will know exactly where to go, what to bring, and how to get your licence application started in the city on the Rhine.

Where to Go for an Eye Test in Cologne

Eye test in Cologne is available at many opticians, and the best places to start are the large chains in the city centre. Fielmann has several branches in Cologne, including one on the Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse, the main shopping streets, and one in the Koeln Arcaden, and it offers the Sehtest free of charge in many branches, without an appointment. Apollo and Pro Optik also have branches in the city centre, and they do the test for a few euros or for free. Smaller local opticians in Ehrenfeld, Nippes, and Rodenkirchen also do the test, and they are often quieter than the city centre branches, so you can be seen at once.

Eye test in Cologne is also available at opticians in the shopping centres and in the main railway station, the Hauptbahnhof, which is convenient if you travel by train. The opticians in the station and in the centre are open on Saturdays, and some are open in the evening, which makes it easy to fit the test around work. If you live outside the centre, in a suburb such as Porz, Chorweiler, or Lindenthal, your local optician can do the test, and the certificate is the same as in the centre. The result does not depend on where you take the test, only on your eyesight.

Eye test in Cologne can also be done by an ophthalmologist, an Augenarzt, if you need a more detailed examination. An ophthalmologist is needed if the optician finds a problem, for example a cataract, a retinal disease, or a visual field that is not normal. There are many ophthalmologists in Cologne, in the city centre and in the suburbs, and your health insurance will usually cover the examination if there is a medical reason. Bring a referral from your GP if you have one, but you can also book an appointment directly with an ophthalmologist in most practices.

What Does an Eye Test in Cologne Cost?

Eye test in Cologne costs the same as in the rest of Germany, because the fee is set by federal law. The eye test certificate costs a maximum of 6.43 euros, and the test itself is usually charged as a small separate fee, so the total is between 6.43 and 15 euros. At Fielmann, the test is often free of charge, and at Apollo and Pro Optik it is usually between 0 and 10 euros, depending on the branch. A small local optician may charge the full 15 euros, but the test is the same, and the certificate is the same official form, signed and stamped in the same way.

Eye test in Cologne can cost more if you need an ophthalmological examination, which usually costs between 50 and 150 euros, and which is covered by statutory health insurance if there is a medical reason. If you need new glasses, the cost of the glasses is separate, and it can be between 50 euros for a simple frame and several hundred euros for a branded frame. A student discount on glasses is available at some opticians in Cologne, and it is worth asking about it, because a discount can be 10 to 20 percent off the price of the glasses, and student life in Cologne is often on a tight budget.

Eye test in Cologne is a small part of the total cost of a driving licence, which is between 1,500 and 3,000 euros in Cologne, depending on the driving school and the number of lessons you need. The driving school will usually help you with the paperwork, and it may work with a local optician and book the test for you. Ask your driving school whether it has a partner optician, because some schools organise a monthly eye test for their pupils, sometimes at the school itself or at a nearby optician, and the price is the standard price.

How to Reach the Opticians in Cologne

Eye test in Cologne is easy to reach by public transport. The Hohe Strasse and Schildergasse are served by the U-Bahn lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, and 16, and by the S-Bahn at the Hauptbahnhof and at the Neumarkt station. The opticians there are a short walk from the station, and they are open on Saturdays. The Hauptbahnhof is served by all S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines, and by regional trains and Intercity trains, and the opticians in the station are open on Saturdays and in the evening, which is convenient for commuters from the region.

Eye test in Cologne in the suburbs is also easy to reach. Ehrenfeld is served by the tram lines 3 and 4 and by the S-Bahn, Nippes by the tram line 12 and the bus lines 147 and 139, and Rodenkirchen by the tram line 16 and the bus line 130. Your local optician is usually a short walk from the station, and the test is the same as in the centre. If you live outside Cologne, in a town such as Leverkusen, Bruehl, or Bonn, you can take the test there as well, because the certificate is valid throughout Germany, and the Cologne licence office must accept it.

The Cologne Driving Licence Office

Eye test in Cologne is only the first step. The next step is the driving licence office, the Fahrerlaubnisbehoerde Koeln, which is part of the city administration and is located in the city centre. You need an appointment to apply for a driving licence in Cologne, and the waiting time can be several weeks, so book the appointment as soon as you have your eye test certificate and the other documents, which are a first aid course certificate, a biometric passport photo, and your identity card or residence permit. The application fee is about 45 euros, and the processing time is a few weeks.

Eye test in Cologne is checked by the office when you submit your application, and the certificate must be less than two years old and undamaged. The office will also check your first aid course certificate, your photo, and your identity, and it will tell you if anything is missing. The eye test in Berlin page on this site shows the kind of local information that helps in a large city, and the eye test for a driving licence page explains the standard test in detail. Together, they give you a clear picture of the process, and the Cologne office can tell you about the local rules in your case.

How to Prepare for the Eye Test in Cologne

Eye test in Cologne is a simple test, but a little preparation can save you a repeat visit. Sleep well the night before, rest your eyes if you work at a screen, and bring your current glasses and contact lenses, and the prescription for them, so that the optician knows what you use. Bring your identity card or passport, and your student card if you have one, because it can help you to get a discount on glasses. The test takes ten to twenty minutes, and you will leave with the certificate in your hand.

Eye test in Cologne is best taken on a weekday morning or on a Saturday morning, when the optician is quiet, and you can be seen at once. The Hohe Strasse is busy on a Saturday afternoon, and you may have to wait, so go early if you can. If you need a new pair of glasses, the optician can measure your eyes and order the glasses on the same day, and they are usually ready within a few days, so you can do the eye test and the glasses in one week.

Where to Take the Eye Test in Cologne

Eye test in Cologne is easiest at a large optician chain in the city centre, where you can walk in without an appointment, and where the test takes 10 to 15 minutes. The Schildergasse and the Neumarkt have several large opticians, and the test is often free, and the certificate is given to you on the same day. Eye test in Cologne is also available near the main station, the Hauptbahnhof, where the shops are open early in the morning and late in the evening, and where you can take the test before or after work.

Eye test in Cologne is least busy on a weekday morning, before 11 am, or in the afternoon after 4 pm, and most busy on a Saturday between 11 am and 2 pm, when the shops are full. Eye test in Cologne can be booked in advance if you are in a hurry, because the shop can tell you how long the wait is, and you can choose a quieter time. Bring your identity card or passport, your glasses or contact lenses, and your current glasses prescription if you have one, because a missing document means the optician cannot issue the certificate, and you will have to come back.

Eye test in Cologne is also a good moment to plan the rest of your driving licence. After the eye test, you will need a first aid course, which takes a day and costs about 40 euros, and a biometric passport photo, which you can get in a photo booth in the city, and then you can submit your application at the driving licence office in Cologne. Eye test in Cologne is the first step, and the whole process can take two to six weeks, so start early, and do not leave the eye test until the last minute, because the certificate is valid for two years.

Eye test in Cologne for a lorry or bus licence, class C or D, is different, because the test is part of a medical examination by a doctor, and it is not done at an optician. Eye test in Cologne for a Group 2 licence costs between 100 and 250 euros, and it takes 30 to 60 minutes, and it includes a visual field test and a colour vision test. If you are applying for a professional licence, book the medical examination first, and bring your glasses, your medicine list, and any medical reports about your eyes, so that the doctor can write a clear report for the licence office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I take the eye test in Cologne?
Eye test in Cologne is available at Fielmann, Apollo, Pro Optik, and many local opticians in the city centre, in Ehrenfeld, Nippes, and Rodenkirchen, and in the main railway station. The test is the same at any optician, and no appointment is needed at most branches.

How much does an eye test in Cologne cost?
Eye test in Cologne costs between 6.43 and 15 euros, and it is often free at Fielmann and at other large chains. An ophthalmological examination, if you need one, costs more, usually between 50 and 150 euros, and it is covered by health insurance if there is a medical reason.

Do I need an appointment for the eye test in Cologne?
Usually not. Most opticians in Cologne do the Sehtest without an appointment, on a weekday or a Saturday. Go early on a Saturday, because it is busy, and bring your identity card and your glasses.

How long is the eye test certificate valid in Cologne?
Eye test in Cologne produces a certificate that is valid for two years throughout Germany, so it is accepted by the Cologne licence office and by any other licence office in Germany, as long as it is still within the two-year period.

Can I take the eye test in Cologne if I live in Leverkusen or Bonn?
Yes. Eye test in Cologne can be taken by anyone, and a test in Leverkusen or Bonn is accepted by the Cologne licence office too, because the certificate is valid throughout Germany. Take the test where it is easiest for you to reach.

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

Eye test in Cologne is quick, cheap, and easy to arrange. Eye test in Cologne is the same standard test as in the rest of Germany. Eye test in Cologne is the first step to your driving licence in the city.

Conclusion

Eye test in Cologne is the first step to a driving licence in the city, and it is easy to arrange. Go to an optician on the Hohe Strasse, in the Koeln Arcaden, in the Hauptbahnhof, or in your local suburb, and the test will take ten to twenty minutes and cost between 0 and 15 euros, often free at a large chain. Bring your identity card and your glasses, and you will leave with a certificate that is valid for two years throughout Germany. Book an appointment at the Cologne driving licence office as soon as you have the certificate, because the waiting time can be several weeks, and the certificate will be checked when you apply. With a valid eye test certificate, you can start your driving course and be on the road in Cologne soon.