Eye Test Waiting Times at the Optician: How Long You Really Wait

Introduction

Eye test waiting times at the optician are a practical question that everyone asks when they need a driving licence, because the driving licence cannot be applied for until the eye test certificate is ready, and many people leave the test until the last minute. How long you really wait depends on where you go, and the answer is different for an optician, an ophthalmologist, and a technical inspection centre. Eye test waiting times at the optician are usually short, and many people walk in and take the test on the same day, but the wait can be longer at the wrong time, and this article explains how long each step really takes, and how to avoid the queues.

Eye test waiting times at the optician are made up of three different waits. The first is the wait for an appointment, which can be zero if you walk in, or two to four weeks if you need an ophthalmologist. The second is the wait in the shop on the day, which is usually a few minutes at a large chain, and longer at a small optician who is busy with customers. The third is the wait for the certificate itself, which is usually given to you on the same day, and the wait for the driving licence office to process your application, which is two to six weeks, and has nothing to do with the eye test. Eye test waiting times are short, but the licence process is not, so you should start early.

In this article, you will learn how long the eye test waiting times are at a large optician chain, at a small independent optician, at an ophthalmologist, and at a TueV or Dekra station, and what you can do to get a test on the same day. You will also find advice on how to prepare for the test, on what to bring, and on how to avoid a failed test that wastes your time. By the end, you will know how much time you really need to get your driving licence eye test done in Germany.

The Optician: Same-Day Test

Eye test waiting times at the optician are usually the shortest of all the options. At a large optician chain, such as Fielmann, Apollo, or Mister Spex, you can often walk in without an appointment, and the test is done in 10 to 15 minutes, and you get the certificate on the same day. The wait in the shop is usually 0 to 20 minutes, and it is longer on a Saturday, when the shops are full, and shorter on a weekday morning, when the shops are quiet. Eye test waiting times at the optician are also short because the test itself takes only a few minutes, and the optician can fit several tests into one day.

Eye test waiting times at a small independent optician can be longer, because the shop may be staffed by one person, and you may need to book a time slot. At a small optician, the wait for an appointment can be a few days, and it is best to call ahead and ask, because the shop may have a waiting list, or may only do the test on certain days. Eye test waiting times at the optician can be shortened by choosing a large chain, and by going on a weekday morning, when the shops are least busy, and by bringing your identity card and glasses, so that the test can be done without delay.

The Ophthalmologist: Two to Four Weeks

Eye test waiting times at the ophthalmologist are much longer, because an ophthalmologist is a doctor, and doctors have waiting lists. If you need an eye test for a driving licence at the ophthalmologist, the wait for an appointment is usually two to four weeks, and it can be longer if the practice is busy, or if you need a special test, such as a visual field test. The examination itself takes 30 to 60 minutes, and the certificate is usually given to you on the same day, or sent to you by post, but the appointment is the bottleneck.

Eye test waiting times at an ophthalmologist can be shortened by asking if the practice has a cancellation list, because a patient who cancels can free up a slot on the same day. You can also try a different practice, or an ophthalmologist at a medical centre, where the waiting list is shorter than at a single practice. Eye test waiting times are not an excuse to skip the test, because a delay of a few weeks is normal, and the driving licence office will expect you to plan for it.

The TueV and Dekra Stations

Eye test waiting times at a TueV or Dekra station are usually short, because the test is part of the driving school process, and the station is used to doing it. Many driving schools book the test for their pupils and take them to the TueV, where the test takes about 15 minutes, and the certificate is given on the same day. Eye test waiting times at a TueV station can be longer if you go as an individual, because the station may be busy with vehicle inspections, and it is best to book ahead and ask when the eye test is available.

Eye test waiting times at an optician are often shorter than at a TueV station, because the optician’s main job is to test eyes, and the station’s main job is to test vehicles. For that reason, the advice in this article is to go to an optician for the standard test, and to go to a doctor only if you need a medical report, for example after a failed test, or for a Group 2 licence. Eye test waiting times are a reason to choose the right place, not a reason to put off the test.

How to Get a Test on the Same Day

Eye test waiting times can be reduced to zero if you know where to go. A large optician chain in a shopping centre is the best place for a same-day test, because the shop is open six days a week, and the eye test can be done without an appointment. Eye test waiting times at a chain can still be long on a Saturday afternoon, between 11 am and 2 pm, when the shops are full, so it is best to go in the morning, before 11 am, or in the afternoon after 4 pm, when the crowds have gone. Call ahead if you are in a hurry, because the shop can tell you how long the wait is at that moment.

The eye test for a driving licence page on this site explains the standard test and where to take it, and the eye test certificate from the optician page on this site explains what the certificate contains and how long it is valid. If you are in a hurry, read both pages, because a well-prepared visit to the optician takes only a few minutes, and the certificate is ready on the same day, so you can apply for your licence the same afternoon.

What to Bring and How to Prepare

Eye test waiting times are not the only thing to plan. Bring your identity card or passport, your glasses or contact lenses, and your current glasses prescription if you have one. Do not wear contact lenses to the test if you normally wear them for driving, because the test should be done with the visual aid you will use to drive. Eye test waiting times are shorter if you arrive with everything you need, because a missing document means the optician cannot issue the certificate, and you will have to come back.

Eye test waiting times can also be wasted if you fail the test, so take the test when you are rested, not after a long day at work, and do not wear glasses with scratched lenses, because they can make the chart blurry. Eye test waiting times are not a problem if you are prepared, and a prepared visit to an optician takes less than 30 minutes from the door to the certificate.

How Long Does the Whole Driving Licence Take?

Eye test waiting times at the optician are short, but the whole driving licence process is not, and it is worth planning the full timeline, so that you are not disappointed by a delay. Eye test waiting times for the test itself are only a few minutes, but the driving licence office takes two to six weeks to process your application, and the theory test and the practical test each have their own waiting times, and the driving school needs time to teach you. Eye test waiting times should be understood in that context, so that you can plan backwards from the day you want to drive.

Eye test waiting times are the first step in a process that starts with the eye test and the first aid course, and continues with the application at the driving licence office, which takes two to six weeks to approve. After the approval, you can start your driving lessons, and the theory lessons take about two to four weeks, depending on how often you go, and the theory test can then be booked, with a waiting time of one to two weeks. Eye test waiting times are short, but the theory test is the next bottleneck, so book your lessons as soon as your application is approved, and do not wait for the approval to start studying the theory questions.

Eye test waiting times should also be considered for the practical test, because the practical test is the last step, and it has a waiting time of two to four weeks, depending on the driving school, the examiner, and the season. In the summer, when many pupils take their test, the waiting time is longer, and in the winter it is shorter, and it is worth asking your driving school to book the test as soon as you are ready, so that you do not lose your driving skills while you wait. Eye test waiting times at the optician are not a problem, but the practical test can be a long wait, and it is a good reason to keep practising with your driving instructor while you wait.

Eye test waiting times are a small part of a process that usually takes three to six months from the first eye test to the day you get your licence, and that time can be shorter if you plan well, and longer if you fail a test, or if you need more lessons. Eye test waiting times at the optician can be cut to zero by going to a large chain on a weekday morning, and the rest of the process can be shortened by studying early, by taking your driving lessons regularly, and by booking your tests as soon as you are ready. Plan your eye test first, because it is the quickest step, and then work through the rest of the process, one step at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to wait for an eye test at the optician?
Eye test waiting times at the optician are usually very short. At a large chain, you can often walk in and take the test on the same day, and the test itself takes 10 to 15 minutes, and the certificate is given to you on the same day.

How long do I have to wait for an ophthalmologist?
Eye test waiting times at an ophthalmologist are usually two to four weeks for an appointment, because doctors have waiting lists. The examination itself takes 30 to 60 minutes, and the certificate is given on the same day.

When is the optician least busy?
Eye test waiting times are shortest on a weekday morning, before 11 am, or in the afternoon after 4 pm, and longest on a Saturday between 11 am and 2 pm, when the shops are full. A large chain in a shopping centre is best for a same-day test.

How long does the certificate take?
The certificate is issued on the same day, at an optician, an ophthalmologist, or a TueV station. Eye test waiting times are about the appointment, not the certificate, and the licence office will then take two to six weeks to process your application.

Do I need an appointment for the eye test?
Not usually at a large optician chain, where you can walk in, but at a small independent optician, or at an ophthalmologist, you will often need to book a time slot, and it is best to call ahead and ask.

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

Eye test waiting times at the optician are usually very short. Eye test waiting times at an ophthalmologist are longer, up to four weeks. Eye test waiting times can be cut to zero by going to a large optician on a weekday morning.

Conclusion

Eye test waiting times at the optician are short, and you do not need to wait weeks for a driving licence eye test. At a large optician chain, you can walk in and take the test on the same day, in 10 to 15 minutes, and the certificate is ready immediately. At an ophthalmologist, the wait for an appointment is usually two to four weeks, and that is the real delay, so you should book early if you need a medical report. Go to the optician on a weekday morning, bring your identity card and glasses, and take the test when you are rested, and you will have your certificate in hand within half an hour, and you can apply for your driving licence the same day.