Eye Test Costs by Federal State: Where Is the Eye Test Cheapest?

The driving licence eye test is one of the cheapest steps on the way to a German driving licence, and its price is capped by law across the whole country. Yet many learner drivers ask whether the test is cheaper in one federal state than in another, and whether it is worth travelling to a different town to save a few euros. The honest answer is that the differences are very small, because the law sets a clear maximum price, and the real differences are between individual opticians, not between states.

In this article we explain the eye test costs by federal state in Germany. You will learn what the legal price cap is, why prices still differ a little from place to place, where the test is usually cheapest, and which costs really matter when you add up the total price of your driving licence. By the end, you will know that the eye test is not the part of the licence you should try to save money on.

The legal price cap for the eye test

In Germany, the price of the official driving licence eye test is capped by the Driving Licence Ordinance. Opticians may charge a maximum of 6.43 euros plus VAT for the test, which works out at about 7.65 euros including tax. This cap applies everywhere in the country, from Bavaria to Schleswig-Holstein and from North Rhine-Westphalia to Saxony. No optician is allowed to charge more than this for the simple test, no matter where the shop is located.

In practice, many opticians ask for a flat rate of around ten euros instead of the exact capped amount, and some offer the test for free if you buy glasses from them. That flat rate is higher than the legal maximum in theory, but it is a common market price that includes the certificate and the administration. The difference between the capped price and the flat rate is only a few euros, so the saving from shopping around is minimal.

Why prices differ at all

Even with a legal cap, the price you actually pay can differ, because opticians are free to charge less than the maximum, and they can also add the cost of the certificate and the paperwork in different ways. The biggest cost factor for an optician is not the test itself, but the rent of the shop and the salaries of the staff, and those vary a lot across Germany. A shop in a large city such as Munich, Hamburg or Frankfurt pays much higher rent than a shop in a small town, and that shows in the prices.

The type of shop also matters. Large chains can offer the test more cheaply because they have many branches and a high number of customers, while a small independent optician has to cover the same costs with fewer customers. That is why the same test can cost 7.65 euros in one place and ten euros in another, even in the same city. The difference is real, but it is only a few euros.

Big cities or small towns: where is it cheaper

As a rule, the eye test is cheapest where the cost of living is lowest, which usually means smaller towns and rural areas in eastern and northern Germany. In cities such as Munich, where rents are the highest in Germany, opticians often charge the full flat rate of around ten euros. In smaller towns in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or Saxony-Anhalt, many opticians charge the exact capped amount of about 7.65 euros, or even less. The difference is real, but it is only two or three euros at most.

That means it is almost never worth travelling to another town just for the eye test. The train ticket or the petrol would cost more than you could save, and the time is worth more than the few euros you would save. What matters much more is the total cost of the driving licence, which varies far more by region, because the prices of driving lessons differ greatly from one city to another. If you want to know where to take the test near you, read our guide to the eye test at the optician.

Chains or independent opticians: does it matter

Large optician chains, such as Fielmann or Apollo, have many branches across Germany, and they often have a fixed price for the eye test that is the same everywhere in the country. That makes them predictable, and they usually accept walk-in customers without an appointment. Independent opticians, on the other hand, set their own prices, and they may be a little more expensive or a little cheaper, depending on their location and their business model.

In practice, the difference between a chain and an independent optician is again only a few euros. The more important difference is the service: an independent optician may know you by name and have more time for advice, while a chain may have longer opening hours and a larger range of frames. For the test itself, both are equally good, because the test is standardised and the certificate is the same.

When the eye test is free

In some cases, the eye test is free of charge. Many opticians offer the test for free if you buy glasses from them, because the test is part of their service. Some driving schools also include the eye test in a package price, or they cooperate with an optician who carries out the test for their students at no extra cost. It is worth asking your driving school about this before you book a test on your own.

Be careful with offers that sound too good. A free test is not a problem, but check that the certificate is the official one and that it is accepted by the driving licence authority. A proper certificate has the name of the optician, the date of the test, the result and a stamp. If you are offered a test for free with no certificate, or if the offer is linked to buying expensive glasses, walk away and go to a regular optician instead.

What to compare instead of the test price

Because the eye test itself costs only a few euros, the price difference between states and towns does not matter much. What does matter is the total cost of the driving licence, which is usually well over 2,000 euros, and most of that is the cost of the driving lessons. Lesson prices vary a lot by region: they are usually highest in Munich and Hamburg, and lower in smaller towns and in the east of Germany. If you want to save money, compare the lesson prices of different driving schools, not the eye test prices of different opticians.

Other costs to keep in mind are the first aid course, the passport photos, the theory test fee, the practical test fee and the application fee at the driving licence authority. These fees are set by law or by the testing organisation, and they are almost the same everywhere in Germany. The eye test is the smallest item on the whole list, and it is the one least worth shopping around for.

The real cost of your driving licence

Add up all the costs and the picture becomes clear: the eye test is about 10 euros, the first aid course is about 40 euros, the passport photos are about 15 euros, and the application fee is around 40 to 50 euros. The driving lessons, on the other hand, cost hundreds of euros each, and the total can easily reach 2,000 to 3,000 euros. Saving two euros on the eye test is a drop in the ocean compared with choosing a cheaper driving school or needing fewer lessons.

For a detailed breakdown of all the costs, see our guide to eye test costs, where we list the price of the test at the optician, the price of a full examination at an ophthalmologist, and the price of the medical report for lorry and bus licences. The main advice for every federal state is the same: take the test at an optician near you, pay the normal price, and focus your energy on the lessons that really cost money.

How to find the cheapest optician in your area

The cheapest way to find an eye test is to ask several opticians in your area for their price, because the test is the same everywhere but the price can differ. The official fee is 6.43 euros plus VAT, which is about 7.65 euros, and many opticians charge exactly this amount. Some opticians do the test for free as a service, especially if you are a regular customer or if you buy glasses from them. A short call to three or four opticians in your town is usually enough to find the cheapest offer. Larger chains have fixed prices on their website, so you can compare them without a call.

Keep in mind that the lowest price is not always the best choice. A very cheap test at an optician far away costs you time and travel, and a slightly higher price at an optician near your home can be the better deal. Also check what is included in the price, because some opticians give you only the certificate, while others also check your current glasses and give you advice. If you need new glasses, the eye test is often included in the price of the glasses, so the total cost can be lower than buying the test and the glasses separately. Compare the total cost, not only the price of the test alone.

Your checklist for finding the cheapest eye test

The price of the eye test is capped by law, but the amount you actually pay can differ. This checklist helps you find a fair price without wasting time, and it reminds you what else matters besides the price.

• Remember that the legal maximum is 6.43 euros plus VAT, so no optician may charge more than about 7.65 euros for the test itself.
• Compare the prices of two or three opticians near you, and ask whether the price includes the certificate.
• Check whether a large chain offers the test for a flat rate of about ten euros, which is common in Germany.
• Ask an independent optician as well, because small shops sometimes charge less than the chains.
• Do not travel far to save a few euros, because the time and the travel cost are worth more than the saving.
• Ask whether the test is free if you buy glasses or contact lenses from the same optician.
• Check the opening hours and the waiting time before you decide, because a cheap test is no help if you wait for hours.
• Make sure that the optician issues a proper certificate that the driving licence authority will accept.
• Remember that the certificate is only valid for two years, so a cheap test that you have to repeat is not cheap at all.
• Ask the optician whether the price is the same on all days, because some shops charge more on Saturdays.
• If you are a student or a pensioner, ask whether there is a discount, because some opticians offer one.
• Check whether the optician charges extra for the certificate, or whether it is included in the price.
• Compare the total cost, not just the test price, and include the travel time and the waiting time.
• If the cheapest optician is far away, the saving is not worth the journey, so choose one near you.

Conclusion

The eye test costs in Germany are almost the same in every federal state, because the law caps the price at 6.43 euros plus VAT, about 7.65 euros in total. Small differences do exist, because rents and wages are higher in large cities than in small towns, and chains and independent opticians set their prices differently, but the difference is only a few euros. It is never worth travelling to another federal state just for the eye test. The test is cheapest in smaller towns and in the east of Germany, but the real saving is in the driving lessons, not in the eye test. Choose an optician near you, pay the normal price, and keep your focus on your training.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the driving licence eye test cost?

A maximum of 6.43 euros plus VAT, about 7.65 euros in total, and often a flat rate of around ten euros. The cap applies everywhere in Germany.

Is the eye test cheaper in some federal states?

Only by a few euros. The price is capped by law across the whole country, so large differences between states do not exist.

Why do some opticians charge ten euros and others only 7.65 euros?

Because the cap is a maximum price, not a fixed price, and opticians can charge less. Rent, wages and the type of shop also play a role.

Can I get the eye test for free?

Sometimes. Many opticians offer the test for free if you buy glasses there, and some driving schools include it in a package price.

Is it worth travelling to another town for a cheaper test?

No. The saving is only two or three euros at most, and the travel costs and the time are worth more than that.

What is the biggest cost of a driving licence?

The driving lessons. They cost well over 2,000 euros in total, while the eye test is only about ten euros.

Why do the prices for the eye test differ between federal states?

The official fee for the eye test is the same in every federal state, because it is set by law at 6.43 euros plus VAT. The differences that you see come from the way opticians set their prices, because some charge only the official fee, some add a small amount, and some do the test for free. The price does not depend on the federal state itself, but on the optician and on the region, because rents and wages are higher in large cities than in small towns.

Is the eye test cheaper in a small town than in a large city?

Often yes, because the costs for the optician are lower in a small town, and the competition is less intense. In large cities, you will find many opticians, but the prices are often the same official fee everywhere. The best way to save money is to compare the prices of the opticians in your area, because the difference is usually only a few euros. The test itself is always the same, no matter where you take it.