Eye Test for a German Driving Licence: Cost, Where to Go and What to Expect

Before you can get a German driving licence, you need the eye test — and the first question most expats ask is a practical one: eye test for a German driving licence: cost, where to go and what to expect. The answers are good news. The test costs only a few euros, you can take it at any optician in your town, it takes about fifteen minutes, and you walk out with the certificate you need. This guide covers the cost in detail, the best places to go, what happens step by step, and what to bring — so that the eye test is the easiest part of your licence application.

The eye test is known in German as the Sehtest, and the certificate you receive is the Sehtestbescheinigung. It is one of the three documents that every licence applicant needs, together with the first aid course certificate and your application. It is also the cheapest and quickest of the three. Whether you are converting a foreign licence or getting your first German licence, the test is the same — and this guide explains exactly how it works in 2026.

What the eye test is and who needs it

The eye test is a short vision check required by paragraph 12 of the German driving licence regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, FeV) for all car and motorcycle licences — the group 1 classes, including A, A1, B and BE. It checks your distance vision: with and without your glasses or contact lenses, you must reach a visual acuity of 0.7 with your correction if you wear one. The test also records your vision in each eye separately, so the optician can see whether one eye is doing all the work.

Almost every applicant needs it: first-time drivers, people converting a foreign licence — including US and UK licences — and anyone applying for a new licence after a withdrawal. Lorry and bus drivers (classes C, C1, D and D1) need a different, more detailed examination by an eye doctor, and the EU card licence exchange does not need a new eye test. If you are not sure which test applies to you, the optician can tell you.

Where to go: optician chains and independent opticians

You can take the eye test at any officially recognised optician (Augenoptiker) in Germany, and there are thousands of them. The best-known chains are Fielmann and Apollo, which together have more than a thousand branches: you will find them in every town centre and in most shopping centres. Independent opticians offer exactly the same officially recognised certificate, and many of them are more flexible about walk-ins and appointments.

In practice, where you go matters less than when you go. The test is standardised, the certificate is the same everywhere, and any Führerscheinstelle in Germany accepts it. Choose the optician that is closest to you or the one that has a free slot soonest. In big cities you can usually book a slot online for the same day; in smaller towns a phone call is usually enough. If you also need new glasses, it can make sense to take the test at the optician where you plan to buy them, since they will already have your prescription on file afterwards.

Fielmann and Apollo: what the eye test costs there

Fielmann and Apollo are the two chains most expats end up using, and their prices are similar: the eye test for a driving licence typically costs around 6.43 euros at both. That figure is not an accident — it is the standard fee set in the German fee schedule for the simple eye test, and most opticians in Germany charge something in that range. Some Apollo and Fielmann branches offer the test free of charge as a promotion, typically if you take it together with a free eye examination or if you are buying glasses.

Our guide to what an eye test costs at the optician compares the prices of the main chains in detail. The key point is that you should not pay much more than around 7 euros anywhere. If an optician quotes 30 or 40 euros for the simple test, ask what is included — they may be offering a full eye examination, which is a different and more detailed service, and which you do not need for a standard car licence.

What to expect at the appointment

The visit itself is simple. You show your photo ID — your passport or residence permit — and register at the counter, telling the staff which licence class you are applying for. Then the optician measures your vision. In most shops you look into a vision testing device or stand about five metres from a chart and read the Landolt rings: broken circles where you say on which side the gap is, up, down, left or right. The rings get smaller line by line until you can no longer tell where the gap is.

The test is done with your glasses or contact lenses on, and then again without them, and each eye is tested separately as well. The whole test takes only a few minutes. Afterwards the optician reads out the result — the smallest line you could read reliably — and if you reached 0.7 with your correction, you pass and the certificate is printed, stamped and signed. If you need your glasses to reach 0.7, the certificate records a correction requirement, which is later written into your driving licence. You take the certificate with you: it is valid for two years.

How much does the eye test cost in 2026?

At an optician, the eye test for a driving licence costs between 6 and 8 euros in 2026 in most of Germany. That is the price at the big chains (around 6.43 euros) and at most independent opticians. Some opticians offer it free as a promotion, and a few charge up to 15 euros, usually in expensive city centres or for appointments at short notice. Our article on the eye test costs by federal state shows the small regional differences — prices are a little higher in Hamburg and Munich than in smaller towns in the east, but the difference is a few euros at most.

At an ophthalmologist (Augenarzt), the same certificate costs roughly 20 to 40 euros, because you are paying for a doctor’s appointment. That is only worth it if you need the more detailed examination, or if you failed at the optician and need a medical opinion. Health insurance does not reimburse the fee, because the test is an administrative requirement and not a medical treatment. You pay on the spot, in cash or by card, and the fee is payable again if you have to repeat the test.

Do I need an appointment or can I just walk in?

Both are possible. Most opticians accept walk-ins for the eye test, and on a weekday morning you will usually be in and out in fifteen minutes. On Saturdays and in busy shopping-centre branches there can be a wait, so booking online is worth it: Apollo, Fielmann and most independent opticians let you pick a time slot on their website, and the booking takes about a minute.

One advantage of an appointment is that you can mention that it is for a driving licence, so the optician prepares the right form and checks your ID in advance. If you walk in, just say “Sehtest für den Führerschein” when you arrive, and the staff will know what to do — it is one of the most common reasons to visit an optician in Germany. No referral or health insurance card is needed.

What to bring to the eye test

The list is short, but it matters. First, a photo ID: your passport or your residence permit. The optician has to enter your name and date of birth on the certificate exactly as in your ID, and without it the test cannot be issued. Second, your current glasses or contact lenses — bring both if you use them, so the optician can test both options. Third, your current prescription if you have one, especially if your glasses are from abroad; it helps the optician to know your starting point.

You do not need to bring your driving licence application, a photo or a referral, and you do not need to speak German: the test uses symbols and the opticians in larger cities usually speak English. If your glasses are scratched or your contact lenses are dry, clean or replace them before the appointment — a dirty lens can cost you a line on the chart and, in the worst case, the whole test.

How long is the certificate valid?

The Sehtestbescheinigung is valid for two years from the date of the test. That is important to the timing of your application: the certificate must not be older than two years on the day you hand in your licence application at the Führerscheinstelle, and if it is older you have to take the test again. Take the test once the rest of your application is ready, and do not take it a year before you plan to apply.

What happens if you fail the eye test?

Failing the eye test is not the end of your licence. The most common reason is an outdated prescription, and the fix is a new pair of glasses and a repeat test. If the optician cannot get you to 0.7 even with a correction, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist for a full examination, which checks your visual field, colour vision and eye health, and decides whether you can drive safely, possibly with restrictions. There is no official waiting period before you can repeat the test.

Eye test with glasses or contact lenses

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, take the test with them and without them. If you only reach 0.7 with a correction, your licence will carry a restriction — code 01 — which means you may only drive with that correction. Driving without the prescribed glasses or lenses is an offence that can mean a fine and points, and it can cause problems with your insurance after an accident. Update your prescription before the test if your glasses are more than two years old, and keep a spare pair in the car once you have your licence.

Eye test prices at the big chains and independent opticians compared

Fielmann and Apollo are the two chains most expats use, and their price is the same: €6.43 for the Sehtest, including the certificate. You can walk in without an appointment, the test takes about fifteen minutes, and you leave with the certificate in your hand. The fee is fixed by law for the simple Sehtest, which is why the chains charge the same amount — the price is not a promotion, and it does not change with the season.

Independent opticians charge between €6 and €15, depending on the shop. Some charge the same €6.43, others a little more for the time they spend with you. An independent optician can be a good choice if you already wear glasses and want the test done properly with your own frames, or if you want the optician to check your prescription at the same time — but remember that the driving licence Sehtest is a separate, short test, and a full eye examination is not included in the price. The price is the same in every federal state: the Sehtest fee is not set by the state, so there is no cheaper region to travel to.

Whatever you pay, the Sehtest itself is always the same: a Landolt ring chart at a set distance, one eye at a time, with and without your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them, and a check that you reach a visual acuity of 0.7. The optician records the result, stamps the certificate and gives it to you. The certificate is valid for two years, so there is no reason to take the test before you are ready to apply.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them to the test and tell the optician which correction you normally use — the result is recorded with the correction, and the code 01 (glasses or contact lenses required) will be entered on your licence. If your prescription has changed since your last pair of glasses, consider getting a new eye test after your new glasses arrive: the certificate is tied to the correction you wore, and a retest is only €6.43 if you need one.

One more tip: if you are already buying new glasses at the same shop, ask whether the Sehtest is included in the price — Fielmann and Apollo often combine the two, and an independent optician may do the same. And keep the certificate safe: a replacement means a new test and a new fee, even if the original was only a few weeks old.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the eye test for a driving licence cost?

Between 6 and 8 euros at an optician in 2026, around 6.43 euros at Fielmann and Apollo. Some opticians offer it free. An ophthalmologist charges roughly 20 to 40 euros.

Where can I take the eye test?

At any officially recognised optician in Germany, including the chains Fielmann and Apollo and independent opticians, or at an ophthalmologist. The certificate is the same everywhere.

Do I need an appointment for the eye test?

No, most opticians accept walk-ins, and a weekday visit usually takes about fifteen minutes. Booking online avoids waiting on Saturdays and in busy branches.

What do I need to bring?

A photo ID (passport or residence permit) and your current glasses or contact lenses. No referral or insurance card is needed.

How long is the eye test certificate valid?

Two years from the date of the test. It must not be older than two years when you submit your licence application.

Conclusion: cheap, quick, and over in fifteen minutes

The eye test for a German driving licence is one of the simplest official steps you will ever take in Germany: a few euros, fifteen minutes at your nearest optician, and a certificate that is valid for two years. The only things you need to get right are the timing and your glasses. Take the test once your application is under way, wear your current prescription, and bring your ID. With the certificate in hand, you can move on to the first aid course and the rest of your licence application with confidence.