What Happens If You Fail the German Eye Test? Next Steps for Expats
Failing the German eye test feels like a setback, but for most expats it is a small one. In the large majority of cases the reason is simple — an out-of-date pair of glasses — and the fix is a new prescription and a repeat test. In a smaller number of cases the optician will refer you to an eye doctor, who can then decide whether you can drive safely, possibly with a restriction. This guide explains what happens if you fail the German eye test, what the next steps are, what an ophthalmologist can and cannot do, and how to avoid failing the next time.
It is worth putting the fear in perspective first. Failing the simple eye test does not mean you cannot drive in Germany, and it does not mean that your licence application is dead. It means that your vision, at the moment of the test, did not meet the legal minimum with the correction you were wearing. In many cases the next step is a better pair of glasses; in a minority of cases it is a medical examination; and only rarely does it mean that you cannot be licensed at all. Below you will find each outcome, in the order you are most likely to meet it.
First of all: failing the eye test is not the end
The simple eye test (Sehtest) is a pass-or-fail check on one thing: your distance vision. The legal minimum for a car licence is 0.7, measured with your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them, and the test is designed to be quick and simple: you read a chart of Landolt rings, and if you reach the required line, you pass. If you do not, the optician cannot issue the certificate, and the licence authority cannot process your application until the vision question is resolved.
That does not mean the process stops. There is no waiting period before you can repeat the test, no limit on the number of attempts, and no official record of the failure that follows you. The most important number to understand is the 0.7: if your vision can be corrected to 0.7 with glasses or contact lenses, you will pass. For many people that means a visit to an optician for a new prescription rather than any medical procedure. Our article on what to do when the eye test fails covers the first practical steps in more detail.
What the eye test measures and what “fail” means
The simple eye test at the optician measures your visual acuity — how sharply you can see at a distance. It does this with your correction on and off, and for each eye separately. The legal standard in Annex 6 of the driving licence regulation (FeV) is a visual acuity of 0.7 with your correction, and the certificate records the values for both eyes. If you reach 0.7 with your correction, you pass; if you do not, the optician must refuse the certificate.
There are two different ways to fail. The first is the common one: with your current glasses or lenses you do not reach 0.7, but with the right correction you could. That is not a medical problem; it is a glasses problem. The second is that even with the best correction, one or both of your eyes cannot reach 0.7, or the optician notices something else — a possible eye disease, a visual field defect, a strong imbalance between the eyes — and refers you to an ophthalmologist. The two situations lead to two different paths.
The most common reason: an out-of-date prescription
The most common reason expats fail is simple: their glasses are old. Vision changes slowly, and many people keep wearing a prescription that is two, three or four years old without noticing that they can no longer read the chart as sharply as they used to. Contact lens wearers have the same problem: lenses can dry out or change in the course of a day, and a slightly out-of-date prescription makes a visible difference on the test chart.
If that is the reason you failed, the solution is straightforward. Have a full eye examination at the optician and get your prescription checked: if it has changed, get new glasses or lenses, wear them for a few days so you get used to them, and retake the test. Most people pass on the second attempt. Clean your glasses and put in fresh lenses before the repeat test — a scratched lens or a dry lens can cost you a line on the chart. And if you have not had an eye examination in more than two years, have one before the test, rather than discovering the problem at the test itself.
What the optician does after a failed test
After a failed test, the optician will explain the result and give you the two readings: the value with your correction and the value without it. They will tell you whether a new prescription is likely to fix the problem, and they will ask whether you have had any eye problems, whether you have worn your glasses regularly, and how long ago the prescription was made.
If the optician thinks a correction will solve it, they will recommend a new prescription and a repeat test, and you can take that test at any optician. If the optician thinks there is a medical question — for example, if your vision cannot be corrected to 0.7, or if they notice a cataract or another condition — they will refer you to an ophthalmologist for a full examination (augenärztliche Untersuchung). The referral is not a refusal: it is the correct next step, and the doctor’s report can still lead to a pass.
The ophthalmologist: the full examination
The ophthalmological examination is much more detailed than the simple test. The eye doctor checks your visual acuity with and without correction, your visual field (how much you can see to the sides), your colour vision, your night vision and the health of your eyes, including the retina and the lens. The examination takes about 30 to 60 minutes and is done by an ophthalmologist (Augenarzt); you need an appointment, and it costs roughly 50 to 150 euros, depending on the doctor and the scope of the examination.
The doctor then writes a medical report (augenärztliches Gutachten) and sends it to the licensing authority, which decides on the basis of the report. The authority does not decide alone: if the doctor says you can drive safely with glasses, or with a restriction such as daylight-only driving, the authority will normally follow that recommendation. The examination is not an exam you can fail in the normal sense; it is an assessment of your suitability to drive.
What the medical report can conclude
The medical report can have one of several outcomes. The most common is a pass with a restriction: you may drive with glasses or contact lenses (code 01), or only during the day (code 05.01), or with a combination of restrictions. A restriction is not a punishment; it is a condition that lets you drive safely, and it is recorded in your licence as a code.
The report can also conclude that you can drive without a restriction if the problem turns out to be something that can be treated — for example, a cataract that can be operated on, or an eye disease that can be treated — and that after the treatment you meet the standard. In rare cases, where the vision cannot be corrected to the legal minimum and no restriction can make driving safe, the report will conclude that you cannot drive. That is uncommon for the car classes; it happens more often for lorry and bus licences, where the visual requirements are higher.
Can you repeat the eye test?
Yes. There is no official waiting period before you can repeat the simple eye test, and no limit on the number of attempts. You can repeat it at the same optician or a different one, and the fee — around 6 to 8 euros — is payable each time. The practical advice is to fix the reason you failed first: new glasses, fresh lenses, or the ophthalmologist’s report, and then repeat the test.
There is one caveat: if you were referred to the ophthalmologist, the simple test alone will not resolve the situation. You need the doctor’s report, and you should present it to the licensing authority, which will decide on the basis of it. The authority may also ask for a driving test or an expert opinion if the medical situation is complex.
Driving with a restriction: code 01
If your vision only reaches 0.7 with glasses or contact lenses, 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: it can mean a fine and a point, and in the event of an accident your insurance may cause problems. The restriction can be 01.01 (glasses), 01.02 (contact lenses) or 01.06 (glasses or contact lenses).
A restriction is not a demotion: most people who wear glasses already have this restriction, and it does not affect the validity of your licence or your ability to drive anywhere. If your vision changes again and you no longer need the correction, the restriction can be removed — but only by the authority, on the basis of a new medical report. Keep a spare pair of glasses in the car once you have your licence; it is not legally required, but it is worth doing.
How much does repeating cost?
The costs of a failed eye test are modest. The repeat test costs the same as the first — about 6 to 8 euros at an optician. A new pair of glasses costs anything from 50 euros for a simple pair to several hundred for a designer frame, and health insurance may contribute to the cost of the lenses if you have a prescription. The ophthalmological examination costs about 50 to 150 euros, and a driving test, if one is required, costs around 120 euros plus the car rental. All in all, the cost of failing is usually a few dozen euros and a week’s delay.
How to avoid failing next time
Update your prescription before the test if your glasses are more than two years old or if you have noticed any change in your vision. Wear your glasses regularly for a few days before the test, so that your eyes are used to them. Go to the test in the morning, when you are rested, and avoid a late night the evening before. Clean your glasses and put in fresh contact lenses. And when you are at the test, concentrate: the test is a few minutes long, and a moment of distraction can cost you a line.
Glasses, contact lenses and the second attempt
If you fail the eye test, the most common fix is also the simplest: a correction. Many people fail because they have never had their eyes checked, or because their glasses are years out of date. A new pair of glasses or contact lenses usually brings your visual acuity back to 0.7 or better, and you can repeat the Sehtest immediately — there is no waiting period, and each attempt costs the same €6.43. Buy the glasses first, then book the retest — the certificate is tied to the correction you wore, so you must take the test wearing the new glasses or the new lenses.
The important detail is the code 01. When you pass the eye test with glasses or contact lenses, the code 01 is entered on your driving licence, which means you must wear the correction whenever you drive. It is a legal requirement, not a suggestion: if you are stopped without your glasses and your licence says 01, you can be fined. Keep a spare pair in the car, and always carry your glasses even if you normally wear contacts.
If a correction does not bring you to 0.7, the optician will refer you to an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist does a full examination and issues a medical report (Gutachten) that states your visual acuity, your field of vision and whether any restriction is needed. The authority decides on the basis of that report: in some cases you get the licence with a restriction, such as driving only in daylight, and in a few cases you cannot get a licence at all. But most people who fail the simple Sehtest pass the ophthalmologist’s test with a correction.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I fail the German eye test?
The optician cannot issue the certificate. You can repeat the test at any time, usually after getting a new prescription, or you will be referred to an ophthalmologist for a full examination, whose report then decides the outcome.
Can I repeat the eye test straight away?
Yes. There is no official waiting period and no limit on attempts. The fee of about 6 to 8 euros is payable each time.
What does the ophthalmologist check?
Visual acuity, visual field, colour vision, night vision and eye health, including the retina and the lens. The doctor writes a report and the licensing authority decides on its basis.
Will I lose my licence if I fail the eye test?
No. Failing the simple eye test does not take away an existing licence. It means the authority cannot issue a new licence until your vision is assessed, usually by an ophthalmologist, and any restriction (such as glasses) is recorded.
Does the eye test certificate expire?
Yes, two years from the date of the test. Our guide to the validity of the eye test certificate explains the two-year rule and how to time your application.
Conclusion: fail once, fix it, pass next time
Failing the German eye test is an inconvenience, not a disaster. For most people it means one trip to the optician for a new prescription and a repeat test; for a few it means an appointment with an ophthalmologist and a medical report; and only rarely does it mean that you cannot drive. The next steps are simple: find out why you failed, fix the reason, and retake the test. If the reason is medical, let the doctor assess it and accept the restriction that makes you safe. That is how the system is designed to work — and it is how most expats who fail once end up with a licence in their pocket.