The “Corrective Lenses Required” Entry in Your Driving Licence Explained

The corrective lenses required entry in your driving licence is a short line of numbers and letters on the back of your card, and it is one of the most misunderstood parts of the German licence. It does not mean that you are a bad driver, and it does not mean that you failed your eye test. It means, in plain language, that you need glasses or contact lenses to see well enough to drive safely, and that you must wear them when you are behind the wheel. This article explains what that entry is, how it is decided, what the different codes mean, what happens if you drive without your glasses, and how you can have the entry removed if your vision improves or is corrected by surgery.

Many drivers first notice the entry when they receive their new licence in the post, or when a friend points it out. On the back of the EU card licence there is a list of codes, and one of them is 01, sometimes with extra digits such as 01.01 or 01.02. That code is the corrective lenses entry, and it is there because the eye test you took for your licence showed that you only reached the required visual acuity with the help of glasses or contact lenses. The licensing authority records that fact on the licence, so that anyone who checks your licence, including the police, can see at a glance that you need a visual aid to drive legally. In German, the entry is often explained as Sehhilfe, which simply means visual aid.

What the entry looks like on your licence

On a German EU driving licence, the entry is in the table on the back of the card, in the column headed 12, which is for remarks and restrictions. Next to your licence classes you will see a code, and that code is what we are talking about. The most common form is 01, which means corrective lenses are required. More detailed forms are also used. Code 01.01 means glasses are required, code 01.02 means contact lenses are required, and code 01.06 means glasses or contact lenses are required, in other words either one is acceptable. Other codes in the 01 family cover special lenses, for example for one eye, but those are less common and are used only when the ophthalmologist recommends a specific correction.

The entry is not a medical diagnosis, and it does not say anything about your eyesight beyond the fact that you need correction to meet the standard. It does not say how strong your prescription is, it does not say whether you are short-sighted or long-sighted, and it does not say anything about eye disease. It is a driving condition, not a health record, and it is there for road safety. If you change your prescription, you do not need a new licence straight away, as long as the new glasses or contact lenses still give you the vision you need, and as long as the type of correction, glasses or contact lenses, is still the one recorded on the licence.

How the entry is decided at the eye test

The entry is decided by the result of your eye test. When you take the test, you are tested both with and without your glasses or contact lenses, or, in practice, you are tested with the correction you normally use, and the tester notes whether you needed it to reach the standard. For a standard car licence, that standard is a binocular visual acuity of at least 0.7. If you reach 0.7 or better without any correction, you will not get a corrective lenses entry, because you do not need one. If you only reach 0.7 with glasses or contact lenses, the certificate will say that you passed with correction, and the licensing authority will add the entry to your licence.

That decision is based on the test on that day, with the glasses or contact lenses you were wearing on that day. If your prescription is out of date, or if you were tired, or if you took the test without the glasses you normally use, the result can be different from your true vision, and you may end up with an entry that you do not really need, or with a result that is worse than it should be. That is why it is important to take the test with your best, most up-to-date correction, and to be well rested. If you think the result was wrong, you can ask for a retest, or you can see an ophthalmologist, who can test your vision more carefully and issue a report that the licensing authority will consider.

Glasses, contact lenses, or both

Many drivers wonder whether the entry forces them to use one particular type of correction, and the answer depends on the exact code. If your licence says 01.01, you must wear glasses when you drive, and contact lenses alone will not satisfy the condition. If it says 01.02, you must wear contact lenses, although in practice most people with that code are also allowed to wear glasses as an alternative if the report says so, but you should check the exact wording on your licence. If it says 01.06, which is the most common form, you may use either glasses or contact lenses, as long as they give you the required vision. That flexibility is helpful, because many drivers wear contact lenses most of the time and keep a pair of glasses in the car for emergencies.

There is a sensible habit that follows from this. Whatever your code says, keep a spare pair of glasses in the car, and keep your prescription up to date, so that you are never caught without the correction you need. If a contact lens falls out while you are driving, pull over safely, put your spare glasses on, and only then continue. If you are stopped by the police and you are wearing contact lenses, they cannot tell at a glance, and they will ask you whether you are wearing them, or they will check your answer against your licence. Answer honestly, and make sure your lenses are in. That is all that is required. For a comparison of the two options, read our article on contact lenses versus glasses in the eye test and our guide to the eye test with glasses.

Driving without your glasses or lenses

If your licence has a corrective lenses entry and you drive without your glasses or contact lenses, you are breaking the condition of your licence, and you can be fined. In Germany the fine is normally a modest amount, but the wider consequences can be more serious. If you are involved in an accident, and the other party or the insurance company can show that you were driving without the correction you need, your insurance may reduce or refuse its payment, and you may be held partly responsible for the accident even if the other driver was also at fault. That is a risk that is easy to avoid, and one that no driver should take.

The police can check the entry during a routine traffic stop. They will look at the back of your licence, see the code, and ask you whether you are wearing your glasses or contact lenses. If you are wearing contact lenses, you can simply say so. If you are not wearing any correction, you will be fined, and you may be told not to continue driving until you have your glasses. Some drivers try to argue that they can see well enough without glasses, even though the test said otherwise. That argument does not help, because the law goes by the entry on the licence, not by your own opinion on the day. If you believe your vision has improved, have it tested properly, and have the entry removed through the proper process, rather than ignoring it.

How to have the entry removed

Having the entry removed is possible, and it is not complicated, but it does require proof. The most common reason is laser eye surgery, or another treatment that has corrected your vision so that you now reach the required standard without glasses or contact lenses. After the treatment, and after your eyes have settled, which is usually a few weeks or months depending on the procedure, you need a new eye test, or a report from an ophthalmologist, showing that you now pass without correction. Take that report to the licensing authority, with your licence and your identity card, and apply for a new licence without the corrective lenses entry. The authority will check the report and issue a new card, usually for a fee, and the old entry will be gone.

Another reason is a change in your prescription that improves your unaided vision. That is less common, because prescriptions usually get stronger rather than weaker, but it can happen, especially in younger people or after treatment for an eye condition. The process is the same: a new test, a new report, and an application to the authority. Do not apply to have the entry removed before you have a clear, recent result that shows you pass without correction, because the authority will not remove the entry on the basis of an old test, or on the basis that you feel you see better than you did. The evidence has to be current, and it has to come from a professional.

Checking your entry and keeping it up to date

It is worth checking the corrective lenses entry on your licence from time to time, because it is easy to forget exactly what it says, especially if you received your licence years ago and have changed your glasses or contact lenses several times since then. Take the card out of your wallet, look at the back, and find the code in the remarks column next to your classes. If it says 01.06, you can use either glasses or contact lenses, and you have the most flexibility. If it says 01.01, you need glasses, and if it says 01.02, you need contact lenses. Knowing which one applies to you matters, because it is the rule you will be judged by if you are stopped by the police, and it is the rule your insurer will look at if you have an accident. A few minutes checking the card now can save you a difficult conversation at the roadside later.

Keeping the entry up to date is part of looking after your licence as a whole, and it is closely linked to keeping your prescription up to date. Most adults should have their eyes tested at least every two years, and many opticians recommend an annual check, especially if you are over forty, if you drive a lot, or if you have noticed any change in your vision. An up-to-date prescription means that the glasses or contact lenses you rely on are giving you the best vision they can, and it also means that any change in your eyesight is picked up early, before it becomes a problem on the road. When you go for a routine eye test, take your driving licence with you, tell the optician that you drive, and ask them to confirm that your current correction still meets the driving standard. That simple step links your everyday eye care to your driving, and it keeps both in good shape.

If you change from glasses to contact lenses, or from contact lenses to glasses, as your main way of driving, check whether your licence entry needs to change as well, and do not leave it until your licence is renewed for another reason. The licensing authority can issue a new card with the corrected entry, and the fee is the same as for a replacement card. Similarly, if you have laser eye surgery, or any other treatment that improves your vision, wait until your eyes have settled, get a new test or an ophthalmologist report that shows you pass without correction, and then apply to have the entry removed. In both cases, the process is straightforward, and the result is a licence that accurately reflects the vision you drive with today, rather than the vision you had when the licence was first issued. That accuracy is what the police, the insurer, and the licensing authority all expect, and it is what gives you confidence when you get behind the wheel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does code 01 on my driving licence mean?
It means corrective lenses are required when you drive. The extra digits show whether that is glasses (01.01), contact lenses (01.02), or either (01.06). You must wear the required correction whenever you drive.

Can I drive with contact lenses if my code says glasses?
Only if your licence allows it. If the code is 01.01, glasses are required. If it is 01.06, either glasses or contact lenses are allowed. Check the exact code on your licence, and apply for a change if you want to switch.

What is the fine for driving without my glasses?
There is a fine, and your insurance can be affected if you have an accident. The amount is normally modest, but the consequences can be serious, so always wear your correction when you drive.

How do I remove the corrective lenses entry after laser surgery?
Wait until your eyes have settled, get a new eye test or ophthalmologist report showing you pass without correction, and apply to the licensing authority for a new licence without the entry. You will need to pay the usual fee for a new card.

Do I need a new licence if my prescription changes?
Not usually, as long as the type of correction stays the same. If your prescription changes, get new glasses or lenses, and keep driving with them. You only need a new licence if the type of correction changes, or if the entry needs to be added or removed.

Does the corrective lenses entry apply to rental cars and cars abroad?
Yes. The entry is a condition of your licence, so it applies whenever you drive, in any car, in Germany or abroad. A rental company or a police officer in another country will look at the same code, so always wear your glasses or contact lenses when you drive, wherever you are.

What should I do if I lose my glasses while driving?
Pull over as soon as it is safe to do so, put on your spare glasses, and only then continue. That is why keeping a spare pair in the car is so important. If you wear contact lenses, keep a spare pair of glasses in the car as well, so that you are never left without a way to see clearly.

Conclusion

The corrective lenses required entry in your driving licence is a simple, practical part of the German system, and it is nothing to be worried about. It means that your eyes need a little help to reach the standard the law requires, and that help comes in the form of glasses or contact lenses. Many drivers have that entry, and they drive safely and legally every day, because they wear their correction as a matter of habit, and they keep it up to date.

Check the code on the back of your licence, understand whether it requires glasses, contact lenses, or either, and make a habit of always carrying a spare. If your vision changes, or if you have treatment that improves it, get a new test and have the entry changed through the proper process, rather than ignoring it. With the right correction, and a licence that reflects it, you can drive with confidence and with the law on your side.