The Eye Test Certificate from the Optician Explained

The eye test certificate from the optician is the small piece of paper that stands between you and your driving licence in Germany, and it is worth understanding properly before you walk into the shop. It is a short, official document, printed on a standard form, that proves your eyesight meets the legal standard for driving. You get it from an optician after a test that takes about ten minutes, you pay only a few euros for it, and you hand the original to the licensing authority when you apply for your licence. This article explains what the eye test certificate from the optician contains, how the test works, what it costs, how long it is valid, and what to do if something goes wrong. If you have never had one before, this guide will take you through the whole process step by step, without any jargon.

Most people first hear about the certificate when they apply for their first driving licence, or when a driving school tells them they need a Sehtestbescheinigung. The name sounds formal, and the paper itself looks official, with the name of the optician, the date, the result, and a stamp or signature. Behind that formality, however, is a very simple idea. Before the state gives you a licence to drive a car, a motorcycle, or a lorry on public roads, it wants independent proof that you can see well enough to drive safely. The optician is that independent proof. They are trained to test vision, they use standardised equipment, and they have no interest in whether you pass or fail, other than to record the result honestly. The certificate is simply the record of that test.

In this article we explain the certificate in plain English, because the German forms and the German rules can be confusing, especially if German is not your first language or if you are new to the German driving licence system. We cover what is on the certificate, what each line means, how the optician decides whether you have passed, what happens if you need glasses or contact lenses to pass, and how the certificate fits into the wider licence application. By the end, you should know exactly what to expect at the optician, what to take with you, and what to do with the certificate once you have it.

What is the eye test certificate?

The eye test certificate, in German Sehtestbescheinigung, is an official document that confirms you have passed the standard vision test required for a driving licence in Germany. It is issued by a registered optician or by an ophthalmologist, and it is based on a test carried out under the rules set out in the German driving licence regulations, the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung. The certificate states your name, your date of birth, the date of the test, the name and address of the optician or practice, and the result of the test. It also states whether you needed glasses or contact lenses to reach the required visual acuity, because that information is later recorded on your driving licence itself.

It is important to distinguish the certificate from other eye-related documents you may come across. It is not a prescription for glasses, although the optician may give you a prescription as well if they find that your vision needs correcting. It is not a full eye examination, and it does not check for eye diseases, high eye pressure, or other medical conditions. It is a focused, standardised test of the visual functions that matter for driving: visual acuity, in other words how sharply you can see, colour vision, and visual field, in other words how wide your field of view is. The certificate is the proof that those functions met the standard on the day you were tested.

The certificate is usually printed on a single sheet of paper, and it has a distinctive look: the heading of the optician or the practice, a small table or box for the test results, and a signature and stamp at the bottom. Some opticians now issue the certificate in a digital form as well, but the licensing authority still normally asks for the paper original, so do not throw the paper away if you are given a digital copy as well. Keep the original safe, in a folder with your other licence documents, and take a photograph of it for your own records before you hand it in.

What the optician tests, step by step

The test itself is short and straightforward, and most people find it much less stressful than they expected. You will be asked to sit or stand at a set distance from an eye chart, and to read out letters, numbers, or symbols with one eye covered, then with the other eye covered, and then with both eyes open. The chart is designed so that the symbols get smaller line by line, and the optician notes the smallest line you can read correctly. This is the test of visual acuity, and it is the main part of the certificate. For a standard car licence, you need to reach a binocular visual acuity of at least 0.7, with or without glasses or contact lenses, and that value is recorded on the certificate.

After the visual acuity test, the optician will check your colour vision, usually by showing you a series of coloured plates with numbers or patterns hidden in them. These are called Ishihara plates, and they are designed to reveal red-green colour vision deficiency, which is the most common form of colour blindness. For a standard car licence, a colour vision deficiency does not normally mean you have failed the eye test outright, but it is recorded, and it can matter for certain professional licences. The optician will also check your visual field, by asking you to look straight ahead and say when you can see a light or a finger moving in from the side. This checks that you can see things at the edge of your vision, which is essential for spotting other road users, cyclists, and pedestrians.

The whole test, from sitting down to receiving the certificate, usually takes about ten minutes if no problems are found. You do not need to prepare in any special way, although it helps to be well rested, to bring your glasses or contact lenses if you use them, and to tell the optician if you have recently changed your prescription or if you have any concerns about your vision. You should also bring your identity card or passport, because the certificate must show your correct name and date of birth, and it is easier to correct a mistake on the spot than to come back later. For more detail on the sequence, see the guide to the driving licence eye test procedure and our article on the eye test at the optician.

What is written on the certificate

The certificate contains several fields, and each one has a meaning. At the top is the name and address of the optician or the practice that carried out the test, and sometimes their registration number. Below that are your personal details: your full name, as it appears on your identity card, and your date of birth. Those details must match your identity documents exactly, or the licensing office may reject the certificate. If your name has changed, for example after marriage, make sure you tell the optician which name is on your current identity card, so that the certificate shows the right one.

The central part of the certificate is the result. It will state the visual acuity you achieved with each eye and with both eyes together, usually as a decimal number such as 0.7, 0.8, 1.0 or higher. It will also state whether you achieved that result with or without correction, and if you used correction, whether it was glasses or contact lenses. That last point matters, because if you needed correction to pass, the licensing authority will add a note to your driving licence, usually with the code 01, which means you must wear your glasses or contact lenses when you drive. The certificate may also note the result of the colour vision test and the visual field test, often simply as passed or normal, without a detailed numerical value.

At the bottom of the certificate are the date of the test, the signature of the optician or the person who carried out the test, and the stamp of the practice. The date is the most important part for you, because the certificate is valid for two years from that date. Check it before you leave the shop. If the date is wrong, or if any of your personal details are misspelt, ask for a corrected certificate straight away. A certificate with a mistake on it can cause a delay at the licensing office, and it is much easier to fix it while you are still standing in the shop than to come back a week later.

How much the certificate costs

The eye test certificate from the optician is inexpensive by German standards, and the price is one of the reasons most people get the test at an optician rather than at an ophthalmologist. At a large chain optician such as Apollo or Fielmann, the test typically costs around six to seven euros, and in some cases it is offered free of charge as a service to customers, although that varies by branch and by promotion. At an independent optician, the price can be a little higher, often between eight and fifteen euros, depending on the region and the practice. The price is usually paid on the spot, in cash or by card, and you will receive a receipt as well as the certificate.

There is no single fixed price set by law, so it is worth checking the price before you book, or before you walk in, if cost matters to you. Some opticians advertise a fixed price for the driving licence eye test on their website, and some offer it free if you are also buying glasses from them. Do not be surprised if the price varies from one town to another; the test itself is the same, but the overheads of the practice are different. What you should not do is choose an optician on price alone if the practice seems unprofessional or if the test does not follow the standard procedure. A certificate from a practice that is not properly registered to carry out the test may not be accepted by the licensing office.

If you have the test at an ophthalmologist instead of an optician, the cost and the billing are different. An ophthalmologist carries out a fuller examination, and the cost may be covered by your health insurance in some situations, or it may be charged as a private service, often costing considerably more than the optician test. That fuller examination is sometimes necessary, for example if the optician test shows a problem, or if you are applying for a lorry or bus licence, but for a standard car licence the optician test is usually enough, and it is the cheaper and quicker option. If you are unsure which one you need, read our comparison of the ophthalmologist or optician for the eye test, and our guide to the costs of the driving licence eye test.

How long the certificate is valid

The certificate is valid for two years from the date of the test. That is the rule that matters most, and it is the reason you should not take the test too early. If you take the test a year before you actually apply for your licence, you will have only one year left when you apply, and if your application is delayed, you may have to take the test again. The best time to take the test is shortly before you apply, ideally in the same month as your appointment at the licensing office or your enrolment at the driving school. That way the certificate is fresh, and there is no discussion about its age.

Validity is counted from the test date, not from the date you applied for the licence, and not from the date the licence is issued. If your application takes a long time, for example because you need to complete a first-aid course, a theory test, and a practical test, the certificate can expire during that process. In practice, the licensing office checks the certificate at the application stage, and it does not normally ask for a new one if the application was submitted in time and the delay was caused by the driving school or the test appointments. That is not a guarantee, however, and if you know your application will take a long time, it is safer to take the test later in the process, or to be prepared to repeat it if you are asked to.

If your certificate has expired, you cannot use it, and you need a new test. There is no extension, no grace period, and no way to renew the old certificate. The new test is quick and cheap, so the inconvenience is small, but it can still delay your licence if you discover the expiry at the licensing office. Keep a note of the expiry date, and set a reminder on your phone for a few weeks before it runs out, if you know you will still need the certificate at that point. If you have lost the certificate, contact the optician who issued it; they may be able to issue a duplicate, but only if the original test is still within its two-year validity period.

The certificate and your glasses or contact lenses

One of the most important entries on the certificate is whether you needed glasses or contact lenses to pass the test. If you passed without any correction, that will be recorded, and your driving licence will not have any note about corrective lenses. You can still wear glasses when you drive if you want to, but you are not legally required to. If you passed only with glasses or contact lenses, the certificate will say so, and the licensing authority will add a condition to your licence. That condition is usually shown as the code 01, with further digits to show whether it is glasses or contact lenses, or both. In Germany that code is often explained as Sehhilfe, which means visual aid.

That code has real consequences. If your licence says you must wear glasses or contact lenses when you drive, and you are stopped by the police without them, you can be fined, and your insurance may be affected if you have an accident. The code is not a punishment, and it is not a sign that you are a bad driver; it simply reflects the fact that you need correction to see as well as the law requires. If your prescription changes, or if you have laser eye surgery and no longer need glasses, you can have the code removed, but that requires a new eye test and an application to the licensing authority, with proof that you now pass without correction.

Take the test with the correction you actually use when you drive, and bring the right glasses or contact lenses with you. If you wear contact lenses, put them in before the test, and take your glasses with you as well, in case you need to switch. If you have just received a new prescription, give yourself a few days to get used to it before the test, so that your eyes are settled and you get the best result you can. Taking the test with an old prescription, or with lenses that are uncomfortable, can give you a worse result than you deserve, and a worse result can mean a condition on your licence that you do not really need.

What to do if you do not pass

Most people pass the eye test at the optician without any difficulty, but it is important to know what happens if you do not. Failing the test at the optician does not mean you can never drive, and it does not go on any permanent record that bars you from applying again. It usually means that your visual acuity, with the glasses or contact lenses you were wearing, was below the standard for the licence class you applied for, or that a further check of your colour vision or visual field is needed. The optician will tell you the result honestly, and they will normally suggest that you see an ophthalmologist, or that you get a new prescription and come back for a retest.

If you are referred to an ophthalmologist, do not panic. The ophthalmologist will carry out a fuller examination, and they may find that your vision can be corrected with a different prescription, or that a medical condition needs treatment before you can pass. In many cases a new pair of glasses is all that is needed. In other cases the ophthalmologist may issue a report that allows you to drive with certain conditions, such as wearing glasses, using a special lens, or having your vision checked again after a certain period. That report is then submitted to the licensing authority, which makes the final decision, not the ophthalmologist and not the optician.

You can repeat the eye test at the optician as often as you need to, and each new test is a fresh start. There is no waiting period after a failed test, although it makes sense to address the reason for the failure before you try again, rather than repeating the same test with the same glasses and expecting a different result. If you have just had a new prescription, wait a few days, get used to it, and then book a retest. The new certificate, if you pass, will replace the old result, and the licensing office will work from the new one. Failing once is not a problem; failing to follow up on the reason is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get the eye test certificate from the optician?
At any registered optician, such as Apollo or Fielmann, or at an independent optician. Walk in or book an appointment, take the test, and the certificate is issued on the spot. Bring your identity card and your glasses or contact lenses.

How much does the certificate cost?
Usually around six to ten euros at a large chain optician, and a little more at an independent practice. Some branches offer the test free of charge. The price is paid on the spot and is not usually covered by health insurance.

How long is the certificate valid?
Two years from the date of the test. Take the test shortly before you apply for your licence, and check the date before you go to the licensing office, so that you do not have to repeat it.

Do I need the original certificate, or is a copy enough?
The licensing office normally needs the original. Take a photograph or scan for your own records, but hand in the original paper certificate with your application.

What if I need glasses to pass the test?
The certificate will record that you passed with correction, and your driving licence will show a condition, usually code 01, requiring you to wear glasses or contact lenses when you drive. That is normal, and it applies to many drivers.

Conclusion

The eye test certificate from the optician is a short, inexpensive, and straightforward document, but it plays a central role in the German driving licence system. It proves, in a standardised and independent way, that your vision meets the legal standard for driving, and it tells the licensing authority whether you need glasses or contact lenses to meet that standard. Understanding what is on the certificate, how long it is valid, and what to do if you do not pass will save you time, money, and unnecessary worry, and it will help you plan your licence application with confidence.

Book the test for a week or two before your appointment at the licensing office, take your glasses or contact lenses and your identity card with you, and check the date and your details on the certificate before you leave the shop. If the result shows you need correction, accept that as normal, and make sure your licence reflects it. With a current certificate in your hand, the rest of the licence process becomes much simpler, and you can focus on learning to drive, rather than on paperwork.