Eye Test Costs for Students: Discounts and Cheap Options

Introduction

Eye test costs for students are one of the first questions that a student asks when she starts a driving course in Germany, because a driving licence is expensive and an eye test is one of the costs that must be paid before the licence can be applied for. The good news is that the eye test itself is one of the cheapest parts of the driving licence, and for many students it is free. This guide explains what eye test costs for students really are, where to get a free or cheap test, which discounts students can use, and how to plan the other costs of a driving licence on a student budget.

Eye test costs for students in Germany are low because the fee for the standard driving licence eye test is set by law. The eye test certificate, the Sehtest-Bescheinigung, costs a maximum of 6.43 euros, and the test itself, including the visual acuity and visual field check, is usually charged as a small separate fee, so that the total is between 6.43 and 15 euros. Many large optician chains, such as Fielmann and Apollo, do the test free of charge, and some do it for a few euros, so a student rarely has to pay more than the price of a coffee. The costs are the same for students and for other drivers, but students have more ways to save money.

In this article, you will learn what the eye test costs, where to get it free, which student discounts exist for glasses and contact lenses, how much a driving licence costs in total, and how to save money on the theory course, the first aid course, and the driving lessons. You will also find a comparison of optician chains, tips for international students, and answers to the questions that students ask most often about eye tests and driving licences in Germany. By the end, you will know how to get your eye test done for free or for a few euros, and how to plan the rest of your licence on a student budget.

What Does the Eye Test Cost for a Student?

Eye test costs for students start with the standard test, which is the same test as for every driving licence applicant in Germany. The standard fee is set by the fee regulation for the Sehtest, and it is 6.43 euros for the certificate, plus a small charge for the test itself, so the total is usually between 6.43 and 15 euros. That is the whole cost of the test, and there is no extra charge for students or for any other group. If an optician quotes you much more than 15 euros for the standard test, ask what is included, because the standard test should not cost 30 or 50 euros.

Eye test costs for students are often lower in practice, because many large optician chains offer the test free of charge as a service to attract customers. Fielmann, the largest chain in Germany, has long offered the Sehtest free of charge in many of its branches, and Apollo and Pro Optik often do the same. Smaller local opticians usually charge a small fee, but they may do the test for free if you buy glasses from them. A free test is the same test as a paid one: the optician checks your visual acuity and your visual field, and the certificate is the same official form, signed and stamped in the same way.

Eye test costs for students can be higher if you need an ophthalmological examination as well. If the optician finds a problem, for example a cataract, a retinal disease, or a visual field that is not normal, you will be sent to an ophthalmologist, and that examination costs more, usually between 50 and 150 euros. For a student with German statutory health insurance, the ophthalmological examination is covered if there is a medical reason, and the health insurance may pay the cost. If you have private insurance, check your policy, because the eye examination may be covered as a medical examination for a driving licence.

Where Students Can Get a Free or Cheap Eye Test

Eye test costs for students are lowest at a large optician chain, and the best way to find one is to use the optician’s website or the store finder. Fielmann, Apollo, and Pro Optik have branches in almost every German city, and most of them do the Sehtest without an appointment, on a weekday or a Saturday. Go early on a Saturday, because it is busy, and bring your identity card and your student card, even though the student card is not usually required for the test itself. Some branches may ask for the student card to give you a discount on glasses, so bring it anyway.

Eye test costs for students can also be low at the university. Some universities have a health service that offers eye checks, and some offer a discount at a local optician in the town. Ask the student service, the Studierendenwerk, or the international office at your university, because they often know which opticians in the town offer a student price. A student discount on the eye test itself is rare, because the test is already cheap, but a discount on glasses can be worth 10 to 20 percent, and that can save a student 50 euros or more on a pair of glasses.

Eye test costs for students are also low if you combine the test with a visit to an optician where you plan to buy glasses. If you buy glasses from an optician, the test is often included in the price, and the optician may not charge you separately for it. That is the case at many small opticians, and it is worth asking about it before the test. If you need glasses to pass the test, you will need to buy them anyway, and the cost of the glasses is the real expense, not the cost of the test itself.

Glasses and Contact Lenses on a Student Budget

Eye test costs for students are only part of the cost of seeing clearly. A pair of glasses can cost from 50 euros for a simple frame to several hundred euros for a branded frame with a high-index lens, and contact lenses are an ongoing cost, usually between 10 and 30 euros a month. Students who need glasses should ask about the cheapest frame, the student discount, and the second pair, because many opticians offer a second pair for a low price, and that can be useful if the first pair breaks. Look for a frame that is sturdy and light, and choose a lens with a standard coating, rather than the most expensive coating, if your budget is tight.

Eye test costs for students also include the cost of the eye test itself if you need a new test after buying glasses. If your prescription changes, you will need a new eye test certificate for your licence, and the old certificate will no longer be valid if it was issued with the old prescription. That is not a problem if the certificate is less than two years old and you have not yet applied for the licence, but it can become a problem if the old certificate is about to expire. Check the date on your certificate, and plan your glasses purchase and your licence application together, so that you do not need to pay for the test twice.

How Much Does a Driving Licence Cost for a Student?

Eye test costs for students are small compared with the total cost of a driving licence, and that can be a shock for a student. A car driving licence in Germany usually costs between 1,500 and 3,000 euros, depending on the driving school, the city, and the number of driving lessons you need. The cost includes the theory course, the first aid course, the eye test, the application fee, the theory test, the practical driving lessons, and the practical test. The driving lessons are the largest cost, because each lesson of 45 minutes costs between 50 and 80 euros, and most learners need between 20 and 40 lessons.

Eye test costs for students are a useful starting point for planning the rest of the budget, because the test can be done first, for free, and the licence office will accept the certificate for two years. That means that a student can take the eye test now, when she has time, and start the theory course later, when she has saved enough money. The first aid course costs about 40 euros, and the theory course costs between 200 and 500 euros, depending on the school. The application fee at the licence office is about 45 euros, and the theory test costs about 25 euros, while the practical test costs about 120 euros.

International students sometimes pay more, because they may need extra driving lessons if the traffic rules in their home country are different, and because a translation of a foreign licence can cost 50 euros or more. The eye test costs page on this site explains the cost of the test in more detail, and the eye test for a driving licence page explains how the certificate is used when you apply for your licence. Together, they give you a clear picture of the first steps.

Discounts and Ways to Save Money as a Student

Eye test costs for students can be kept low by using the standard methods that German students use for every expense. The first is to compare prices. Call two or three opticians in your town, or check their websites, and ask how much the Sehtest costs and whether it is free. The price difference is small, but it is worth five minutes of your time to find a free test. The second is to use a student discount card, such as the ISIC card, which can give you a discount on glasses and contact lenses at some opticians, and a discount on transport and on leisure activities, which also saves money while you are learning to drive.

Eye test costs for students are also lower if you join a student group that is taking a driving course together. Some driving schools offer a discount for a group of students from the same university, and some offer a discount if you pay for the theory course and the first aid course at the same time. It is worth asking the driving school whether there is a student price, and whether the price includes the eye test. If it does, you will save a few euros, and you will have the test arranged for you, which saves time as well as money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the eye test free for students in Germany?
Eye test costs for students are often free, because many large optician chains, such as Fielmann, offer the Sehtest free of charge, and some do it for a few euros. The standard test costs a maximum of about 15 euros, so it is cheap even when it is not free.

Do students get a discount on the eye test?
There is no special student discount for the test itself, because it is already cheap and the fee is set by law. Students can get a discount on glasses and contact lenses, and that is where the real saving is, because a pair of glasses can cost several hundred euros.

What does the eye test cost for a student in total?
Eye test costs for students are between 0 and 15 euros for the standard test, and between 50 and 150 euros for an ophthalmological examination, if you need one. The health insurance usually covers the ophthalmological examination if there is a medical reason.

Can international students take the eye test?
Yes. Eye test costs for students are the same for international students as for German students, and the test is done at an optician with your passport or residence permit. Bring your student card, because it can help you to get a discount on glasses.

What is the cheapest way to get a driving licence as a student?
Take the eye test for free at a large optician chain, do the first aid course at a low cost, and compare driving schools. The licence itself will still cost between 1,500 and 3,000 euros, so save up and take the theory test as soon as you are ready, to avoid extra lessons.

For the official legal text behind the rules in this article, see the German driving licence regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung).

Eye test costs for students are low, and the test is often free. Eye test costs for students are only a small part of the cost of a driving licence. Eye test costs for students are worth checking, so that you can save money for the lessons.

Conclusion

Eye test costs for students are low, and that is good news for a student who is already paying for a driving licence that costs between 1,500 and 3,000 euros. The standard test costs between 0 and 15 euros, and it is often free at a large optician chain such as Fielmann or Apollo, and it is the same test for every driver in Germany. The certificate is valid for two years, so you can take the test now and start your course later. A student discount on glasses and contact lenses can save you more money than a discount on the test itself, so ask for it, bring your student card, and compare prices before you buy. Book your eye test, check the date on your certificate, and start your driving course when you are ready, and you will be on the road in Germany without spending more than you need to.