Eye Test for Delivery Drivers

Introduction

Eye test for delivery drivers is the first document that many people need when they start work as a delivery driver in Germany, whether they deliver parcels for a large company, food for a delivery service, or groceries for a supermarket. A delivery driver spends most of the working day on the road, in a car, a van, or on a scooter, and a company will ask for a driving licence before it gives out the first delivery. A driving licence in Germany requires an eye test, and this guide explains how the eye test for delivery drivers works, which licence you need for which vehicle, and what your employer can and cannot ask for.

Eye test for delivery drivers is not a separate test with its own certificate. It is the standard German driving licence eye test, the Sehtest, which every car and van driver must pass. A delivery driver who drives a car or a small van uses the same test, the same visual acuity limit, and the same certificate as a private car driver. A delivery driver who drives a lorry needs a stricter test, because a lorry licence is a professional licence, and the rules are different. The type of vehicle decides which eye test for delivery drivers applies, and this article will help you to work out which one is yours.

In this article, you will learn what a delivery driver is in German law, which driving licence classes are used for deliveries, how the eye test for delivery drivers works for cars, vans, and lorries, how much it costs, and what to do if you fail. You will also find information for expats who want to work for a delivery company in Germany, including the rules on foreign licences, the medical checks that an employer can ask for, and practical tips for the test day. By the end, you will know exactly what you need to start working as a delivery driver in Germany.

What Does a Delivery Driver Need in Germany?

A delivery driver in Germany is a person who delivers goods for a company, usually as an employee or as a self-employed driver. The work can be parcel delivery, food delivery, or courier work, and the vehicle can be a car, a van, a small lorry, or a scooter. The licence you need depends on the vehicle: a car licence, class B, covers a car or a van up to 3.5 tonnes, which covers most parcel and food delivery work. A C1 licence covers a vehicle from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes, and a C licence covers a lorry over 7.5 tonnes. Your employer will tell you which vehicle you will drive, and which licence you need.

Eye test for delivery drivers begins with the licence for that vehicle. For a car or van up to 3.5 tonnes, the eye test for delivery drivers is the standard Sehtest: a visual acuity of at least 0.7 with both eyes together, with or without glasses or contact lenses, and a normal visual field. For a C1 or C licence, the eye test is part of a medical examination for a professional licence, with a higher visual acuity limit, a more detailed visual field test, and a general health check. The employer can ask to see your driving licence, and it can ask for a medical certificate, but it cannot demand a test that is not required by law for the class you drive.

Eye test for delivery drivers also matters because delivery work is tiring for the eyes. A driver who delivers parcels in a city drives in stop-start traffic, in rain and in the dark, and must read house numbers, look for pedestrians, and reverse into small loading bays. Long hours and a tight schedule can strain the eyes, and a driver who cannot see well is a risk to herself and to other road users. That is why the German rules require the test, and why a responsible employer will take it seriously, even for a driver who is only delivering by car.

Eye Test for Delivery Drivers: The Car and Van Test

Eye test for delivery drivers for a car or van is done at an optician, an ophthalmologist, or a doctor at a technical inspection centre. You bring your identity card or passport, and the test takes between ten and twenty minutes. You read letters or numbers from an eye chart, first with one eye covered, then with the other, and then with both eyes together, and the optician checks your visual field with a simple screening test. The result is a visual acuity value, called Visus, and you need at least 0.7 with both eyes together, with or without a visual aid. The fee is between 6.43 and 15 euros, and many large optician chains do the test for free.

Eye test for delivery drivers for a car or van produces the Sehtest-Bescheinigung, the eye test certificate, which is valid for two years and is taken to the driving licence office with the licence application. The certificate is the same as for a private driver, and it is accepted by the licence office in every state. If you already hold a German car licence, you do not need a new eye test to start as a delivery driver, because your licence is the proof that you passed the test. Your employer will copy your licence, not your eye test certificate, and the certificate is not needed again until you apply for a new class or renew a professional licence.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, the eye test for delivery drivers is done with them on, and your licence will carry a condition, code 01.01 for glasses or 01.02 for contact lenses, which means that you must wear them while driving. Your employer can check the condition on your licence, and it can refuse to let you drive if you do not wear your glasses, because the insurance for the delivery vehicle requires the driver to follow the conditions on the licence. Bring a spare pair of glasses in the van if you can, because a broken pair at the start of a shift can mean a lost day of work.

The Lorry Test for Delivery Drivers

Eye test for delivery drivers who drive a lorry is stricter. A lorry licence, class C, or a C1 licence for a vehicle from 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes, follows the Group 2 rules for professional drivers. The visual acuity must be at least 0.8 in the better eye and 0.1 in the worse eye, and the visual field must be normal in both eyes. The test is part of a medical examination, which includes a general health check, a check for diabetes, heart disease, and epilepsy, and a check of your eyes by an ophthalmologist or an occupational health doctor. The examination costs between 100 and 250 euros, and it must be repeated every five years, and every five years after the age of 50 for a lorry driver.

Eye test for delivery drivers in a lorry is important because a lorry is larger, heavier, and harder to stop than a car, and because a lorry driver works longer hours. The employer is required to check that a lorry driver is medically fit, and the licence office will refuse to renew a lorry licence if the medical examination shows a problem. If you are a delivery driver in a lorry and your vision changes, tell your employer and your doctor at once, because continuing to drive with poor vision can have serious legal consequences if you are involved in an accident, and the employer can be held responsible too.

The Rules for Expats Who Want to Deliver in Germany

Eye test for delivery drivers is one of the steps in the process for an expat who wants to work as a delivery driver in Germany. The first step is a work permit, if you need one, and the second is a driving licence that is valid in Germany. An EU or EEA licence is valid without a time limit, and you can start work with it at once. A non-EU licence is valid for six months after you register your address in Germany, and then you must exchange it for a German licence. To exchange it, you will usually need an eye test certificate, a first aid course, and sometimes a theory and practical test, depending on the country that issued your licence.

Eye test for delivery drivers is checked by your employer in the same way as for a German driver: the employer will ask to see your licence and will copy it, and it may ask for a copy of your medical certificate if you drive a lorry. The employer may also ask you to have a medical check before you start, because the company needs to know that you are fit to drive, and because the insurance for the delivery vehicles requires it. This is normal in Germany, and it is not a sign of discrimination. The company is responsible for its drivers, and it needs to be sure that you can see well enough to drive safely.

The eye test for lorry and bus drivers page on this site explains the Group 2 rules in detail, and the eye test for a driving licence page explains the standard test for car and van drivers. If you want to drive a lorry for deliveries, the lorry and bus page is the one to read first, because the rules are stricter and the medical examination is more detailed.

What Happens If You Fail the Eye Test

Eye test for delivery drivers can be failed, and the most common reason is a glasses prescription that is out of date. If you fail, the optician will tell you your visual acuity and what the problem is. A new pair of glasses is often enough, and you can repeat the test at any optician after a few days. You can repeat the test at any time, and there is no compulsory waiting period, but you should not repeat it until you have the new glasses, because the same eyes will give the same result.

If a new prescription does not lift your visual acuity above 0.7, the optician will refer you to an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will check for a cataract, a retinal disease, or an eye disease that can be treated, and will write a report if needed. The driving licence office can then decide whether to issue a licence with restrictions, for example a licence that requires you to wear glasses, or a licence that limits you to a certain class of vehicle. A restricted licence is a fair outcome, and many delivery drivers in Germany work every day with a glasses condition on their licence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do delivery drivers need an eye test in Germany?
Yes. Eye test for delivery drivers is the standard driving licence eye test for car and van drivers, with a visual acuity of at least 0.7, and a stricter medical examination for lorry drivers. Your employer will check your licence, not your eye test certificate, unless you are applying for a new class.

What visual acuity does a delivery driver need?
For a car or van up to 3.5 tonnes, the limit is 0.7 with both eyes together, with or without glasses or contact lenses. For a lorry, class C, the Group 2 rules apply, with at least 0.8 in the better eye and 0.1 in the worse eye.

How much does the eye test for delivery drivers cost?
The standard test costs between 6.43 and 15 euros at an optician, and it is often free at large optician chains. The medical examination for a lorry licence costs more, usually between 100 and 250 euros, and it is part of the licence application.

Can I work as a delivery driver with a foreign licence?
Yes, if your licence is valid in Germany. An EU or EEA licence is valid without a time limit. A non-EU licence is valid for six months after you register your address, and then you must exchange it for a German licence, which requires an eye test.

Does my employer pay for the eye test?
Not usually. The eye test is part of your driving licence application, and you pay for it. Some employers pay for the medical examination for a lorry driver, because it is a requirement for the job, but you should check that with your employer before you apply.

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

Eye test for delivery drivers is the standard eye test for most delivery work. Eye test for delivery drivers is cheap, quick, and easy to arrange at any optician. Eye test for delivery drivers keeps you and your customers safe on the road.

Conclusion

Eye test for delivery drivers is a simple test for most delivery work, and it is the standard Sehtest that every car driver in Germany must pass. If you drive a car or a van up to 3.5 tonnes, the limit is a visual acuity of 0.7 with both eyes together, and the test costs a few euros at an optician and takes twenty minutes. If you drive a lorry, the rules are stricter, the test is part of a medical examination, and the visual acuity must be at least 0.8 in the better eye. Bring your identity card and your glasses, sleep well the night before, and tell the optician about any health problem. If you fail, a new pair of glasses is often enough, and you can repeat the test. With a valid licence and good eyesight, you can start work as a delivery driver in Germany, and you will be safe on the road every day.