Eye Test for Driving Licence Renewal After Suspension
Introduction
Eye test for driving licence renewal after a suspension is one of the steps that many drivers face when they want their licence back in Germany. A driving licence can be suspended for many reasons: for speeding, for driving under the influence of alcohol, for collecting too many points in the Flensburg register, or for a medical reason. When the suspension ends, you do not simply get the licence back in the post. You usually have to apply for it again, and the driving licence office can ask for an eye test for driving licence renewal, a first aid course, and sometimes a medical and psychological assessment, the MPU. This guide explains when an eye test is needed, what it involves, and how to get your licence back without a delay.
Eye test for driving licence renewal is not the same as a new driving licence application, but it uses the same eye test: the standard Sehtest at an optician, with the same visual acuity limit of 0.7 and the same certificate. The difference is in the process around the test. After a suspension, the licence office will check your driving record, your points, and your health, and it will decide what else you have to do. The eye test is the simplest part of that process, and it is the part you can control most easily, because it takes twenty minutes and costs a few euros, and you can take it as soon as you are allowed to apply for the licence again.
In this article, you will learn why a licence is suspended in Germany, what a suspension period means, how to apply for the renewal of your licence, when an eye test for driving licence renewal is required, what the test involves, and what else the licence office may ask for, including the MPU and the medical report. You will also find practical advice on preparing for the test, and answers to the questions that expats ask most often about suspensions, about points, and about getting a licence back in Germany. By the end, you will know how to plan the steps and how to get back on the road legally.
Why Licences Are Suspended in Germany
A driving licence in Germany can be suspended for a short period, called a Fahrverbot, or it can be withdrawn, called Entziehung der Fahrerlaubnis. A Fahrverbot usually lasts between one and three months, and it is given for offences such as speeding by more than 21 kilometres per hour in a town, or by more than 26 kilometres per hour outside a town, when the driver has already committed a similar offence. The driver hands in the licence, does not drive for the period, and then gets the licence back, usually without a new test. An Entziehung is more serious: the licence is taken away, and the driver must apply for a new licence, with a new test in some cases, after a blocking period, called Sperrfrist, which is usually between six months and five years.
Points in Flensburg, in the register kept by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, are the other main reason for a suspension. A driver gets points for offences, and when the total reaches eight points, the licence is withdrawn. One point is given for a minor offence, two points for a serious offence, and three points for a criminal offence in traffic, such as drink driving with an accident. Points are deleted after a period, but a driver who keeps offending will reach eight points and lose the licence. The driving licence office will tell you how many points you have if you ask, and you can check your own record online, with an identity check, through the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt.
Eye test for driving licence renewal is relevant in both situations, but for different reasons. After a simple Fahrverbot, the eye test is not normally required, because the licence is returned automatically, and the driving licence office does not ask for a new test. After an Entziehung, the licence office usually asks for an eye test for driving licence renewal, because the new licence is treated like a new application in many respects, and the eye test certificate is one of the documents that must be submitted with it.
Eye Test for Driving Licence Renewal: When Is It Needed?
Eye test for driving licence renewal is needed when you apply for a new licence after your old licence has been withdrawn. The driving licence office will ask for the same documents as for a first licence application, including an eye test certificate that is not more than two years old, a first aid course certificate, a biometric passport photo, and proof of your address. The eye test certificate is the Sehtest-Bescheinigung, and it is issued by an optician or by an ophthalmologist after the standard test, with a visual acuity of at least 0.7 and a normal visual field. It costs between 6.43 and 15 euros at an optician.
Eye test for driving licence renewal is also needed when your licence is suspended for a medical reason, or when you apply for a new class of licence, or when your licence has expired because you did not renew it in time. The rule is simple: if the licence office asks for a new test, take the test, and if the office does not ask, you do not need a new one. After a short Fahrverbot, the office does not ask, because the licence is returned, not re-issued. After an Entziehung, the office almost always asks, because the licence is being issued for the first time again, and the office wants to be sure that you can see well enough to drive.
The eye test for driving licence renewal should be done close to the date of your application, not at the start of your suspension period. The certificate is valid for two years, but if your suspension period is longer than two years, the certificate will expire before you can use it, and you will have to take the test again. Take the test a few weeks before you are allowed to apply, so that the date is fresh and the certificate is clearly valid. Bring your identity card and your glasses, and ask the optician to check your prescription, because your eyes may have changed during the suspension period.
How the Eye Test Works
Eye test for driving licence renewal works exactly like the first eye test. You go to an optician, bring your identity card or passport, and read letters or numbers from an eye chart, first with one eye covered, then with the other, and then with both eyes together. The optician checks your visual field, and the result is written on the certificate. If you wear glasses, the test is done with them on, and the new licence will carry a glasses condition. If you do not reach 0.7, the optician will refer you to an ophthalmologist, and the licence office will decide on the basis of the ophthalmologist’s report.
Eye test for driving licence renewal is the part of the process that you can control, so prepare for it. Sleep well the night before, rest your eyes if you work at a screen, and bring clean glasses and a spare pair. If your eyes are dry, use artificial tears. The test itself is short and simple, and most drivers pass it at the first attempt, even after a long suspension. The harder part of getting your licence back is often the MPU, not the eye test, and it is worth understanding that too.
What Else Can the Licence Office Ask For?
Eye test for driving licence renewal is only one document in a longer list. The licence office can also ask for a medical and psychological assessment, called MPU, or Medizinisch-Psychologische Untersuchung, which is known in German slang as the Idiotentest. The MPU is a detailed assessment by a doctor and a psychologist, and it is used when the licence was withdrawn for drink driving, drug driving, or for repeated serious offences. It costs several hundred euros, and it can take weeks to arrange. The MPU checks whether you have learned from the offence, whether you have changed your behaviour, and whether you are fit to drive again.
Eye test for driving licence renewal is separate from the MPU, but the two are often required together, and the MPU can also include a medical check of your eyes. If the MPU doctor finds that your vision is poor, the licence office can ask for an ophthalmological report, even if your eye test certificate is fine. The MPU is a difficult and stressful process, and many drivers take a preparation course, called MPU-Vorbereitung, to improve their chances. A preparation course costs money, but the pass rate is much better with it than without it, and the licence office does not require it, although it is recommended.
The eye test failed: what to do now page on this site explains what happens when the test is not passed, and the eye test for a driving licence page explains the standard test in detail. Together, they give you a clear picture of the test itself, and what to do if the result is not what you hoped for.
How to Apply for the Renewal of Your Licence
Eye test for driving licence renewal starts with the driving licence office in the town where you are registered, the Fahrerlaubnisbehoerde. You apply in person, in writing, or online, depending on the state, and you submit the eye test certificate, the first aid course certificate, a biometric passport photo, and your identity card. The application fee is about 45 euros, and the processing time is several weeks, so apply in good time before the end of your suspension period, because you cannot drive until the new licence has been issued. The licence office will check your points, your offences, and your health, and it will tell you if an MPU is needed.
Eye test for driving licence renewal is part of the application, but the blocking period, the Sperrfrist, is the real limit. The Sperrfrist is decided by the court or by the licence office when the licence is withdrawn, and it can be shortened if you take part in a rehabilitation course, for example an alcohol rehabilitation course, or by the court if there is a reason to do so. You cannot apply for the licence again until the Sperrfrist has ended, and driving before it ends is a criminal offence, even if you have done the eye test and the first aid course. Do not drive during the blocking period, because the police will check, and the period can be extended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new eye test to get my licence back after a suspension?
It depends on the type of suspension. After a short Fahrverbot, the licence is returned and a new eye test is not normally needed. After an Entziehung, the licence office usually asks for an eye test for driving licence renewal, because the new licence is treated like a new application.
What visual acuity do I need for the renewal?
Eye test for driving licence renewal uses the standard limit: a visual acuity of at least 0.7 with both eyes together, with or without glasses or contact lenses, and a normal visual field. If you do not reach 0.7, an ophthalmologist can write a report for the licence office.
How much does the eye test for renewal cost?
The standard test costs between 6.43 and 15 euros at an optician, and it is often free at large optician chains. An ophthalmological examination, if you need one, costs more, usually between 50 and 150 euros, and an MPU, if it is required, costs several hundred euros.
Can I take the eye test during my suspension?
Yes, you can take the eye test during your suspension, but the certificate is valid for two years, and if your blocking period is longer than that, it will expire before you can use it. Take the test a few weeks before you apply, so that the date is fresh.
Will I lose my licence again if I fail the eye test?
No. Failing the eye test does not mean that you lose your licence, because the licence has already been withdrawn. It means that you cannot yet apply for a new licence. Get a new prescription, visit an ophthalmologist, and repeat the test when the problem is fixed.
For the official legal text behind the rules in this article, see the German driving licence regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung).
Eye test for driving licence renewal is the first step to getting your licence back after a suspension. Eye test for driving licence renewal is quick and cheap at any optician. Eye test for driving licence renewal is part of a longer process, so plan it carefully.
Conclusion
Eye test for driving licence renewal after a suspension is the simplest part of getting your licence back in Germany. After a short Fahrverbot, you will usually not need a new test, because the licence is returned. After an Entziehung, a new test is usually needed, because the licence is issued again as a new licence, and the eye test certificate is one of the documents that the office requires. The test itself is the standard Sehtest, with a visual acuity of 0.7 and a normal visual field, and it costs a few euros at an optician. The harder part is often the MPU and the blocking period, so take the eye test near the end of the suspension, keep the certificate safe, and apply in good time. With patience and the right documents, you can get your licence back and drive legally in Germany again.