Eye Test for Teenagers: When Can You Take It?

Introduction

Eye test for teenagers is a question that many parents and teenagers ask, because in Germany, the driving licence can be started earlier than in many countries, and the eye test has to be taken at the right time. When can you take it, and does your age matter? Eye test for teenagers depends on the licence class you want, because the age for a moped licence is different from the age for a car licence, and the certificate is only valid for two years. This guide explains when a teenager in Germany can take the driving licence eye test, what the rules are for each licence class, and what parents need to know.

Eye test for teenagers is a topic that starts with Begleitetes Fahren, or accompanied driving, which allows a teenager to drive a car at 17, with an adult in the passenger seat, after passing the driving test. Eye test for teenagers for this programme can be taken from the age of 16.5, which is six months before the 17th birthday, and the certificate is valid for two years, so it is easy to take it at the right time. The same test is used for a moped licence, class AM, which can be taken from the age of 15, and for a motorcycle licence, class A1, which can be taken from the age of 16, and the eye test for teenagers is the standard Sehtest for all of these classes.

In this article, you will learn when an eye test for teenagers can be taken for each licence class, how to book the test, what to bring, and what happens if the test is failed. You will also find practical advice for parents, on how to prepare a teenager for the test, on when to buy glasses, and on what to do if a teenager has a vision problem at a young age. By the end, you will know exactly when a teenager in Germany can take the driving licence eye test.

The Minimum Ages for Each Licence Class

Eye test for teenagers depends on the class. For class AM, the moped licence, the minimum age is 15, so a teenager can take the eye test from 15, and can ride a moped up to 45 km/h, with a small engine or an electric motor. Eye test for teenagers for class AM is the standard test, with a visual acuity of at least 0.7 with both eyes together, and it can be taken at a large optician chain, where the fee is between 6.43 and 15 euros, and where the test is often free.

Eye test for teenagers for class A1, the motorcycle licence up to 125 cc, can be taken from the age of 16, and eye test for teenagers for class B, the car licence, can be taken from 16.5 for Begleitetes Fahren, or from 17.5 for a normal car licence at 18. The eye test for teenagers for all of these classes is the same test, and the certificate is valid for two years, so it is easy to take it in good time before the first driving lesson, and you do not need to take it again if you start lessons within two years.

Begleitetes Fahren at 17

Eye test for teenagers for Begleitetes Fahren, or accompanied driving at 17, is one of the most popular options in Germany. The programme allows a teenager to learn to drive at 16.5, pass the driving test at 17, and then drive with an adult passenger until their 18th birthday, when the restriction is lifted. Eye test for teenagers for this programme is the standard Sehtest, and it needs to be taken before the driving licence application is submitted to the local office, which is the same as for a normal licence.

Eye test for teenagers for Begleitetes Fahren needs the consent of the parents and the adult who will accompany the driver, and the driving licence office will expect a Sehtest-Bescheinigung that is no more than two years old, a first aid course certificate, a passport photo, and the identity card. Eye test for teenagers is a small part of the process, but it is a legal requirement, and without it, the application cannot be processed. The fee for the test is the same as for an adult, between 6.43 and 15 euros.

How to Prepare a Teenager for the Test

Eye test for teenagers is usually a simple test, but some teenagers need glasses and do not know it. A teenager who sits at the back of the classroom and cannot read the board may have a vision problem that is easy to miss, and the eye test is a useful check. Eye test for teenagers should be preceded by a visit to an optician for a full eye test, if the teenager wears glasses already, to check that the prescription is up to date, because a prescription that is more than two years old can be wrong, and the teenager may fail the driving licence test.

Eye test for teenagers is also a matter of being rested and relaxed. The teenager should take the test in the morning, not after a long school day, and should bring their glasses or contact lenses, and should not wear contact lenses to the test if they normally wear them for driving, because the test should be done with the visual aid they will use for driving. Eye test for teenagers should be taken at a time when the teenager is calm, because stress can make the result worse, and a second test may be needed if the first one fails.

What Happens If a Teenager Fails?

Eye test for teenagers can be failed, and the most common reasons are a wrong glasses prescription, tired eyes, and a problem that has not been found yet, such as astigmatism or a colour vision deficiency. If the teenager fails, the optician will explain the reason, and will usually recommend a new prescription, or a visit to an ophthalmologist, and the test can be taken again after a few days, with new glasses, or after the problem is fixed. Eye test for teenagers is not the end of the road if it fails, and it is a useful warning that the eyes need attention.

The eye test for a driving licence page on this site explains the standard test and where to take it, and the eye test in Berlin page on this site explains where to go in the capital, which is useful if you live in a large city. If you are a parent, read both pages before you book the test, because a well-prepared teenager is more likely to pass the test on the first try.

Parents: What to Know

Eye test for teenagers has one important rule for parents: the test can be taken without a parent, but it is better to go with the teenager, because the optician will explain the result, and the parent can ask questions, and the teenager may want help choosing glasses. Eye test for teenagers is also a good time to talk to the teenager about driving safely, about the dangers of driving at night, and about the importance of wearing glasses when driving, because the glasses condition on the licence is a legal requirement.

Eye test for teenagers is also a good time to think about the cost of driving lessons and the licence, because the eye test fee is small, but the driving lessons and the test cost much more, and the total cost of a driving licence in Germany is between 2,000 and 3,000 euros. Eye test for teenagers is a small step, but it is the first step, and it is worth taking the time to get it right, so that the teenager does not have to take the test twice.

What Else Does a Teenager Need for the Driving Licence?

Eye test for teenagers is only one document in the driving licence application, and it is worth knowing what else is needed, so that the teenager can start the process without a delay. Eye test for teenagers must be combined with a first aid course, the Erste-Hilfe-Kurs, which takes a day and costs about 40 euros, and which is offered by the Red Cross, the Johanniter, the Malteser, and the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, and which can be booked online, in most cities, for a Saturday or for a holiday. Eye test for teenagers is the quickest document, and the first aid course is the easiest, and both should be done before the driving school is chosen, so that the application can be submitted at once.

Eye test for teenagers is also a part of the registration at a driving school, because the driving school will ask for the eye test certificate, the first aid certificate, a biometric passport photo, and the identity card, and the school will then help the teenager to apply for the licence at the local office. Eye test for teenagers is a small part of a process that also includes theory lessons, which are usually 12 lessons of 90 minutes each, and practical driving lessons, which are about 20 to 30 lessons for most pupils, and the whole licence costs between 2,000 and 3,000 euros, depending on the school and the number of lessons. Eye test for teenagers is the first step, and the cost of the licence is a big investment for a family, and it is worth comparing several driving schools before you choose one.

Eye test for teenagers for Begleitetes Fahren, or accompanied driving at 17, needs the consent of the parents, and the name of the adult who will accompany the driver, and the adult must be at least 30 years old, and must have held a driving licence for at least five years, and must not have more than one point in Flensburg. Eye test for teenagers is a document that the parents should see, because the result tells the parents whether the teenager needs glasses, and whether the glasses condition on the licence is set, and the parents should make sure that the teenager wears the glasses when driving, because the condition is a legal requirement, and the police will check it.

Eye test for teenagers should be taken at a time when the teenager is rested, because a tired teenager who has just finished school may not read the chart as well as a rested one, and the test can be taken again after a few days, with new glasses, or after a visit to an ophthalmologist. Eye test for teenagers is also a good time to talk to the teenager about driving safely, about the dangers of driving at night, about not using a mobile phone while driving, and about the importance of wearing a seat belt, because a teenager who learns to drive safely from the start is a safer driver for life. Eye test for teenagers is a small step, but it is the start of a lifelong skill, and it is worth taking the time to get it right.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can a teenager take the eye test for a driving licence in Germany?
Eye test for teenagers can be taken from the age of 15 for a moped licence, class AM, from 16 for a motorcycle licence, class A1, and from 16.5 for a car licence with Begleitetes Fahren, and from 17.5 for a normal car licence at 18.

How long is the eye test certificate valid for a teenager?
Eye test for teenagers uses the same certificate, the Sehtest-Bescheinigung, as an adult, and it is valid for two years. That means a test taken at 16.5 is still valid when the teenager turns 17 and takes the driving test.

What should a teenager bring to the eye test?
Eye test for teenagers needs an identity card or passport, glasses or contact lenses, and a current glasses prescription if the teenager already wears glasses. The fee is between 6.43 and 15 euros, and it is often free at a large optician chain.

Does a teenager need a parent to go to the eye test?
No, a teenager can take the test alone, but it is better to go with a parent, because the optician will explain the result, and the parent can help to choose glasses, and ask questions about the driving licence.

What happens if a teenager fails the eye test?
Eye test for teenagers can be failed because of a wrong glasses prescription or a vision problem that is not yet treated. The optician will explain the reason, and the test can be taken again after a few days, with new glasses or after a visit to an ophthalmologist.

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

Eye test for teenagers can be taken from 15 for a moped licence and from 16.5 for a car licence. Eye test for teenagers is the standard Sehtest that is valid for two years. Eye test for teenagers is best taken when the teenager is rested and relaxed.

Conclusion

Eye test for teenagers can be taken early. For a moped licence, class AM, the eye test can be taken from the age of 15, for a motorcycle licence, class A1, from the age of 16, and for a car licence, class B, from the age of 16.5 for Begleitetes Fahren at 17, or from 17.5 for a normal licence at 18. The test is the standard Sehtest, with a visual acuity of at least 0.7, the fee is between 6.43 and 15 euros, and the certificate is valid for two years. Make sure the glasses prescription is up to date, take the test when the teenager is rested, and bring the identity card and glasses to the optician. With good preparation, a teenager in Germany can take the driving licence eye test at the right time, and can start learning to drive with confidence.