German Driving Licence Eye Test Explained in English: A Complete Guide for Expats

If you are an expat planning to drive in Germany, one of the first official steps on your list is the German driving licence eye test. Known in German as the Sehtest, it is a short, standardised vision check that almost everyone needs before they can apply for — or convert to — a German driving licence. The good news is that it is quick, inexpensive and usually takes less than fifteen minutes. The bad news is that the process is explained almost entirely in German, which is why so many newcomers arrive unprepared. This guide explains the German driving licence eye test in plain English: who needs it, what is checked, where to go, what it costs and what to do if you do not pass the first time.

Whether you are converting a US, UK or other foreign licence, starting driving lessons from scratch or renewing a licence, the eye test is the same. You will leave with an official certificate — the Sehtestbescheinigung — that is valid for two years and is one of the documents your local driving licence authority, the Führerscheinstelle, will ask for. Below you will find every step, the real costs for 2026 and the mistakes that catch expats out most often.

Who needs a German driving licence eye test?

Almost every licence applicant in Germany needs a Sehtest. The rule is set out in paragraph 12 of the German driving licence regulation (Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung, FeV): before a licence is issued for the standard car and motorcycle classes — the so-called group 1 classes, which include A, A1, B and BE — the applicant must prove that their vision meets the legal minimum. That applies whether you are taking your very first driving licence or converting a foreign licence into a German one.

The same test is required if your licence was withdrawn and you apply for a new one, and in other cases where a new licence is issued. If you only exchange a modern EU card licence for a fresh German card licence as part of the routine 15-year renewal, a new eye test is normally not required, because that exchange is purely administrative. Lorry and bus drivers — classes C, C1, D and D1 — are a different story: they need a full ophthalmological examination (augenärztliche Untersuchung), which is much more detailed than the simple eye test described here. If you hold or are applying for a class C or D licence, read our guide to the lorry eye test as well.

What the eye test actually checks

The simple eye test is deliberately narrow. It checks your distance vision — how sharply you can see at a distance — with and without your glasses or contact lenses. The legal minimum for a car licence is a visual acuity of 0.7. In practice that means: with whatever correction you normally wear, your eyes together must reach at least 0.7 on the test chart. Each eye is also checked on its own, so the examiner can see whether one eye is doing all the work.

Most opticians use Landolt rings: broken circles printed on a chart, where you have to say on which side the gap is — up, down, left or right. Some use letters or numbers instead. You stand or sit about five metres from the chart, or look into a vision testing device that reproduces the same distance. The rings get smaller line by line until you can no longer tell where the gap is. There is no trick to it and there is nothing to study: the chart measures your vision, not your knowledge.

One thing the simple eye test does not do is fail you for colour vision. Colour blindness is a topic for the full ophthalmological examination required for lorry and bus licences, but for a car licence the simple test only certifies your visual acuity and whether you need a correction to reach it. The result is written on the certificate, together with a note if you need glasses or contact lenses while driving.

Where to take the eye test: optician or eye doctor?

For the simple eye test you can go to any officially recognised optician (Augenoptiker) or to an ophthalmologist (Augenarzt). Most expats choose the optician, and for good reason: it is faster, cheaper and you can usually just walk in. The big chains — Apollo and Fielmann — have branches in almost every German town, and independent opticians offer exactly the same officially recognised certificate. Our guide to the driving licence eye test procedure explains the full process step by step.

At an optician the test takes five to fifteen minutes, no appointment is usually needed (although booking one online can save you a wait on a Saturday), and you walk out with the printed certificate in your hand. An ophthalmologist also issues the same certificate, but you will need an appointment, the visit costs more and it usually makes sense only if you suspect an eye problem, if you failed at the optician, or if you need the more detailed examination for a lorry or bus licence. If you are unsure which one you need, the optician is the right first stop — they will tell you honestly if you need a doctor instead.

Bring a photo ID with you, usually your passport or residence permit, and wear your current glasses or contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, bring your glasses as well as a back-up, because some opticians like to test both. You do not need to bring anything else: no referral, no health insurance card and no paperwork from your home country.

The eye test step by step

Here is exactly what happens when you walk into an optician for your Sehtest. First, you register at the counter and show your ID. The staff will ask which licence class you are applying for, because the form on the certificate differs slightly between the car classes and the lorry and bus classes. Then you take a seat in the testing area.

Second, the optician checks your vision with your correction on: glasses or lenses in place, you read the chart line by line. Third, the same thing happens without your correction, so the certificate can record both values. Fourth, each eye is tested separately, usually by covering one eye with a small paddle or your hand. The optician notes the smallest line you can read reliably.

Finally, the result is entered on the official certificate. If you reached 0.7 with your correction, you pass and the certificate is printed, stamped and signed. If you only reach 0.7 with glasses or lenses, the certificate records that a visual aid is required — this is later entered in your driving licence as a restriction. The whole visit, including the paperwork, rarely takes longer than fifteen minutes, and you can use the certificate at any Führerscheinstelle in Germany, not just in the town where you took the test.

How much does the eye test cost?

The eye test for a driving licence is one of the cheapest official steps in the whole licence process. At an optician you will typically pay between 6 and 8 euros. The large chains charge a standard fee — around 6.43 euros at Fielmann and Apollo is common — and some opticians offer the test free as a promotion, especially if you are also buying glasses. Small independent opticians are usually in the same range, occasionally up to about 15 euros.

If you go to an ophthalmologist instead, expect to pay more: roughly 20 to 40 euros for the simple certificate, and considerably more for a full examination. Health insurance does not cover the test, because it is an administrative requirement and not a medical treatment. You pay on the spot, by card or in cash, and there are no hidden costs. If you have to repeat the test — for example because your certificate expired or you failed the first time — you simply pay the fee again. For the complete picture of what a licence costs from start to finish, see our guide to the driving licence eye test costs.

How long is the eye test certificate valid?

The Sehtestbescheinigung is valid for two years from the date of the test. That is the rule in paragraph 12 of the FeV, and it means your certificate must not be older than two years on the day you submit your driving licence application at the Führerscheinstelle. If the authority takes a few weeks to process your application, that does not matter — only the date of submission counts.

For most expats the two-year window is generous, but it is still worth timing the test well. If you take the test and then spend a year collecting other documents or waiting for a driving school place, you can run out of time surprisingly fast. The practical advice is simple: take the eye test shortly before you apply, or at least once you know the rest of your application is ready. If the certificate has expired by the time you apply, there is no shortcut — you just take the test again. It costs the same small fee and takes the same fifteen minutes.

What happens if you fail the eye test?

Failing the eye test sounds dramatic, but it is usually a small problem with a simple fix. The most common reason expats fail is that their glasses or contact lens prescription is out of date. Vision changes slowly, and many people are still wearing a prescription from three or four years ago without realising they can no longer see 0.7 with it. In that case the solution is a new prescription, new glasses, and a repeat test — which most people then pass easily.

If the optician cannot get you to 0.7 even with a correction, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist for a full examination (augenärztliches Gutachten). That examination is more thorough: it checks your visual field, your colour vision and other aspects of eye health, and the doctor decides whether you can drive safely, possibly with restrictions such as daylight-only driving or a specific type of correction. Only if the doctor also finds that you cannot meet the standard is the licence refused. There is no official waiting period before you can repeat the test, and you can take it at a different optician if you prefer. Our article on what to do when the eye test fails walks through the next steps in detail.

Eye test with glasses or contact lenses

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, the eye test is done with them on and off, and the result with your correction is what counts. If you reach 0.7 only with a correction, your licence will carry a restriction — code 01 — which means you are only allowed to drive with that correction. Driving without the prescribed glasses or lenses is an offence: it can mean a fine and points in Flensburg, and in the event of an accident your insurance may cause problems.

A few practical tips make the test smoother. First, update your prescription before the test if your glasses are more than two years old or if you have noticed your vision getting worse. Second, bring both your glasses and your contact lenses so the optician can record both. Third, clean your glasses and put in fresh lenses before you go — a scratched lens or a dry contact lens can cost you a line on the chart. Fourth, keep a spare pair of glasses in the car once you have your licence; it is not legally required for most drivers, but it is cheap insurance against a broken frame on a long journey.

Common mistakes expats make

The eye test is simple, but expats still get caught out by a handful of avoidable mistakes. The first is turning up without your current glasses or lenses, or with a prescription that is years out of date. The second is assuming a foreign eye test certificate, a note from your doctor back home or a prescription from your home optician will be accepted — it will not. Only the German Sehtestbescheinigung issued by an officially recognised body is accepted by the Führerscheinstelle.

The third mistake is bad timing: taking the test a year before you apply and then discovering the certificate has expired. The fourth is paying for a full ophthalmological examination when the simple test at the optician would have been enough — that can cost ten times as much for no benefit. And the fifth is not bringing any ID at all: the optician has to identify you on the certificate, so a passport or residence permit is essential. Avoid these five, and the eye test will be the easiest part of your licence application.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an eye test for a German driving licence?

Yes. Almost everyone who applies for a first German licence or converts a foreign licence needs a simple eye test for the car and motorcycle classes (group 1). The only common exception is the administrative exchange of an EU card licence, where no new test is required. Lorry and bus drivers need a full ophthalmological examination instead.

Is the eye test available in English?

The test itself needs almost no language at all: you point in the direction of the gap in a Landolt ring, or read letters and numbers. Most opticians in larger cities speak English, and many will explain the process in English without being asked. The certificate itself is in German, which is what the authorities expect.

Can I use an eye test from my home country?

No. The Führerscheinstelle only accepts the German Sehtestbescheinigung issued by an officially recognised optician or ophthalmologist in Germany. An eye test from abroad, even from a qualified professional, does not count.

How long does the eye test take?

About ten to fifteen minutes including the paperwork. The test itself takes only a few minutes; most of the time is registration and printing the certificate.

What does the eye test cost in 2026?

At an optician you will normally pay between 6 and 8 euros, and some opticians offer it free as a promotion. An ophthalmologist charges roughly 20 to 40 euros for the same certificate. Health insurance does not reimburse the fee.

Conclusion: the eye test is the easy part

The German driving licence eye test is quick, cheap and straightforward — and now that you know what to expect, there is no reason to put it off. Book or walk into any optician with your ID and your current glasses, allow fifteen minutes, and you will leave with the certificate you need for your licence application. If you are converting a foreign licence, take the test once your other documents are ready so the two-year validity does not run out. And if you wear a correction, remember that it will be recorded in your licence: always drive with it. With the eye test done, you are one step closer to legally driving in Germany.