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Do over 70s need an eyesight test for a driving licence renewal?
My wife needs to renew her driving licence as she is over 70. Does she need to see an optician for confirmation that her eyesight is satisfactory?
Asked on 14 May 2020 by Kenneth Morris
Answered by
Georgia Petrie
When your wife fills in the form to renew her licence, she'll be asked to declare that she meets the minimum eyesight standard for driving. It's illegal to drive if you can't read a standard number plate from a distance of 20 metres, either with or without glasses.
To make sure you meet the eyesight standard for driving, it’s recommended you have an eye test at least every two years. Any condition that affects your eyes, apart from long and short sightedness and colour blindness, should be reported to the DVLA. The DVLA may then ask your wife to get an eyesight test done by an optician or doctor. The test results, if she's asked to do one, will then affect whether the renewal is processed.
It's not compulsory to have an eyesight test just because you're over 70, but it is definitely advisable. However, the DVLA is experiencing a lot of delays during the coronavirus outbreak, so there are reports from our readers that licence renewals for over 70s are taking much longer than usual. You can read more about that here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/coronavirus/2020-04/coro.../
To make sure you meet the eyesight standard for driving, it’s recommended you have an eye test at least every two years. Any condition that affects your eyes, apart from long and short sightedness and colour blindness, should be reported to the DVLA. The DVLA may then ask your wife to get an eyesight test done by an optician or doctor. The test results, if she's asked to do one, will then affect whether the renewal is processed.
It's not compulsory to have an eyesight test just because you're over 70, but it is definitely advisable. However, the DVLA is experiencing a lot of delays during the coronavirus outbreak, so there are reports from our readers that licence renewals for over 70s are taking much longer than usual. You can read more about that here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/coronavirus/2020-04/coro.../
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