Updated: May 25, 2026
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Drivers depend on clear vision to spot distant objects, identify road hazards and read signs. Poor sight in any of these areas raises accident risk.
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires drivers to take a vision exam before obtaining a license. Some visual impairments require corrective lenses. More severe conditions can disqualify drivers entirely.
Many American adults have visual disabilities that interfere with driving or make it impossible entirely. For example, more than 3 million people in the U.S. have a vision problem, and more than 1 million people are legally blind.
Two to three percent of drivers have visual acuity below the minimum legal standard.
18 states have a minimum requirement of 20/40 vision in the better eye.
85% of people with diagnosed eye disorders have some remaining sight.
Sources: American Foundation for the Blind, American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeWiki and NVisionCenters
Getting or renewing a driver's license presents hurdles for people with visual impairments. Certain conditions, whether genetic or age-related, can prevent a person from passing the DMV vision test. Corrective lenses and other solutions can bring many people's vision within DMV standards.
Visual acuity measures clarity of vision at a distance of 20 feet. A score of 20/20 is normal. Someone with 20/100 acuity needs to stand 20 feet from an object to see what a person with standard vision sees at 100 feet.
Some conditions can be corrected or improved with eyeglasses or contacts. Other conditions present more serious barriers to safe driving.
Common Impairment | Challenges |
|---|---|
Low vision | Visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better-seeing eye that glasses or contacts can't correct. |
Damaged central or peripheral view | Central vision focuses on objects directly ahead, while peripheral vision catches objects to the side. Severe damage to either makes judging surroundings too difficult for safe driving. |
Hemianopia | Loss of more than half the visual field. Most states prohibit driving with this diagnosis. |
Poor depth perception | Difficulty judging proximity to other vehicles, stoplights and pedestrians. Safe merging is harder with this condition. |
Poor night vision | Trouble seeing in low-light conditions. Glaucoma also increases sensitivity to headlight and streetlamp glare at night. |
Color blindness | Inability to distinguish between colors. Traffic signals use amber, mustard yellow and green, which can be hard for color-blind drivers to tell apart. |
Myopia | Nearsightedness affects distance vision. Road signs and oncoming vehicles can be difficult to see. |
Astigmatism | The eyes cannot focus properly, which blurs vision and reduces driving clarity. |
Corrective lenses, smart electronic glasses and other assistive technology help drivers with visual impairments meet state licensing requirements.
Vision Solution | Costs |
|---|---|
Corrective lenses | Glasses: $20–400 or more. Contact lenses: $50–125 for a box of six pairs. |
Night vision glasses | Nonprescription yellow-tinted glasses that reduce glare while driving at night. $15–100. |
Bioptics | Telescopic lenses help drivers with depth perception issues see objects on the road quickly enough to brake or make corrections. $500–3,000. |
Smart glasses | High-powered cameras and facial/voice recognition provide magnified views of objects. Up to $10,000, depending on the device. |
Vision training | Doctors use specialized lenses and prisms to train the eye. Insurance may cover this treatment. $500 per visit or less, depending on the provider. |
Laser surgery | Reshapes the cornea to eliminate the need for glasses. $1,000–5,000 per eye. |
Keep your glasses in the car if you use them to drive. If you see better at certain times of day, plan your route to avoid those hours on the road. With depth perception issues, stick to surface streets over highways.
Check your blind spots regularly, and stick to your regular route as much as you can. If you notice yourself having difficulties seeing or making errors, pull over (when it’s safe to do so) and call someone to give you a ride.
Stay aware of your driving capabilities. Consult a physician or family member if you are unsure about your ability to drive safely or have recently developed a vision condition.
Insurance companies base rates on risk level. Drivers with limited vision pay higher premiums than those without vision restrictions. Minor conditions corrected by glasses don't affect your rates. Drivers with conditions such as 20/200 visual acuity pay higher premiums due to increased accident risk.
Insurers cannot raise rates simply because a driver wears glasses for nearsightedness. Premiums increase only when a visual impairment results in license restrictions, suspensions or special equipment requirements. Compare rates from multiple insurers against the average cost of car insurance to find the best price for your situation.
You're not required to disclose medical conditions to your insurer. But let your insurer know if you have any diagnosis or disability that will affect your driving. If your insurer finds out an accident resulted from an undisclosed condition, it can legally deny your claim. You may also be charged with committing insurance fraud.
Every U.S. state requires drivers to pass a vision test before getting a license. Make any necessary vehicle modifications before you drive.
Vision requirements vary by state. Most states require visual acuity between 20/40 and 20/70 in one or both eyes.
Kansas, Iowa and Alabama require a temporal visual field of at least 110 degrees horizontally in both eyes. California, Colorado and Delaware have no visual field requirements. DMV eye tests or optometrist exams determine whether drivers meet their state's minimum standards.
States | Vision Acuity Needed | Visual Field Needed |
|---|---|---|
Alabama | 20/60 (for the better-seeing eye) | 110° horizontal field |
Alaska | 20/40 (each eye or both together) | Not required |
Arizona | 20/70 (both eyes) or 20/50 (one eye) | 70° temporal & 35° nasal fields in one eye |
Arkansas | 20/70 (both eyes) | 140° horizontal field or 105° horizontal field with one functional eye |
California | 20/40 (both eyes) or 20/40 and 20/70 (for one and the other eye) | Not required |
Colorado | 20/40 (one eye or both eyes) | Not required |
Connecticut | 20/40 (one eye or both eyes) | 140º uninterrupted horizontal field. If blind in one eye, then the other eye must be 100º horizontal field. |
Delaware | 20/50 (at least one eye) | Not required |
Florida | 20/40 (either eye or both together) | 130º uninterrupted horizontal field |
Georgia | 20/60 (at least one eye) | 140º horizontal field |
Hawaii | 20/40 (for the better-seeing eye) | 70º |
Idaho | 20/40 (at least one eye) | Not required |
Illinois | 20/70 (both eyes) | 140º. If one eye has 70º temporally and 35º nasally fields, external mirrors on both sides of the vehicle are required. |
Indiana | 20/50 (each eye) | Not required |
Iowa | 20/70 (both eyes) | 110º or 100º in one eye |
Kansas | 20/60 (at least one eye) | 110º |
Kentucky | 20/60 (at least one eye) | 35º field to the left and right side of fixation and 25º above and below fixation |
Louisiana | 20/70 (each eye) | Not required |
Maine | 20/100 (each eye) | 110º |
Maryland | 20/70 (each eye or both eyes) | 110º with 35º lateral to midline of each side |
Massachusetts | 20/70 (for the better-seeing eye) | 120º |
Michigan | 20/70 (both eyes) | 90º |
Minnesota | 20/70 (one or both eyes) | 100º with both eyes or one |
Mississippi | 20/70 (both eyes) | 170º or with one eye, 70º temporal and 35º nasal fields |
Missouri | 20/40 (both eyes) | 55º or 85º using one eye |
Montana | 20/40 (each eye or both together) | Not required |
Nebraska | 20/60 (each eye or both together) | 140º |
Nevada | 20/40 (both eyes) | Not required |
New Hampshire | 20/40 (both eyes) or 20/30 (one eye) | Not required |
New Jersey | 20/50 (at least one eye) | Not required |
New Mexico | 20/40 (for the better-seeing eye) | 120º horizontal field with at least 30º nasally with one eye |
New York | 20/70 (either or both eyes) | 140º horizontal |
North Carolina | 20/100 (both eyes) or 20/70 (if one eye is blind) | 60º with one eye, or 30º for each side from the central point of fixation |
North Dakota | 20/80 (better-seeing eye if 20/100 in other eye) | 105º |
Ohio | With both eyes, vision must be better than 20/70 | 70º |
Oklahoma | 20/100 (better-seeing eye) | 70º horizontal field |
Oregon | 20/70 (one or both eyes) | 110º |
Pennsylvania | 20/100 (both eyes) | 120º horizontal field |
Rhode Island | 20/40 (both eyes) or 20/40 (one eye) | 115º horizontal field, or with one eye, 40º nasally and 75º temporally fields |
South Carolina | 20/120 (better-seeing eye) | 120º horizontal and 80º vertical. With one eye, 70º temporally and 35º nasally |
South Dakota | 20/60 (both eyes) | Not required |
Tennessee | 20/40 (better-seeing eye) | 150º |
Texas | 20/70 (both eyes or better-seeing eye) | Not required |
Utah | 20/40 (both eyes) | 120º |
Vermont | 20/40 (one or both eyes) | 60º temporal, or with one eye, 60º temporal and nasal |
Virginia | 20/40 (one or both eyes) | 110º horizontal field |
Washington | 20/40 (both eyes) | 110º horizontal field with both or one eye |
West Virginia | 20/60 (both eyes) | Not required |
Wisconsin | 20/100 (one eye) | 20º field from center fixation in at least one eye |
Wyoming | 20/100 (both eyes) | 120º horizontal field |
DMV vision tests take about 10 minutes and don't resemble a medical exam.
You'll look into a machine that measures your field of vision against state minimums. The process resembles a standard optometrist exam, where you read letters or numbers down to the smallest line you can make out.
You can also have the eye test performed by your licensed doctor.
The most common visual standard for driving without restrictions is 20/40 or better in one eye. If you have 20/40 vision, you can read the same letter chart standing 20 feet away that a person with 20/20 vision would be able to read when standing 40 feet away.
Wear your contacts or glasses during the exam unless instructed otherwise.
Check your eyesight at home by printing off an eye chart and hanging it on a wall. Stand 20 feet away, then cover one eye and see how far down the chart you can read. Ask someone to confirm you're reading the letters or numbers accurately. Cover your other eye and repeat.
Other tests, including the Amsler Grid test and the color vision test, can screen for color blindness and retinal damage. At-home results can tell you whether to consult a doctor before the official vision test.
These resources cover visual impairment, driving safety and corrective options:
About Christopher Murray
Christopher Murray is a personal finance and sustainability writer covering diverse topics, from budgeting to unique investment options like socially responsible investing (SRI) and cryptocurrency. His works focus on sustainability as the best savings tool. He contributes finance articles to MoneyGeek.
Murray earned both his English literature and gender studies degrees from Smith College.
