Driving With Vision Loss: State Regulations, Solutions & Support

Having good vision is vital to staying safe on the road. From spotting objects in the distance to identifying road hazards and reading signs, strong sight can help you avoid life-threatening errors.

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires drivers to take a vision exam before obtaining a license. Some visual impairments may require you to wear corrective lenses, while more severe conditions can exclude you from driving entirely.

MoneyGeek has compiled an overview to cover the various requirements of each state, provide resources and tools for safe driving, and how having limited vision could affect your car insurance rates.

Behind the Wheel: Driving With Vision Impairments in the US

Many American adults have visual disabilities that interfere with driving or even make the prospect of driving entirely impossible. For example, more than 3 million people in the U.S. have a vision problem and more than 1 million people are legally blind.

2% to 3% of drivers have vision 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

Identifying Common Vision Impairments

Getting or renewing a driver’s license can be nerve-wracking for someone with a visual impairment. Whether genetic or brought on by age, certain conditions can prevent a person from passing the DMV vision test. Corrective lenses and other solutions can often improve most people’s vision enough to allow them to get on the road.

Visual Acuity

Visual acuity measures clarity of vision at a distance of 20 feet. 20/20 is normal visual acuity. Visual acuity of 20/100 means someone needs to stand 20 feet from an object to see what a person with normal vision sees at 100 feet.

Some conditions can be corrected or improved with eyeglasses or contacts. A number of visual impairments can cause you to have more serious trouble. Below are several common types of impairments and their challenges.

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 how close objects are, making it hard to merge safely or gauge distances to stoplights and pedestrians.
Poor night vision	Trouble seeing in low-light conditions. Drivers with glaucoma struggle particularly with headlight and streetlamp glare at night.
Color blindness	Inability to distinguish between different colors. Traffic signals use amber, mustard yellow and green, creating challenges for color-blind drivers.
Myopia	Nearsightedness affects distance vision, making road signs and oncoming cars hard to see.
Astigmatism	Blurred vision from the eyes' inability to focus properly, making it hard to see clearly while driving.

Vision Solutions and Associated Costs

An illustration of a young woman holding her eyeglasses and walking to her blue truck.

Vision correction technology has improved in recent years. Options range from corrective lenses to smart electronic glasses with high-powered cameras. These solutions help drivers with visual impairments meet licensing requirements and maintain independence.

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 your provider.
Laser surgery	Reshapes your cornea to eliminate the need for glasses. $1,000–5,000 per eye.

3 Steps to Stay Safe on the Road

1
Be prepared
If you use glasses to correct your vision while driving, make sure to keep them in the car. If it’s easier for you to see at a specific time of day, plan your route beforehand to avoid being on the road at inconvenient hours. If you have trouble perceiving depth, avoid highways and busy streets.
2
Take caution
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.
3
Acknowledge your limits
Stay aware of your driving capabilities. Consult a physician or family member if there is any possibility that you are unable to safely operate a vehicle or have recently developed a vision condition.

Limited Vision and Car Insurance

An illustration of a pair of yellow eyeglasses pointed toward car insurance papers on a clipboard.

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 visual impairments like 20/200 vision acuity face higher premiums due to increased accident risk.

Insurers can't raise your rates simply because you wear glasses for nearsightedness. Your premiums increase only if your visual impairment leads to license restrictions, suspensions or requirements for special equipment. Compare rates from multiple insurers to find the best price for your situation.

Disclosing Vision Issues

You don't technically need 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 that an accident was because of an undiagnosed condition, it can legally deny your claim. You may also be charged with committing insurance fraud.

State Vision Driving Requirements

The DMV requires all licensed drivers to drive safely. As a result, every U.S. state requires drivers to take a vision test before getting behind the wheel. It may also be best to make any necessary modifications to your vehicle prior to driving.

Types of Driver's Licenses

Unrestricted: An unrestricted license is for those of age who have applied for a driver’s license and passed their driver’s test. The license holder has earned the right to make any driving decision they see fit within the limits of the law.
Restricted: A restricted license limits driving in some way. For example, those with some visual impairments may not be able to drive at night. An underage driver may also be able to obtain a restricted license that allows them to drive to and from school on their own, but not other places.

What Is the Minimum Vision Required for Driving?

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 you meet your 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

Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeWiki

What to Expect With a DMV Vision Test

DMV vision tests take about 10 minutes and don't resemble a medical exam.

What do you need to pass the vision test?

At the beginning of the test, you’ll look into a machine that measures your field of vision so the examiner can determine if you meet state minimums. It’s similar to any test you take at an optometrist’s office where you read letters and/or numbers until you get to a line that’s too small to decipher.

You can also get the eye test performed by your own licensed doctor.

What line on the eye chart is 20/40?

The most common visual standard that drivers need to meet to drive 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.

Make sure to wear your contacts or glasses during the exam unless otherwise told.

How can I check my eyesight at home?

Check your eyesight at home by printing off an eye chart and hanging it on a wall. Make sure to stand 20 feet away, then cover one eye and see how far down the chart you can read. You’ll need a buddy to make sure you’re reading the letters and/or numbers accurately. Cover your other eye and repeat.

You can take a number of other tests, including the Amsler Grid test and the color vision test to determine whether you have color blindness and any retina damage. At-home tests can help you determine if you should consult a doctor before taking an official vision test.

Resources

Several resources help drivers with visual impairments understand safe driving practices:

Discovery Eye Foundation: Researches sight-threatening eye diseases and treatments to improve the quality of life for patients and families.
National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP): Provides resources and information on visual impairment types.
Eyeglasses Stores Buying Guide: Helps you choose the right corrective glasses for your vision needs.
Social Security Administration (SSA): Explains federal support available if you're blind or have low vision.

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.

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sources

AMA Journal of Ethics. "Legal Vision Requirements for Drivers in the United States." Accessed December 1, 2025.
American Academy of Ophthalmology EyeWiki. "Driving Restrictions per State." Accessed December 1, 2025.
American Optometric Association. "Visual Acuity." Accessed December 1, 2025.
Commonwealth Eye Surgery. "20/20 Vision. 20/10 Vision. 20/40 Vision. What do all these numbers ACTUALLY mean?." Accessed December 1, 2025.
Department of Motor Vehicles. "Vision Screening." Accessed December 1, 2025.
Mayo Clinic. "LASIK eye surgery." Accessed December 1, 2025.
Prevent Blindness. "State Vision Screening and Standards for License to Drive." Accessed December 1, 2025.

Life on the Road With Visual Impairments