What to Do If You Fail the Vision Test for Driver's License Renewal?
4 Answers
According to the reason for failing, treatment should be sought for the eyes. Below are specific instructions regarding driver's license renewal: 1. Regulations: Applicants for a small car driver's license must have a naked or corrected visual acuity of at least 4.9 on the logarithmic visual acuity chart. Applicants for small cars, small automatic transmission cars, small automatic transmission passenger cars for the disabled, and light motorcycles must be between 18 and 70 years old. 2. Height requirements: Applicants for large passenger cars, tractors, city buses, large trucks, and trolleybuses must be at least 155 cm tall. Applicants for medium-sized passenger cars must be at least 150 cm tall.
If you fail the vision test during the physical exam, here's my advice: Don't rush to leave. Head straight to an optical shop near the examination center for a new eye test and glasses. Nowadays, most new DMV offices have partnered optical shops nearby. I encountered a similar situation during my last license renewal. It's best to bring your current everyday glasses for the vision test—many people fail simply because they're wearing glasses with outdated prescriptions. If your myopia has worsened, don't panic. Just spend half an hour getting new glasses, and remember to ask the shop for a prescription certificate. Then go back for a retest wearing your new glasses—you'll likely pass. If that still doesn't work, there's another option: request a thorough examination at the center to confirm you don't have color vision deficiencies like color weakness or color blindness.
Helped my brother-in-law with this last year. The key is to identify the type of vision issue: nearsightedness is straightforward—just get glasses right away; color blindness or weakness is trickier and requires professional evaluation at a top-tier hospital. Preparing in advance can save a lot of hassle: remember to bring reading glasses for the exam, and if you wear contacts, put them on an hour early to adjust. If you don’t pass the first time, request an immediate retest—sometimes dim lighting or glare from the equipment can affect the results. One more tip: avoid staying up late on your phone before the exam. I’ve seen cases where overnight screen use caused a sudden drop in vision during the test.
As someone who has been through it, here are a few reminders: The DMV has clear vision standards for physical exams—for a Class C license, your uncorrected or corrected vision in both eyes must be at least 0.8. If you don’t pass, first investigate the reason before rushing off. In my case, scratched lenses caused blurred vision, and simply replacing them fixed the issue. If diagnosed with amblyopia, some regions allow vision correction surgery. A crucial safety note: Poor night vision while driving is extremely dangerous. Replace your glasses if needed, or get surgery if necessary—don’t gamble with lives.
