Driving With Glasses or Contact Lenses — What You Must Know
The Eyesight Test
The very first thing on your practical driving test is an eyesight check. You must read a number plate from 20 metres (approximately 5 car lengths) in good daylight. If you wear glasses or contact lenses to meet this standard, you must wear them for the entire test and every time you drive. Failing the eyesight test means the entire test is cancelled immediately.
Legal Requirements
- If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the 20-metre number plate standard, you must wear them every time you drive
- Not wearing required corrective lenses while driving is a criminal offence
- You must tell the DVLA if you have any eye condition that affects both eyes or the remaining eye if you only have one
- Carry a spare pair of glasses in the car in case your main pair breaks — there is no legal requirement but it is strongly recommended
Glasses Tips for Drivers
- Keep lenses clean — smudges and fingerprints reduce clarity, especially at night with oncoming headlights
- Consider anti-reflective coating to reduce glare from streetlights and headlights
- Ensure frames do not restrict your peripheral vision — this can affect mirror checks and blind spot observation
- Transition lenses (photochromic) may darken in bright conditions but can be slow to lighten in tunnels — be aware of this delay
- Keep your prescription up to date — eyesight can change gradually without you noticing
Contact Lens Tips for Drivers
- Carry glasses as backup in case a lens falls out or causes irritation while driving
- Air conditioning in the car can dry out lenses — use lubricating eye drops if needed
- Never insert or remove contact lenses while driving or stopped at traffic lights
- If a lens shifts or falls out while driving, do not try to fix it while moving — pull over safely first
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to tell the DVLA I wear glasses?
Not for standard glasses or contact lenses. You only need to inform the DVLA if you have a specific eye condition affecting both eyes (or your only eye).
What happens if I fail the eyesight test?
The driving test is cancelled immediately. You will not receive a refund. Get your eyes tested before your driving test to avoid this.
Ready to get started?
East Didsbury Local Area Guide
Lessons around East Didsbury use real local roads including Kingsway, Parrs Wood Road and Broad Oak Lane, so by the time you're ready for your test you've already driven the streets you'll use every day after passing. East Didsbury's Metrolink and rail interchange opened on 23 May 2013, completing a tram link to the area that had first been proposed roughly 30 years earlier, back in 1983.
We also plan around school-run traffic near Broad Oak Primary School and St Catherine's RC Primary School, using quieter spots like Mersey Valley for early manoeuvre practice before stepping up to busier sections of Kingsway.
Test centre: most learners around East Didsbury test at West Didsbury Driving Test Centre, Unit 11, Christie Park, West Didsbury, M21 7QY; mock tests are planned around the routes examiners actually use from there.
“Really patient teaching style, and genuinely useful local knowledge of East Didsbury — not just generic lesson plans.” – Ryan, East Didsbury