The eye test for your driver's licence in South Africa
By See Better · Updated · 6 min read
The short answer
To hold a car or motorcycle licence in South Africa you need vision of at least 6/12 in each eye, with or without glasses or contact lenses, and a wide enough field of vision. Your eyes are tested each time you renew your licence card, every five years. You may have the test done by an optometrist beforehand and take the certificate to the licensing centre.
Key points
- Light vehicles: 6/12 in each eye, or 6/9 in the better eye if the other is weaker or blind.
- Heavy vehicles and professional permits: 6/9 in each eye.
- An optometrist's eye test certificate is accepted in place of the test at the licensing centre.
- If you need glasses to pass, your licence will show that you must wear them when you drive.
The legal standard
The requirements are set out in regulation 102 of the National Road Traffic Regulations. They apply to learner's licences, driving licences and professional driving permits, and they cover two things: how sharp your vision is and how wide your field of vision is.
| Licence | Sharpness (visual acuity) | Field of vision |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles and light vehicles (codes A1, A, B and EB) | At least 6/12 in each eye. If one eye is weaker than 6/12 or blind, the other must be at least 6/9 | At least 70 degrees to the side in each eye. If one eye falls short or is blind, a total of at least 115 degrees across |
| Heavy vehicles (codes C1, C, EC1 and EC) and professional driving permits | At least 6/9 in each eye | At least 70 degrees to the side in each eye |
Both standards may be met with or without glasses or contact lenses. If you are unsure what 6/12 and 6/9 mean, see what 6/6 vision means.
When your eyes are tested
- when you apply for a learner's licence
- when you apply for a driving licence
- every time you renew your licence card, which is currently every five years
- when you apply for or renew a professional driving permit (PrDP), which is renewed more often than an ordinary licence
There is no driving test at renewal. The eye test and your fingerprints are the checks.
What happens at the licensing centre
At the driving licence testing centre (DLTC), you look into a vision screening machine. It checks each eye separately. You read out letters or identify shapes, and you say when you see lights flash at the sides, which checks your field of vision. If you wear glasses or contact lenses for driving, keep them on. It takes a few minutes.
In Gauteng, renewal appointments are booked online on the NaTIS website before you go to the centre.
Using an optometrist instead
You do not have to take the eye test at the DLTC. The government's own guidance on renewals says you may have your eyes tested by an optometrist and hand in the result at the licensing centre.
Many people choose this route because:
- there is one queue fewer on the day
- a problem is found beforehand, with time to fix it, and not at the counter
- an optometrist can correct your vision. The machine at the DLTC can only pass or fail you.
- you can have it done at home or at work
The certificate is only accepted for a limited time after the test. Have it done shortly before your appointment, and ask your licensing centre how recent it needs to be.
See Better does driver's licence eye tests at your home or workplace anywhere in Gauteng. The optometrist tests your vision and completes the eye test form for you to take to the DLTC. If you need glasses to meet the standard, we can supply them.
What happens if you fail
Failing the eye test at the licensing centre does not end your application. It means your vision, as tested, does not meet the standard.
- See an optometrist for a full eye test.
- If glasses or contact lenses bring your vision up to the standard, which they do for most people, get them.
- Return with your new glasses or with the optometrist's certificate.
Your licence will then carry a condition showing that you must wear glasses or contact lenses when you drive. Driving without them is an offence and may affect an insurance claim after an accident. If you later have laser surgery or no longer need glasses, the condition can be removed at your next renewal after a new eye test.
If your vision cannot be corrected to the standard, the optometrist will explain why and refer you to an eye specialist. Some causes, such as cataracts, are treatable.
Driving with sight in one eye
It is possible to hold a light vehicle licence with sight in one eye only, provided that eye reaches at least 6/9 and you have a total field of vision of at least 115 degrees. The heavy vehicle and professional standards require both eyes to meet the requirement.
What to take to a renewal
Requirements can change, so confirm them with your licensing centre or on the NaTIS website. In general you will need:
- your identity document
- your current licence card
- your booking confirmation
- your glasses or contact lenses, if you drive with them
- your optometrist's certificate, if you had your eyes tested beforehand
- payment for the fee
Renew before your card expires. If it has already expired, you may have to buy a temporary licence to keep driving legally while the new card is made.
Passing the test is not the same as seeing well
The legal standard is a minimum. A driver with 6/12 vision reads a road sign from half the distance that a driver with 6/6 vision does. You can pass and still struggle with glare, night driving or tired eyes. A full eye test every two years keeps you safer than the law requires. See trouble seeing when driving at night.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum eyesight for driving in South Africa?
For cars and motorcycles, at least 6/12 in each eye with or without glasses or contact lenses, or at least 6/9 in one eye if the other is weaker or blind, together with an adequate field of vision. Heavy vehicle and professional drivers need 6/9 in each eye.
Can I use an optometrist's eye test for my licence renewal?
Yes. You may have your eyes tested by an optometrist and submit the certificate at the licensing centre in place of their screening test. It is only valid for a limited time, so have it done shortly before your appointment.
Can I wear glasses or contact lenses for the licence eye test?
Yes. If you need them to meet the standard, wear them for the test. Your licence will then show that you must wear them whenever you drive.
Can colour-blind people get a driver's licence in South Africa?
Yes. The legal standard covers sharpness of vision and field of vision only. Colour vision is not tested for a licence.
This article is general information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for an eye examination. If you are worried about your eyes or your sight, see an optometrist or a doctor. Sudden loss of vision, eye injuries and severe eye pain are emergencies.
