Eyesight requirements

Good vision is essential to driving a vehicle safely. Most applications require proof your vision meets the standards for safe driving. This includes when you are:

• applying for a new licence class or endorsement

• renewing your licence

• reinstating your licence after a disqualification or suspension

• converting an overseas licence to a New Zealand licence.

If you’re replacing your licence, you won’t have to prove this again unless you would like to remove a condition stating you must wear glasses or contact lenses while driving.

You can provide a certificate or pass a check at an agent

You can prove that your eyesight is acceptable by:

• presenting an original eyesight certificate (no more than 60 days old), or

• presenting an original medical certificate (no more than 60 days old), or

• passing an eyesight check at a driver licensing agent.

You may take the eyesight test while wearing glasses or contact lenses

Your licence will then have a condition that you must always wear these while driving. If you try to pass the eyesight check at an agent and fail, you must provide a satisfactory eyesight or medical certificate. Your application won’t be completed (and you won’t get a licence) until you have provided the certificate.

You’ll need to prove that your eyesight meets the standards every time you renew or apply for any driver licence or endorsement.

Sight in only one eye can dramatically affect your ability to judge distance

If you can only see out of one eye, or have only one eye, you must present an acceptable certificate confirming that you’re still safe to drive.

Certificates must be issued by a New Zealand registered optometrist or medical practitioner (doctor).