Eyesight standards

WA drivers and riders must meet agreed vision standards as described in the sections below.

Both private and commercial vehicle drivers and riders,  who only have vision in one eye, will be referred to an optometrist/ophthalmologist for assessment.

You may be required to have your eyesight tested when applying for:

• An authority to drive or ride vehicles of another class.
• An extraordinary licence application.
• The grant of a driver's licence where a previous licence was cancelled, and
• The grant of a driver's licence that has expired by more than 6 months.

You are required to read an eyesight chart from the top line down, first with one eye covered and then with the other eye covered, and lastly with both eyes uncovered. More than two errors in reading the letters of any line is regarded as a failure to read that line.

If you meet the agreed vision standards whilst wearing glasses or contact lenses, your driver's licence will have a condition applied to it that states that you must wear those visual aids when driving or riding.

If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses for driving, and you have not previously notified  the Department of Transport (DoT) you are required to advise us of your need to use suitable visual aids whilst driving. You can let us know via the Report a medical condition page and your driver’s licence record will be updated accordingly.

What to do if your eyesight improves

If your health professional (i.e. doctor, optometrist or ophthalmologist) advises that you no longer need to wear visual aids whilst driving, you will need to complete a visual acuity assessment to confirm this.

Your health professional must forward the results of your assessment to DoT in writing. The letter must include details of your latest visual acuity readings (as per the Snellen chart) and must refer to the class or classes of vehicle that you intend to drive.

The letter can be emailed to the address below or posted to: GPO Box R1290, Perth 6844 WA. You can then find out the status of your application by calling DoT on 13 11 56.

Heavy vehicle drivers (class MR and above)

• Vision test on initial application, and when applying for an additional class; then annually from 80 years of age.
• Better eye at least 6/9 and worse eye at least 6/18.

Public passenger vehicle drivers or riders: F (bus) and T (taxi) extension applicants

• Vision test on initial application, and when applying for an additional class; then every five years until age 45 years, and
• Then every two years until age 65, and
• Then annually from age 65.

Dangerous goods vehicle drivers

• Vision test on initial application, then every three years.

Driving instructors

• Vision test on initial application and when applying for an additional class; then every five years until age 45 years, and
• Then every two years until age 65 years, and
• Then annually from age 65.

In all cases, minimum vision standard

• Better eye at least 6/9 and worse eye at least 6/18.

In all cases, if the minimum vision standard is not met

• Eyesight must be retested by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
• A report must be supplied to Driver and Vehicle Services certifying that your vision meets the required standard.

Note:

Applicants who only have vision in one eye will be referred to an optometrist/ophthalmologist for assessment.

Vision test requirement

• All drivers or riders on initial application; then annually from 80 years of age.

Minimum vision standard

• With one eye or both eyes at least 6/12.

If minimum vision standard is not met

• Eyesight must be retested by a health professional, ophthalmologist or optometrist. A report must be supplied to Driver and Vehicle Services certifying that your vision meets the required standard.

Note:

Applicants who only have vision in one eye will be referred to an optometrist/ophthalmologist for assessment.