Driving lessons with glasses or lenses: what are the CBR requirements?
Reduced vision does not have to stand in the way of your driving career. With glasses or contact lenses you can take driving lessons, sit an exam and obtain a driving licence — as long as you meet the statutory CBR vision requirements. At Rijschool Denhaag we regularly guide students who use visual correction.
What are the legal vision requirements for a driving licence?
For a standard driving licence (category B) the basic requirement is that with your best eye — corrected or uncorrected — you must have a minimum visual acuity of 0.5. Your field of vision must also be wide enough to observe traffic safely. These requirements are laid down in the Dutch Driving Licence Requirements Regulation and are in line with European guidelines.
If you use glasses or lenses to meet those requirements, that is fully permitted. Your driving licence will carry a code indicating that you must always wear visual correction while driving. Driving without your glasses when they are required is a criminal offence and can cause problems with your liability insurance in the event of a claim.
Not sure whether your vision meets the requirements? It is wise to consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist before starting driving lessons. That avoids disappointment at the medical assessment.
When is a health declaration required?
If there are concerns about your health or you have a specific eye condition such as visual field loss, double vision or a serious condition in the weaker eye, the CBR will request a health declaration. You complete a questionnaire and sometimes an additional medical examination follows. This sounds more complicated than it is — for most glasses or lens wearers no extra procedure is required.
At Rijschool Denhaag we teach students who wear glasses or lenses without any difficulty. We ensure the learning environment is comfortable and adapt our lessons where necessary to the specific situation. If you have questions or are unsure about your situation, please feel free to call us for a no-obligation chat.
- Minimum visual acuity best eye: 0.5 (corrected is permitted)
- Glasses or lenses must be worn while driving if noted on licence
- Health declaration required for specific eye conditions or if in doubt
- Advice: consult an optometrist before starting lessons if uncertain
