Guide to eyesight testing for NSW driver and rider licences

Find out when you need an eyesight test, how to get a test and your responsibilities when your eyesight changes.

Fitness to drive

If you have a medical condition that affects your ability to drive or ride safely you may need a fitness to drive medical assessment to get, hold or renew your licence. 

When you apply or renew a driver or rider licence you will be asked about your fitness to drive. This includes questions about any vision problems, and whether you need glasses or contact lenses to drive.

Passing an eyesight test

You must pass an eyesight test at a service centre, optometrist or ophthalmologist:

  • when applying for a driver or rider licence for the first time
  • when upgrading a licence to a higher class
  • every 10 years, if you're under 45 years of age
  • every 5 years, if you're over 45 years of age
  • every year from 75 years of age
  • if you have not passed an eyesight test in the 12 months before renewing or replacing a:
    • Class Light Rigid (LR)
    • Medium Rigid (MR)
    • Heavy Rigid (HR)
    • Heavy Combination (HC)
    • Multi Combination (MC) driver licence.
  • when applying for a 10-year licence.

You’ll be notified by mail if you need an eyesight test before your licence renewal. You then have up to 8 weeks to get an eyesight test.

Note: If you tell us about a vision problem or eye condition for the first time, you’ll need to provide an eyesight report completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Getting an eyesight test

Service NSW Service Centres

You can have an eyesight test at a service centre when you renew or apply for a licence.

Service staff will ask you to read out loud from a chart with upper case letters of different sizes placed at a distance from you.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses while driving or riding, you should bring them for the test.

If you fail the eyesight test, you cannot take the test again at a service centre. You must provide an eyesight report from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Optometrist

If you are an eligible Medicare card holder, you can get bulk billed eye tests at most optometrists. They can assess your vision and provide an eyesight report for your licence, if needed.

Ophthalmologist

Ophthalmologists are specialist eye doctors. You need a referral from a GP or an optometrist to visit one.

Conditions on your licence

Licence conditions are legal requirements you must follow when driving or riding.

Vision or eye issues

If you have a vision or eye issues, a condition may be added your licence.

Vision or eye issues that may affect your driving and licence include:

  • vision in one eye only (monocular vision)
  • Glaucoma
  • Macular degeneration.

If you need glasses or contact lenses to pass the eyesight test, a condition will be added to your licence.

A licence condition may also be added because of your ophthalmologist or optometrist's certificate.

Check if there is a condition on your licence

Licence conditions related to vision or eye issues are sometimes printed on the back of your licence card. For example:

  • S001 – must wear glasses or contact lenses while driving
  • S002 – must wear glasses or contact lenses when driving at night
  • S003 – must wear glasses or contact lenses when driving a vehicle with GVM over 8t.

For more information see Licence conditions on medical advice.

Deferring eye tests when renewing a licence online

You may be able to defer your eyesight test if you're a low-risk driver renewing your licence online.

This includes low-risk drivers with a class Car (C), Car/Rider (C/L), Rider (R) or Light Rigid/Rider (LR/R) licence.

If the test is deferred, you’ll be notified to complete it within 8 weeks. You can take the test at a service centre, optometrist or ophthalmologist. If the test is not completed within 8 weeks, your licence may be suspended.

If you're a driver with a Medium Rigid (MR), Heavy Rigid (HR), Heavy Combination (HC) or Multi Combination (MC) licence who had an eyesight test in the last 12 months, you can renew your licence online.

Eyesight tests for high-risk drivers cannot be automatically deferred. This includes:

  • drivers requiring a specialist review
  • police-identified drivers
  • heavy vehicle drivers
  • drivers who hold a Bus Driver Authority or carry public passengers.

High-risk drivers unable to renew a licence online will need to visit a service centre.

Your responsibilities

Declaring a vision or eye condition

If you hold a NSW driver or rider licence you must notify Transport for NSW as soon as the medical condition occurs, not just when you renew your licence.

Reporting changes to your eyesight

You may need to have a new eyesight test or have conditions placed on your licence if your eyesight changes and you:

  • you get glasses or contact lenses for the first time
  • no longer need glasses or contact lenses to drive
  • lose vision in one eye
  • are diagnosed with an eye disease, including glaucoma or macular degeneration.

If you develop new eye issues, you must report it to Transport for NSW or a service centre, and provide a satisfactory eyesight report.

How to report changes to your eyesight

To report changes to your eyesight that affect your ability to drive you can:

Passenger transport service drivers

You'll need to pass a commercial standard eyesight test if you provide passenger transport services as a:

  • taxi driver
  • private hire driver
  • rideshare driver
  • Passenger Transport Licence Code PT T011 holder
  • Passenger Transport Licence Code PT T012 holder.

To learn more about national driver medical standards go to Assessing fitness to drive (Austroads).

Related information

Last published: 13 February 2026