Welcome to the database showing each state’s Driver Licensing Policies and Practices affecting older and Medically-At-Risk drivers. Click on the drop-down list to see how each state addresses the topic of interest to you.
This project was funded by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and conducted by Dunlap and Associates, Inc.
| Visual Requirements for Licensure | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Visual acuity for licensure without restrictions | Minimum visual acuity for licensure, with or without restrictions | Additional requirements for licensure if vision standards not met | Bioptic telescopes allowed with or without added requirements/ restrictions | Bioptic telescope to meet vision standards | Minimum visual field requirements, in degrees |
| NH | 20/40 | 20/30 if one eye | 20/40 in both eyes, or 20/30 in one eye | Daytime driving only | Yes | Yes |
| MD | Binocular vision | Visual acuity (Snellen) of at least 20/40 in each eye | A continuous field of vision of at least 140 degrees | Restricted licenses may be issued to persons having:(1) Visual acuity of at least 20/70 in one or both eyes; and (2) A continuous field of vision of at least 110 degrees, with at least 35 degrees lateral to the midline of each side.Note: These two requirements must be simultaneous.Persons with visual acuity levels less than 20/70, but no worse than 20/100, require special handling by the MVA's Glen Burnie Headquarters. Please contact the MVA's Modified Vision Unit for information and special forms. | Requires MAB recommendation. See http://www.mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/info/26200/26200-13T.htm for more information | Yes |
| AK | 21/41 | 20/100 | Report from eye specialist | Yes | Yes | Telescopic/compound lenses with field of vision <60% will not be issued a Class D license, unless meets requirements for visual acuity without lenses aid; field of vision 60-90%, department may require outside rearview mirrors; department will not issue a CDL to person wearing telescopic or compound lenses with FOV <70% |
| SC | 20/40 | 20/70 | 20/70 in better eye if at least 20/200 in other eye. If worse than 20/200 in other eye, must have at least 20/40 in better eye. | Yes | No | None (refer to MAB if <140°) |
| ID | 20/40 in at least one eye | 20/60 | Regular vision testing, as determined by a qualified physician and/or regular requirement to pass skills test. | Yes | Yes | None |
| MT | 20/40 | 20/100 | In better eye for a possible license with restrictions | Yes | No | None |
| NJ | 20/50 | 20/50 in at least one eye | Less than 20/50 requires form completed by doctor | Yes | Yes | None |
| SD | 20/40 | 20/60 | Worse than 20/40 requires doctor's opinion and restrictions | Yes | Yes | None |
| TN | 20/40 | 20/60 | Worse than 20/40 requires doctor's medical statement and restrictions | Yes | Yes | None |
| TX | 20/40 | 20/70 | 20/50 to 20/70 requires corrective lenses | Yes | Yes | None |
| WV | 20/40 | 20/60 | Report from eye specialist | Yes | Yes | None |
| CA | 20/40 both eyes, no worse than 20/70 in poorest eye, tested independent of the other | Better than 20/200 | Case-by-case basis including but not limited to: report of vision examination submitted by the eye doctor, and possible drive test for compensation of visual loss. | Yes | No | None |
| OK | 20/50 | 20/60 if one eye | 20/100 | Visual field requirements | Yes | No |
| DE | 20/40 | 20/50 | Beyond 20/50 driving privileges denied | Yes | Yes | DE does not have a visual field |
| MI | Less than 20/40 to and including 20/50 | 20/70 in both eyes.Vision of 20/100 or less in one eye, other eye must be 20/50 or better. | Daylight driving only restriction. Visual acuity less than 20/50 to and including 20/70 with no recognizable progressive abnormalities affecting vision. Visual acuity less than 20/50 to and including 20/60 with recognizable progressive abnormalities affecting vision. | Yes | Yes | 90° binocular |
| AZ | 20/40 | 20/60 | Daylight driving only | Yes | Yes | 70° temporal, 35° nasal monocular |
| OH | 20/40 | 20/70 | Added requirements if less than 20/200 in one eye | Yes | Yes | 70° temporal monocular |
| WI | 20/40 | 20/100 | None | Yes | No | 70° temporal field |
| VA | 20/40 | 20/70 | None | Yes | Yes | 70° binocular and monocular for a restricted license |
| VT | 20/40 | 20/40 | None | Yes | Yes | 60° monocular (60° temporal and nasal if one eye only) |
| UT | 20/40 | 20/100 | If vision is 20/50 or worse in better eye, may be restricted | No | No | 60° binocular with at least 30° to the right and left |
| CO | 20/40 | None | No minimum requirement with vision specialist authorization and approval | Yes | Yes | 55° temporal and nasal (binocular) |
| MO | 20/40 in at least one eye | 20/160 | Based on reading with or without corrective lenses may receive daylight driving only or 45 mph restrictions. Would be required to test if vision reading was 20/75 to 20/160. | Yes | No | 55° or better binocular, 85° monocular |
| KY | 20/60 in at least one eye | 20/60 in better eye | Worse than 20/60 requires a doctor's opinion and demonstration of ability | Yes | Yes | 35° to the left and right side of fixation, 25° above and below fixation |
| KS | 20/40 | There is not a minimum. However, if both eyes are 20/60 or worse, the driver must have clearance to drive from their vision doctor. | Worse than 20/60 requires a doctor's opinon and demonstration of ability. Worse than 20/100 submitted for medical review, and worse than 20/400 privileges denied. | Yes | No | 20° horizontal |
| WY | 20/40 without restriction | 20/100 | Vision specialist report and road test required if vision less than 20/40 | Yes | Yes | 20/100 in carrier lens , 20/40 with bioptic |
| MS | 20/40 | 20/200 | None | Yes | Yes | 150° binocular |
| HI | 20/40 each eye | 20/40 both eyes | 20/40 in one eye with corrective lenses | Yes | No | 140° binocular, 70° monocular |
| IL | 20/40 | 20/70 | 20/70 in better eye for daylight driving only restrictions | Yes | Yes | 140° binocular, 105° monocular (70° temporal and 35° nasal) |
| AR | 20/40 | 20/70 | None | Yes | Yes | 140° binocular, 105° monocular |
| CT | 20/40 | 20/200 | 20/40 to 20/70 for normal restricted license | No | No | 140° binocular, 100° monocular |
| NY | 20/40 | 20/70 | Periodic reporting of current vision | Yes | Yes | 140° binocular |
| GA | 20/60 | 20/60 | Individuals with a visual acuity better than 20/200 using the carrier portion of bioptic spectacles can be considered eligible for a driver's license if visual acuity of at least 20/60 is attained through a prescribed bioptic telescope and all bioptic driver requirements are completed. | Yes | Yes | 140° binocular |
| DC | 20/40 | 20/70 | With 140° visual field | No | No | 130° binocular (110° approved by director) |
| FL | 20/40 | 20/70 | If one eye 20/200 or worse, other eye must be 20/40 or better. If one eye is better than 20/200, other eye or both eyes must be 20/70 or better. | No | No | 130° binocular |
| NV | 20/40 | 20/70 | 20/40 if progressive conditions exist. 20/60 or better in other eye if one eye 20/100 or worse. | Yes | Yes | 130° binocular |
| MA | 20/40 | 20/70 | Daylight driving only | Yes | Yes | 120° total horizontal peripheral |
| NM | 20/40 | 20/40 | Vision report required if not 20/40 or better in at least one eye | Yes | Yes | 120° temporal, 30° nasal monocular |
| PA | 20/40 | 20/70 to 20/100 | Pass driver's skills test, mirrors on both sides of vehicle, plotted visual fields and driver record review annually, no motorcycles, limited to roads other than freeways, no vehicles over 10,000 pound gross weight | Yes | No | 120° binocular or monocular |
| IN | 20/40 | 20/70 | Outside rearview mirror and proof of normal visual fields required, daylight driving only | Yes | Yes | 120° binocular |
| RI | 20/40 | 20/40 | None | No | No | 115° binocular |
| AL | 20/40 | 20/60 | Periodic follow-ups from physician if progressive conditions exist | Yes | Yes | 110° horizontal, 80° vertical (binocular) |
| NC | 20/40 | 20/100 | 20/70 if blind in one eye | Yes | Yes | 110° binocular, 60° monocular |
| IA | 20/40 | 20/199 | MAB recommendation if worse than 20/100 | No | No | 110° binocular, 100° monocular |
| OR | 20/40 | 20/70 | Bioptics required for driving if acuity in better eye is between 20/80 and 20/200 | Yes | No | 110° binocular or monocular (120° if bioptic used) |
| ME | 20/40 | 20/100 | Daylight driving only | Yes | No | 110° binocular or monocular |
| WA | 20/40 | 20/70 | If vision is 20/50 or worse in better eye, re-examination of driving privilege required and restrictions may be added to the record | Yes | Yes | 110° binocular and monocular |
| MN | 20/40 | 20/80 | Referred to MAB | Yes | No | 105° binocular or special testing |
| ND | 20/40 | 20/80 in better eye, both eyes 20/80 and weaker eye no worse than 20/100. | 20/70 or 20/80 in better eye and 20/100 or better in weaker eye requires a road test prior to approval | Yes | Yes | 105° binocular or monocular |
| NE | 20/40 | 20/70 | If other eye not blind | Yes | Yes | 100° binocular |
| LA | 20/40 | None | Less than 20/40 referred to vision specialist | 20/70 to 20/100 requires road skills test | 20/100 to 20/200 referred to MAB | over 20/200 license suspended |
