Driving eyesight test: can you read the number plate?

Make the size meaningful

Place this screen at a measured distance from your eyes and choose that distance below. Then hold a standard bank card against the screen and adjust the blue card until its width matches your card. Wear your driving glasses or contact lenses if you need them.

Calibrate at normal browser zoom (100%). If the card can’t fit or match, use a bigger screen. Recalibrate after rotating your device or changing the zoom. A standard payment card is 85.6 mm wide.

Important: if you choose 3 metres, you must stand 3 metres from the screen when you read the plate. From your normal seat the plate will look far too big. Match the blue card to a real bank card first.

Number plate practice

Set up your screen above, then start.

Keep both eyes open. The plate is sized to match how a modern UK plate looks from 20 metres. Your screen, the font and the lighting all affect this, so treat it as a rough guide.

The outdoor 20-metre check

In good daylight, stand 20 metres from the number plate of a parked car with a modern UK registration. Ask someone to help measure the distance and check what you read. Wear the glasses or contact lenses you drive with.

Unsure, or finding it hard? Book an eye test with an optician before your driving test. This practice tool can’t tell you whether you meet the legal eyesight standard.