to obtain a license, you must pass the vision exam with at least

To obtain a standard driver’s license in most parts of the United States, you must usually pass a vision exam with at least about 20/40 acuity in your better eye, with or without corrective lenses, though the exact requirement varies by state or country.

Key idea in one line

In many U.S. states, passing means you can see at roughly 20/40 in at least one eye, and you may be allowed with somewhat worse vision if you accept driving restrictions like “daylight only.”

Why there is no single universal number

• Vision standards for non‑commercial licenses are set locally (by each U.S. state or each country/region), not by a single national or global rule, so the exact “at least ___” line changes depending on where you live.

• Some places accept 20/60 in one eye for a regular license, sometimes with added conditions such as wider visual field requirements or medical review.

Common minimums you will see

• Around 20/40 in the better eye to drive without special restrictions is the most common threshold reported in U.S. state standards.

• Around 20/50–20/70 in the better eye may still be licensed in some jurisdictions, but often only with restrictions like daylight‑only driving or extra mirrors.

• Visual field (side vision) also matters; many rules require a horizontal visual field of roughly 120–140 degrees or more, especially for unrestricted driving.

What you should do personally

1. Check your local driver licensing authority (DMV, DDS, etc.) website or handbook for the exact phrase “to obtain a license, you must pass the vision exam with at least…” because they give the specific number used on their tests.

2. Ask your eye doctor to write down your best‑corrected acuity (for example, “20/40 in right eye, 20/60 in left eye”) and compare it with the requirement in that handbook.

3. If you are slightly below the usual cut‑off, ask both your DMV and your eye doctor whether restricted licensing (daylight only, extra mirrors, or periodic re‑exams) is possible where you live.

If you were looking for a fill‑in‑the‑blank

Many practice test questions in driver‑education materials phrase it as:

“To obtain a license, you must pass the vision exam with at least 20/40 vision in your better eye, with or without corrective lenses.”

This matches the most typical U.S. standard, but your own exam may use a different number, so always rely on your official local driver handbook when answering test questions.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.