Colorado Permit Vision Test: 20/40 Standard, DR 2402, and What Fails

What Vision Standard Does Colorado DMV Require for a Learner's Permit - and How Is It Tested?

You must meet a minimum visual acuity of 20/40 in at least one eye. For complete Colorado learner's permit requirements, see the state guide., either naturally or with corrective lenses. The Colorado DMV also checks your horizontal field of vision and binocular coordination.

Vision Test Standards and Process

The DMV vision screening for your instruction permit evaluates three specific capabilities.

• Visual Acuity: You need 20/40 vision or better in one or both eyes.
• Peripheral Vision: A combined horizontal field of at least 120 degrees is required if using both eyes. If you have only one functional eye, you need at least 60 degrees in that eye.
• Depth Perception: This checks how your eyes work together.

The test is done at the DMV counter using a vision screening machine like an Optec tester or a Snellen wall chart.

Can you wear glasses or contacts during the test?

Yes. You must wear your corrective lenses during the vision screening if you need them to see. If you pass the eyesight test for your permit while wearing them, a 'Corrective Lenses' restriction will be added to your permit.

What happens if you fail the DMV vision screening?

If you do not meet the 20/40 standard or peripheral vision requirements, you will not get your permit that day. The examiner will give you Form DR 2402, the Confidential Eye Examination Report. Download DR 2402 at dmv.colorado.gov.

1. Get a Professional Eye Exam: You must take the DR 2402 form to a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist for a comprehensive exam.
2. Submit the Form: Return to the DMV with the completed form. If your doctor certifies you meet the standards, the DMV will accept it.

Where to go for an eye exam if you fail

You can visit any licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist in Colorado. For example, a driver in Aurora who failed the peripheral vision test at the DMV on Chambers Road went to a nearby optometry clinic on Havana Street for their exam.

How much does an outside vision exam cost?

The cost varies by provider but is typically not covered by the DMV fee. A basic comprehensive eye exam in Colorado can range from $50 to $150 without insurance.

Can you come back the same day with glasses/contacts and retest?

No. If you fail the initial screening, you cannot retest with different glasses the same day. You must get a professional exam and return with the completed DR 2402 form on a different day.

Practical Tip: Schedule a full eye exam before your DMV appointment if your prescription is over a year old to avoid the delay and extra cost of a failure.

Does Wearing Glasses or Contacts Affect Your Colorado Learner's Permit or Add Restrictions?

Yes. Needing glasses or contacts will not prevent you from getting a learner's permit. You must wear them during the vision screening and whenever you drive.

Getting a Permit with Corrective Lenses

If you need glasses or contacts to pass the vision test, the DMV will place a Restriction Code 'B' on your permit. This legally requires you to wear them while driving.

• Acceptable Correction: Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses are both acceptable.
• Not Acceptable: Non-prescription sunglasses do not count.

Example: A teen in Colorado Springs forgot their glasses for their permit test at the DMV on Garden of the Gods Road. They failed the acuity test and had to reschedule, delaying their ability to start practicing driving.

Restrictions and How to Remove Them

The 'B' restriction transfers from your permit to your full driver's license. To remove it after vision improvement like LASIK:

1. Visit a DMV office in person.
2. Pass the vision screening without wearing corrective lenses.
3. Pay the duplicate card fee for a new permit without the restriction.

Example: A driver in Fort Collins had LASIK surgery. They went to the DMV on South College Avenue, passed the vision test without glasses, and paid $12 for a replacement permit without the 'B' code.

Common Questions and Scenarios

Scenario 1: Contacts Dried Out Mid-Queue. At the Colorado Springs DMV, a 40-minute queue wait left one applicant's contacts dried out - vision blurred at the chart and the vision test failed. The return window is 30 days. Colorado DMV waits routinely exceed 30 minutes; bring rewetting drops to every appointment.

Scenario 2: Failing due to an outdated prescription. A Denver applicant had 20/50 vision with old glasses, received a DR 2402 form, and had to pay for a new eye exam and updated glasses before returning.

Scenario 3: Confusion over peripheral vision failure. An applicant passed the acuity test but failed the peripheral vision screening - they could see clearly but the 120-degree horizontal field requirement was not met, triggering a mandatory specialist exam via DR 2402.

Practical Tip: Bring your most recent eyeglass prescription or a completed DR 2402 form from your doctor to your DMV appointment to resolve any vision test disputes immediately and avoid a second trip.