Can Blind People Drive? Low Vision, Bioptics and the Law

No, a totally blind person can't get a driver's license: every US state rule we checked requires a minimum of eyesight, measured by sharpness (visual acuity) and often by side vision (visual field). But most legally blind people see something, and some people with low vision do drive legally, some of them with restrictions such as daylight only. Some use bioptic telescopic glasses, small telescopes mounted on a pair of glasses, which researchers say allow licensing in "more than 40 U.S. states" (Translational Vision Science & Technology, 2024).

Below: what states require, with four states as examples; how bioptic driving works, where it's allowed and what research says about its safety; whether colorblind people can drive; and how blind people who don't drive get around. Official pages were checked on October 29, 2026. Rules differ by state and can change, so check with your state DMV and your eye care professional. This article explains the rules; it isn't legal or medical advice.

Key points

• Total blindness rules out a license. California, for example, won't issue or renew a license if best corrected acuity is 20/200 or worse in the better eye (13 CCR § 20.03).
• Low vision isn't always a no. In Virginia, 20/70 and a 70-degree field can earn a license restricted to daylight (Virginia DMV).
• Bioptic driving comes with conditions. Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee ask for an eye report and training or tests, and Illinois and Virginia start drivers on daylight only.
• Color blindness is a separate question. Texas checks it on new applicants; commercial drivers must recognize red, green and amber signals (49 CFR 391.41).
• Not driving doesn't mean staying home. Transit, ADA paratransit, rideshare and hired drivers fill the gap, along with a white cane or guide dog and orientation and mobility training.

Can blind people drive? The answer at a glance

Sources: California 13 CCR § 20.03, Illinois 1030.70, Illinois 1030.75, Texas 37 TAC § 15.51, Virginia DMV vision, Virginia DMV bioptic, Tennessee low vision guidelines, 49 CFR 391.41, TVST 2024.

Why a totally blind person can't get a license

"Many states and jurisdictions have vision requirements for driving, such as a minimum level of central visual acuity or visual field," as a 2024 study puts it (TVST 2024). Acuity is how sharp your vision is on an eye chart; the visual field is how far you see to the sides while looking ahead.

Someone who is totally blind can't meet either test. Texas spells it out: for licensing, acuity worse than 20/200 with correction "is considered blind" (37 TAC § 15.51). California adds that "A person shall not use a bioptic telescopic or similar lens to meet the 20/200 visual acuity standards" (13 CCR § 20.03).

So when people ask how blind people drive, the answer is that those who drive with a visual impairment have low vision, not total blindness. Blindness is a range, and most blind people see something, such as light and dark or shapes (what blind people see).

Can legally blind people drive?

In the US, legally blind means 20/200 or worse in the better eye with the best correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less (what legally blind means). Whether that rules out driving depends on which test someone meets and on their state:

• By acuity. California draws the line there: no license at 20/200 or worse. Some bioptic programs start at the same number: Virginia asks for 20/200 or better through the regular lenses of bioptic glasses (Virginia DMV), and Tennessee at least 20/200 in both eyes with the best regular lenses (Tennessee). Illinois asks for 20/100 (Illinois 1030.75).
• By field. A field of 20 degrees or less is far below the minimums we found: 70 degrees in Virginia, 140 degrees with both eyes in Illinois and 150 degrees for Tennessee's bioptic drivers. Illinois does let an applicant who misses its field minimum send a report from a vision specialist (Illinois 1030.70).

The licensing agency decides. California's vision form says the "DMV will make the final licensing decision based on a combination of factors" (DL 62).

What US states require to drive

Each state sets its own standard. "The typical cutoff for passing the vision requirement is 20/40," says Prevent Blindness (Prevent Blindness), and the four states below all use 20/40 as their main standard. Below that, the rules differ:

California (rule in force since April 1, 2025). The standard is "20/40 with both eyes tested together", "20/40 in one eye" and "20/70 at least, in the other eye." If you don't pass, you submit a vision report (form DL 62) from an optometrist or ophthalmologist and "Successfully pass a vision drive test to determine whether the individual can operate a motor vehicle safely with the reported vision loss." No license is issued at 20/200 or worse in the better eye (13 CCR § 20.03).

Illinois (amended effective November 15, 2024). 20/40 or better with both eyes gives a license without vision limits; 20/41 to 20/70 means daylight only. Side vision must be "at least 140° binocular or 70° temporal and 35° nasal monocular." Drivers who qualify with one eye only need left and right outside mirrors (Illinois 1030.70).

Texas (last amended in 2002). 20/40 or better in each eye and both together, without glasses, means no vision limits. At 20/60 or 20/70 with glasses, the rule says to "restrict to corrective lenses, daytime only, 45 miles per hour speed limit." Worse than 20/70, with no further improvement possible, is a fail. A one-eyed driver passes without limits at 20/25 or better without glasses (37 TAC § 15.51).

Virginia (DMV page checked October 29, 2026). Unrestricted: 20/40 or better in one or both eyes and 110 degrees of horizontal vision. Daylight only: 20/70 and 70 degrees, which means driving from half an hour after sunrise to half an hour before sunset (Virginia DMV).

These are examples, not a full list. Your state may use other numbers, add a road test or ask for an eye report, so check with your state DMV and your eye care professional.

Commercial licenses are stricter. The federal rule for interstate truck and bus drivers asks for 20/40 in each eye and at least 70 degrees of horizontal field in each eye (49 CFR 391.41), and Virginia's commercial standard must be met "without the aid of a telescopic lens" (Virginia DMV).

What is bioptic driving?

Bioptic driving means driving with bioptic telescopic glasses, an option in many states for some people with reduced central vision.

What are bioptic telescopic glasses?

"A bioptic telescope is a small telescope mounted in the upper portion of a pair of spectacles," with prescription lenses below it, called carrier lenses. "Much of the time, the driver views through the carrier lenses, but when spotting a distant target, they can lift their eyes and slightly tilt their head down to access the magnification provided by the telescope." The looks are brief: "Bioptic drivers use their telescopes between 2% and 5% of the time when they are driving," mostly, they say, to read road signs and check traffic lights (Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics, 2025).

A guide from the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision calls bioptics an option for people with "mild to moderate central vision loss," and says a low vision specialist can tell you after a full exam whether you may be a candidate (NRTC). We don't compare or recommend brands; that's a decision for you and your specialist.

Which states allow bioptic driving?

A 2024 study counts "more than 40 U.S. states" (TVST 2024); an undated Prevent Blindness article says 43. But, as the NRTC guide warns, "Bioptic driving is not available in all states and requires extensive training with low vision devices and driver’s education." We found no single official, dated list of states, so here are three examples from the states' own rules:

Illinois. 20/40 or better through the telescope, 20/100 or better through the carrier lenses, and side vision that meets the state standard. You must have used the telescope for 60 days before the eye exam, and its power can't exceed "3.0 X wide angle or 2.2 X standard." After a road test, the license reads "Driving during daylight hours only" and "Eligible for a Class D driver's license only," and the vision report is renewed every year. Night driving can be added after 12 months, with a night road test, among other conditions (Illinois 1030.75).

Virginia. 20/200 or better through the carrier lens, 20/70 or better through the telescope, and 70 degrees of horizontal field without field expanders. Licenses start as daylight only, a limit that may be lifted after a year, and "Endorsements to drive special vehicles, such as buses, large trucks, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles, are not permitted." Besides a knowledge exam and a road test of about 30 minutes, there's a pre-skills exam in which you "identify objects through your bioptic and your carrier lens while the vehicle is moving and stationary" (Virginia DMV).

Tennessee (guidelines not dated). "Prior to application, the bioptic wearer shall complete training in driving with a bioptic telescopic lens(es) from a driving instructor certified in this field." You need at least 20/200 in both eyes with regular lenses, a full visual field of at least 150 degrees, and "The applicant’s visual acuity with the bioptic telescope shall be at least 20/60." The telescope can't be stronger than 4x, and you bring a report from a low vision optometrist or ophthalmologist (Tennessee).

"The training of bioptic drivers varies by state," the 2025 study notes, so start with your state DMV's vision page and your eye care professional.

Is bioptic driving safe?

The research is mixed. "There has long been debate about the safety of bioptic drivers," the 2024 study says. Studies of state records have often found more collisions for bioptic drivers, between 1.3 and 3 times the rate of drivers without vision loss (OPO 2025), but an on-road study found "similar safety ratings for bioptic drivers and normally sighted controls" (TVST 2024).

• 2024, hazard perception. Bioptic drivers spotted hazards in a video test more slowly than drivers with normal vision, but "the use of the telescope improved their response time in a video-based hazard perception test," by 0.8 seconds on average.
• 2025, real driving. Twenty bioptic drivers and 20 drivers with normal vision in Ohio were recorded for six to seven weeks. Bioptic drivers had "nearly three times as many hard braking events per 1000 miles driven, but vision measurements did not predict hard braking," and both groups sped equally often. The authors call for more research.

Bioptic telescopes are not the same as electronic glasses that enlarge what you look at (smart glasses for blind people). We found no official source on driving with those, so ask your state DMV first.

Can colorblind people drive?

Color blindness is not blindness. "The most common type of color vision deficiency makes it hard to tell the difference between red and green," says the National Eye Institute, and "Most people who have color vision deficiency don’t have problems with everyday activities" (NEI).

For a regular license, the rules we read for California, Illinois and Virginia have no color standard. Texas does test: "Color blindness is checked on all original applicants," though the rule doesn't say what follows from the result (37 TAC § 15.51). Commercial driving is different: the federal standard requires "the ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber" (49 CFR 391.41). If you're colorblind, ask your state DMV, especially before a commercial license.

How blind people get around without driving

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) writes that "people who are blind or have low vision, who can’t drive their own cars" don't always have convenient choices. In its study of older adults, "Over 40% of urban and more than 65% of rural respondents said that not driving often prevented them from doing things they wanted to do" (AFB). These are the main options.

White cane, guide dog and O&M training

Orientation and mobility (O&M) means "Travel skills for people who are blind or have low vision that help them know where they are and move around safely" (AFB). The NRTC guide calls good O&M skills the first step in planning how to get to work, and suggests asking your state vocational rehabilitation counselor about training (NRTC). O&M is where people learn to use a white cane, and some travel with a guide dog. On public transit, "The entity shall permit service animals to accompany individuals with disabilities in vehicles and facilities" (49 CFR 37.167).

Buses, trains and subways

Where it exists, public transportation is "typically the most cost-effective" option and needs no booking, the NRTC guide says. To find local services, it points to the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (1-866-983-3222 or nadtc.org), and suggests dialing 5-1-1 to see if your area has a transit information line.

ADA paratransit

Paratransit is a door-to-door or curb-to-curb service for people who can't use regular buses and trains, sometimes called Dial-a-Ride. It's "a complementary service, NOT a complimentary, or free, service," the NRTC guide notes. Federal rules set the basics:

• Who qualifies: people who can't board, ride or get off a regular vehicle without help "as the result of a physical or mental impairment (including a vision impairment)" (49 CFR 37.123).
• Where and when: within three-quarters of a mile of a bus route or rail station, during the same hours and days as regular service, booked the day before.
• Cost: the fare "shall not exceed twice the fare" of a full-fare trip on the regular system (49 CFR 37.131).

Riders aren't always happy with it: in AFB's study, "Paratransit services are generally limited, slow, and inconvenient, if they are available at all" (AFB).

Rideshare, taxis and hired drivers

"Although rideshare services like Uber and Lyft can be booked on demand and may have a wider coverage area, they are more expensive than other options and require a smartphone," AFB says. "Legally, rideshare drivers must let passengers bring their service animals with them," yet almost all guide dog users in an AFB study's focus groups had been refused at least once (AFB). Ride-hailing services "do not operate in all places," the NRTC guide adds, and it also lists carpools and hiring a driver by the hour.

Self-driving cars and where to find help

People in AFB's study were hopeful that options would improve and talked about driverless cars; AFB recommends to "Design self-driving vehicles with accessible features, such as non-visual commands and speech output" (AFB). For help today, see our guide to organizations for the blind, and for phones, money and cooking, how blind people do everyday things.

Where Braillito fits

Driving rules depend on how much you see; reading doesn't have to. Braille is read by touch. Braillito, our app, teaches braille. It teaches the braille cells in lessons with exercises you play, with lives, levels and a daily streak: 59 lessons in 8 worlds in English. It also has a translator, a dictionary and a cell builder. It is meant for anyone learning the code, such as adults who are losing their sight (learning braille as an adult) or sighted family members of a braille reader (learning braille as a sighted person).

Braillito is a subscription with no free version; depending on the plan, it starts with a free trial or a discounted first period, if it's your first subscription (is Braillito free?). Get Braillito.

Frequently asked questions

Can blind people drive?

Totally blind people can't get a driver's license, because state rules set a minimum of eyesight. Some people with low vision can drive legally, sometimes with limits such as daylight only, and some use bioptic telescopic glasses after training and tests.

How do blind people drive?

The people who drive with a visual impairment have low vision, not total blindness. They meet their state's vision standard, sometimes with a restricted license, or use bioptic glasses: regular lenses for most of the drive and a small telescope above them for quick looks at signs and lights.

Can legally blind people drive?

It depends on the state and on why someone is legally blind. California refuses a license at 20/200 or worse in the better eye, while Virginia and Tennessee accept 20/200 through regular lenses for bioptic drivers who meet their other conditions. A field of 20 degrees or less is below the minimums we found.

Are blind people allowed to drive?

Not if they are totally blind. People with low vision may be, if they meet their state's vision standard, sometimes with limits such as daylight only, a lower speed limit or outside mirrors. Your state DMV decides, often with a report from your eye doctor.

Can you drive with vision in only one eye?

In Illinois, Texas and Virginia, yes, if that eye meets the standard. Texas gives a license without vision limits to a one-eyed driver with 20/25 or better without glasses, and Illinois requires left and right outside mirrors for drivers who qualify with one eye only.

What are bioptic telescopic glasses?

Glasses with a small telescope mounted in the upper part of the lens. The driver looks through the regular lenses most of the time and tilts their head down for brief looks through the telescope, about 2% to 5% of driving time, to read signs or check traffic lights.

Which states allow bioptic driving?

More than 40, according to a 2024 study; there is no single official list. Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee are examples, each with its own vision minimums and training or tests. It's not available in every state, so check with your state DMV.

Can colorblind people drive?

For a regular license, the state rules we read have no color standard, though Texas checks color vision on new applicants. Commercial truck and bus drivers are different: the federal rule requires recognizing red, green and amber traffic signals.

How do blind people get around if they can't drive?

With a white cane or guide dog and orientation and mobility training, plus public transit, ADA paratransit, rideshare and taxis, carpools, hired drivers, and family and friends. The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center can point to local options.