Nebraska Permit Vision Test: 20/40 Standard, Restriction B and Retest Rules

Nebraska applicants must meet the DMV vision standard. Corrective lenses are allowed, and Restriction B may apply when glasses or contacts are required to qualify.

Nebraska Vision Standards: Acuity and Peripheral Vision Thresholds

Nebraska's 140-degree peripheral-vision level is the unrestricted threshold, not an absolute minimum for every permit. Lower fields can qualify with restrictions, while a field below 100 degrees is denied under the DMV examiner standards.

• 140 degrees or greater: No peripheral-vision restriction.
• 120-139 degrees: Restriction F.
• 100-119 degrees: Restrictions F, V, G, and X.
• Below 100 degrees: License or permit denied.

Acuity and other vision requirements still apply. If you do not pass the DMV screening, the examiner may require a Statement of Vision from an eye-care professional.

Can I wear glasses or contact lenses for the Nebraska DMV vision test?

Yes. Nebraska allows applicants to meet the vision standard with corrective lenses. If you qualify only while wearing glasses or contacts, the permit can carry Restriction B requiring correction while driving.

How Does the Nebraska DMV Vision Screening Work?

Nebraska DMV uses the Optec vision screening machine at the counter. The test takes under two minutes and checks acuity, peripheral range, and color discrimination without a separate appointment.

You look into a viewfinder and read letters on the 20/40 line. The machine also tests peripheral vision by flashing lights in your side vision. Staff will ask you to identify when lights appear in your periphery.

• Takes 2-3 minutes to complete
• No advance practice needed
• Wear glasses or contacts if prescribed

Bring your current prescription eyewear. If you pass with corrective lenses, your permit gets Restriction B requiring you to always wear them while driving.

What Happens If You Fail the Nebraska DMV Vision Screening?

Failing the Nebraska DMV vision screening means you cannot test that day. You must visit a licensed optometrist and return with a completed Statement of Vision Exam form DMV 06-18.

1. DMV staff gives you the Statement of Vision form (DMV 06-18)
2. Take the form to any licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist
3. Doctor completes precise acuity and field measurements
4. Return completed form within 90 days

You can return the same day with proper glasses if you simply forgot them. However, if corrective lenses don't help you pass, the outside exam is mandatory.

How soon can I retake the Nebraska vision test after failing?

Nebraska DMV does not publish a separate fixed waiting period for a vision retest. If the problem was missing or unusable corrective lenses, return when you can meet the screening standard; if DMV issues a Statement of Vision, complete that process instead.

Restriction B: Getting a Nebraska Permit with Corrective Lenses

See the Nebraska learner's permit guide for complete requirements.

• Your permit shows Restriction B (Code 1)
• Must wear prescribed correction every time you drive
• Driving without them violates traffic law

If your vision improves through surgery like LASIK, return to DMV for retesting. You'll pay a $16.00 replacement fee for an unrestricted permit after passing without correction. Learn more about Nebraska DMV license restrictions and their removal process.

Can Restriction B be removed after LASIK or improved vision?

Yes, if you later meet Nebraska's vision requirements without corrective lenses. Return to a Driver Licensing Office for vision review; DMV may require a Statement of Vision, and a restriction change results in an updated document.

Outside Eye Exam After Failing Nebraska DMV Vision Screen

A Nebraska optometrist vision exam after a DMV fail costs $50 to $150 without insurance. The DMV accepts the completed Form DMV 06-18 signed by your eye doctor as proof of corrected vision.

• Provider Options: Optometrists or ophthalmologists statewide
• Exam Cost: $50 to $150 without insurance coverage
• Form Validity: 90 days from examination date

The DMV covers no exam costs. Schedule promptly since the 90-day deadline is strict. Reference the Nebraska DL Examiner Manual for complete vision standards if your eye doctor has questions.

Can I bring a completed Statement of Vision form to my first DMV visit? If you already know you need outside vision documentation, bring the current Nebraska DMV Statement of Vision completed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist within the last 90 days. DMV can use the doctor's measurements in place of its own vision readings when the form is accepted.

Vision Test Mistakes That Delay Nebraska DMV Appointments

The most common Nebraska DMV vision test failures are dry contact lenses, forgotten glasses, and arriving without Restriction B correction. Bring rewetting drops and your prescription eyewear to every visit.

• Wrong prescription strength: A Lincoln teen wore outdated glasses with weak prescription and failed acuity testing
• Unclear form dates: An Omaha applicant's handwritten exam date was illegible, forcing DMV rejection
• Contact lens problems: A Grand Island student tried inserting contacts in the DMV restroom after failing, but eye irritation worsened retest performance

Get an eye exam before your 15th birthday if you suspect vision problems. Bringing a pre-completed Statement of Vision form (dated within 90 days) prevents immediate failure and weeks of delays.

Check your proof of address requirements before visiting DMV. Bank statements and utility bills must be dated within 90 days. A Scottsbluff applicant passed vision testing but was turned away because one utility bill was 94 days old.

Examples of Nebraska DMV Vision-Test Problems

One Lincoln applicant's contact lenses dried out during a 40-minute wait at the Nebraska DMV. They failed the vision test. Returning two hours later with rewetted lenses, they passed.