New Mexico MVD Vision Test: 20/40 Standard, 120-Degree Field, and the 'B' Restriction

Pass New Mexico's vision screening and you walk out with your permit the same day. Fail it for a learner permit in New Mexico, and you leave with Form MVD-10125 and a referral to an optometrist, no same-day retake allowed. The standard is 20/40 acuity in your better eye and at least 120 degrees of horizontal peripheral vision. Wear your corrective lenses; passing with them earns a 'B' restriction on your permit.

What Are New Mexico's Vision Requirements for a Learner's Permit?

You must meet specific vision standards to get a New Mexico instructional permit.

• Visual Acuity: At least 20/40 in your better eye, with or without glasses or contacts.
• Field of Vision: At least 120 degrees horizontally, with a minimum of 30 degrees nasal field in one eye.
• If you use glasses or contacts to pass, your permit will have a 'B' restriction, legally requiring you to wear them while driving.

Can You Get a New Mexico Learner's Permit If Only One Eye Meets the Vision Standard?

Yes, if the better eye meets the published acuity standard. New Mexico uses 20/40 or better in at least one eye. If the field-office screening raises a concern about acuity or visual fields, MVD can require Form MVD-10125 from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Does color blindness affect a New Mexico learner's permit? New Mexico's published permit vision standard focuses on visual acuity and visual fields. If a vision condition affects those measures, MVD may require a Vision Report.

What Happens During the New Mexico MVD Vision Screening?

The vision screening is a standard step at all MVD field offices like those in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, or Las Cruces.

• You take the test with both eyes open, and sometimes each eye individually.
• Wear your corrective lenses if you need them. Passing with them results in the 'B' restriction.
• For example, a teen in Albuquerque failed because he removed his glasses for the photo and forgot to put them back on before the test, causing an unnecessary delay.

Download MVD-10125 Vision Report form before your eye exam appointment so you're not scrambling at the office. Mail completed forms to MVD Driver's Bureau, PO Box 1028, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1028, or upload via MVDOnline.com under Eservices > Forms > Submit Medical Documentation. See Chapter 9 Medicals for full vision procedures.

Can an Eye Doctor's Exam Replace the MVD Vision Screening?

Not as the normal first step. MVD screens vision at the field office. If you cannot pass that screening, MVD may give you Form MVD-10125 for an eye doctor to complete and return.

What Happens If You Fail the New Mexico MVD Vision Test?

Failing the initial eyesight test for a permit does not mean you are disqualified. The MVD agent will give you a Vision Report (Form MVD-10125).

• Where to go for an eye exam: You must take the form to a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist for a complete exam.
• Cost of an outside vision exam: Fees vary by provider but typically range from $50 to $150 for a full exam without insurance.
• Can you come back the same day? No. You cannot retest with glasses the same day after failing without them. The process requires you to get the outside exam and return with the completed form on a different day. An applicant in Santa Fe wasted a morning by not bringing her contacts, assuming she could just run home and return; the MVD requires a new appointment.

New Mexico's post-surgical vision rule caught one Santa Fe applicant off guard. Priya booked too soon after eye surgery, her vision was still affected from recovery. She failed the eye chart; the MVD sent her back until an ophthalmologist cleared her, within 30 days. New Mexico rule: post-surgical recovery is not a vision waiver basis at any NM MVD location, clearance must come from your doctor first.

See the New Mexico learner's permit guide for complete requirements.

Worth Noting: Complete and print the MVD-10125 form before your eye doctor visit to avoid using an incorrect generic form, which will be rejected by the MVD and cause a weeks-long delay.

How Soon Can You Retest After an MVD Eye-Doctor Referral?

MVD does not publish a fixed waiting period in its vision procedure. Once your optometrist or ophthalmologist completes Form MVD-10125, return it to MVD and follow the decision on that report before continuing the permit transaction.

Glasses and Contacts at the New Mexico MVD: What the 'B' Restriction Means

Yes. Wearing glasses or contacts is expected and common. You must wear them during your vision screening if you need them to see clearly.

The 'B' Restriction on a New Mexico Learner's Permit

If you need corrective lenses to meet the 20/40 standard, the MVD will place a 'B' restriction on your permit.

• This restriction means you must wear your glasses or contacts whenever you drive.
• It applies during all supervised practice, your road test, and will carry forward to your full license unless medically removed.
• For instance, a Las Cruces driver failed his road test on the spot because his permit had the 'B' code, but he wasn't wearing his glasses when he met the examiner.

Before You Go: Schedule your MVD appointment for early morning, right when the office opens, to use freshly cleaned lenses and avoid eye strain from a long wait, which can slightly blur your vision and risk failing the screening.

Steps After a Vision Test Referral

1. Take Form MVD-10125 to an optometrist or ophthalmologist for completion.
2. Return the completed MVD-10125 form to the MVD Driver Services Bureau or your local office.
3. The MVD reviews the form to determine if you qualify for a permit, possibly with other restrictions like 'Daylight Driving Only.'

Double-Check This: If your vision is borderline, get an eye exam 2-3 weeks before your MVD visit to know your exact acuity and avoid the referral process entirely, saving you a potential $100+ in extra fees and multiple trips.

Learn more about New Mexico permit steps at mvd.newmexico.gov or visit mvd.newmexico.gov learner's permit page.