Tennessee Learner Permit Vision Test: Standards, Failure, and Retest Rules

Tennessee learner permit Tennessee uses a 20/40 minimum standard for the regular vision screening. If vision is worse than 20/40 in either eye, Driver Services provides a vision statement for a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist to complete. Tennessee driver examiners issue Vision Examination Form SF-0257 when a screening flags a problem below the minimum standard.

Where Do You Take the Vision Test for a Tennessee Learner Permit?

You take the eyesight test at the Driver Services Center counter using a vision screening machine. Wear your glasses or contact lenses during the test if you need them for distance vision.

Pass with correction and you meet the vision requirements. Restriction Code 01 is added to your permit, meaning you must wear corrective lenses every time you drive.

A 16-year-old in Memphis passed the vision screening at the Summer Avenue center with her glasses. She received her permit with the restriction the same day and started supervised driving practice that week.

What Happens If You Fail the Vision Screening at Tennessee Driver Services?

Fail the screening and the examiner gives you Form SF0257 to take to your eye doctor. Any licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist in Tennessee can complete it - return the form within 90 days or your permit application cannot move forward.

• Any licensed eye doctor in Tennessee can complete the form - return it within 90 days
• Eye exam prices vary by clinic; ask for the exact fee before scheduling
• Without SF0257 returned with the doctor's findings, your application stalls and you may need a new appointment

Tennessee's vision failure rule has a real cost. One Memphis applicant never realized glasses were needed - discovered only at the DOSHS eye chart. Vision screening failed on the spot; optometrist referral required before returning within 30 days. Memphis optometrists book out 2+ weeks - schedule the eye exam before booking Driver Services, not after.

What Happens If the Eye Doctor Does Not Clear You After the Vision Statement?

If the eye professional says your vision can reach the 20/40 standard with new lenses, Tennessee requires you to wait until you have those lenses before returning. If the completed statement shows a different limitation, Driver Services uses that medical information to decide the next licensing step. Do not assume the permit will be issued until that review is complete. See Tennessee's failed-screening guidance.

Can You Retest Vision the Same Day at Tennessee Driver Services?

Yes - if you have your glasses or contacts with you but weren't wearing them, put them on and retest immediately. If you need a new prescription, the outside exam must come first.

• If you need a new prescription, you must get the outside exam first
• Passing with correction adds "Restriction 01" to your permit photo card
• Driving without your lenses violates license restrictions

At the Chattanooga Bonny Oaks center, one teen forgot his glasses for his appointment. He called his parent, who brought them within 30 minutes. He retested the same afternoon, passed, and got his permit with the restriction before leaving - same-day retesting is real, but only if correction was the only issue.

Tennessee's exact vision standards for glasses or contact wearers

For the standard screening, vision worse than 20/40 in either eye triggers a professional vision statement. Corrective lenses may be used to meet the minimum standard. Doctors completing SF0257 typically reference a horizontal field of 140 degrees or more when certifying for the state.

Narrower fields can result in mirror or other restrictions. Very narrow fields may be disqualifying. The vision screening checks both visual acuity and peripheral vision; glasses or contacts are permitted to meet the standard.

Bioptic lens applicants follow Tennessee's Low Vision Guidelines and may need extra training plus daylight-only restrictions. If you need correction to pass, your permit is issued with Restriction Code 01, legally requiring those lenses whenever you drive. Tennessee vision standards and forms are at tn.gov/safety/driver-services.html.

Can You Get a Tennessee Learner Permit If You Have Vision in Only One Eye?

Yes, if you can pass the screening with the seeing eye. Tennessee says a driver with no vision in the other eye may continue through issuance and receives Restriction Code 04, which requires outside mirrors on both sides of the vehicle. See Tennessee's one-eye vision guidance.

Can a corrective-lens restriction be removed later? Do not drive without glasses or contacts while Restriction Code 01 remains on your record. If your eyesight changes, contact Driver Services and ask what new vision screening or documentation is required before the restriction is changed.

How to Avoid Vision Test Delays at Tennessee Driver Services

Bring your current prescription glasses to your appointment - not having them triggers an automatic fail and a mandatory specialist visit. Clean the lenses before the appointment; smudges cause inaccurate machine readings.

Verify the "Restr: 01" code is printed on your permit before leaving the counter if you wore correction. Some applicants have been pulled over because the restriction wasn't added properly even after passing with glasses - check it at the counter, not in the parking lot.

You'll also need to bring your other required documents and the permit fee to complete your application on the same day.