Are eyesight rules for drivers the same for licence-free cars in France?

Reader Question: Is it possible to drive a licence-free car if I am short-sighted? I cannot obtain a standard driving licence because of my visual impairment 

‘Licence-free’ cars (Voitures sans permis, VSP) can be driven by those who do not have a category ‘B’ driving licence that allows them to drive a car. 

Those born after January 1988 must take a series of tests to be able to drive them and are given a credit-card style licence (called a permis AM) that looks similar to a normal French driving licence, however those born before this date do not need a licence to drive these vehicles.

Even so, people with medical conditions are not exempt from French driving rules. This is the case for people with physical, visual, and mental disabilities, and it would be a mistake to think that even if you do not need a licence to drive a VSP, that you can drive with poorer vision than for a normal car.

Notably, article R-412 of the French Highway code states that any driver of a moving vehicle must be prudent towards other road users and must be “constantly in a state and position so as to be able to execute easily and without delay all the manoeuvers which he or she may need to undertake”. It adds that nothing must obstruct his or her movements or field of vision.

People breaking these rules may be subject to a fine of up to €150 and their vehicle may be immobilised, the law says.

While not stated explicitly, if you cannot properly see what is happening on the road, then you are not in a suitable “state” to be able to drive in a safe manner.

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Required eyesight level

Eyesight for drivers in France is measured on a scale of tenths, with 1/10 being the worst and 10/10 being a good level.

Rules in the Highway code for holding a driving licence stipulate that a person must have at least 5/10 in at least one of their eyes. 

It is up to drivers to get their eyes tested if they think their eyesight is poor or has become worse. In the case where they can only see to the required level with glasses or contact lenses, this should be noted with a special code (‘01’) on the licence.

In this case they are legally obliged to wear their corrective lenses when driving. 

As it is possible for older drivers to drive a VSP without any licence, the question arises as to whether this rule applies to them. 

Sellers of VSP we spoke to stated that drivers should assume that the same rules apply as for driving a car, though they did not cite any specific law with regard to this.

Even if you have no licence on which an obligatory code can be placed, the basic law that you must be able to drive safely, of course, still applies, and the 5/10 rule would appear to be a reasonable minimum.

Furthermore, if you were in an accident and were found to be driving with severely impaired vision, or without glasses when you need these to see properly, your responsibility is more likely to be seen as being called into question if there is an investigation by law officers and/or your insurance company.

This could affect your criminal or civil liability and potentially your driving insurance. 

Driving insurance contracts frequently have a clause stating the driver must respect safety conditions, which can include wearing their glasses if necessary (regarding insurance, this will not affect third-party cover, but may affect cover for yourself and your vehicle).

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How do I know my vision level? 

You can book an appointment with an ophtalmologue (eye doctor) to get an eye test. 

Drivers who may need a modification of their licence related to wearing glasses or lenses are asked to contact a médecin agréé (approved doctor). 

You can find a list of these on the website of your department’s prefecture (or by googling with the relevant terms such as médecins agrées préfecture Alpes-Maritimes). Doctolib also allows for a search in your area for médecins agrées permis de conduire. 

These are doctors who are officially approved to provide medical information for purposes such as driving licence requests.

Read more: Do licence-free vehicles in France require a roadworthiness test?