14/04/2026
37,000 drivers lost or refused licences after failing to meet eyesight standards.
An FOI request highlighted the number of licences revoked or refused between 2022 and 2025 where failure to meet the eyesight standard was recorded as the primary reason.
More than 37,000 drivers lost or were refused licences after failing to meet the required eyesight standard between 2022 and 2025, new Freedom of Information (FOI) data has shown.
An FOI request made by motor retailer, Marshall Motor Group, of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) found that between 2022 and 2025, 32,944 drivers lost or were refused licences having failed to meet the eyesight standard.
Over the same period, a further 4177 bus and lorry drivers holding Group 2 licences also had their entitlement revoked or refused for failing to meet the vision standard.
The group learnt that there were 7845 eyesight-related licence losses in 2025. This is compared to 8258 in 2024, 7362 in 2023, and a high of 9479 in 2022.
Licence loss for reasons associated with vision affected drivers across all age brackets, the group reported, but was highest amongst older age groups, with 10,794 licences refused or revoked in the 70 to 79 age category between 2022 and 2025.
Over the same period, in the 55 to 69 age category, 6361 licences were refused or revoked, while the figure was 8060 in the 80 to 89 age range.
The group pointed out that more than 6500 drivers under the age of 55 also lost licences over the time period for vision related issues.
If road signs don’t look as sharp as they used to, headlights feel more dazzling at night, or you find yourself squinting more often, those can all be signs it’s time to book an eye test. Often the solution can be as simple as a change of glasses, but if this will not improve your vision, we may be able to refer you for treatment.
Call us on 01788 544948 to make an appointment.
