My drivers licence is expiring soon and I intend on renewing it. This is my first time renewing a full drivers licence. I'm just wondering what the procedure is like on the day? Will an eye test be required even if I don't currently require glasses to drive? How difficult is the eyesight test?
I'm just wondering what the procedure is like on the day?
Fill in a form, wait in line, pass eye test, pay money. All done.
Will an eye test be required even if I don't currently require glasses to drive?
Yes an eye test is required - this is how they decide whether you're required to wear glasses when you drive or not. If you can't pass the eye test without glasses then the glasses become a condition of your license (you have to wear them).
How difficult is the eyesight test?
Depends how bad your eyes are! If you can read the numberplates of the cars ahead of you on a highway and you can read street signs far enough ahead to react to them then you'll probably pass the eye test without glasses. I struggle with small street signs until I'm quite close and I just scraped through the eye test last time (although I wear glasses when I drive because I feel it's safer). Next time I renew my license I'll definitely need glasses to pass.
It's pretty tricky, but I've got some notes you can borrow
I renewed my NSW licence recently, and I'm one of those people that stress about the slightest thing. I hope the info below helps you.
You should have received a form and an info sheet already. You are supposed to fill out the form in advance, but if there's anything you are not sure of leave it blank and ask when you get there.
Read the info sheet thoroughly. It tells you the cost to renew for 1 year, 3 years or 5 years, with the longer durations being cheaper per year.
The info sheet also told me I might be eligible for a discount under the safe driver scheme (as I've been driving for decades without a problem) so I asked about that when I got there.
OzBargainers may be interested to know that between the 50% safe driver discount, and $4 credit that was already "in my account" (I have no idea why), I only had to pay $83 total instead of $174 for 5 years. Bargain!
Ronnknee, the most important thing is to allow PLENTY of time to get it done. Take a numbered ticket when you walk in the door then be prepared to wait quite a while. And after you've done the paperwork and eye-test and had your photo taken, it takes another 5-10 minutes to get your licence printed.
It's not a good idea to go during lunchtime if you are likely to be stressing about getting back to work on time. Look up online to see if your local registry is open on Saturday mornings.
Be aware that some motor registries have been converted to the new Service NSW centres which cover all sorts out government transactions, not just RTA stuff. Your guess is as good as mine as to whether it will be quicker or longer to get a licence.
P.S. Ronnknee, if you're are really stressed about it, pop your head into the registry before you have to go, to familiarise yourself with the layout. A 'practice run' usually reduces my stress on the day.
You can also renew for 10 years but only if you're between 21 and 44
Your license does not get printed and given to you anymore, it arrives in the mail after about a week, new system.
I'd go in blind and you should be sweet
Last time I renewed was the first time since I had got myself some cheap glasses for driving. I found it hard to read some distant street signs at night, but otherwise don't use them.
As I sat waiting for my number I was wondering whether to try and pass the test with no glasses. I happened to look over the other side of the room just as somebody else was doing theirs.
I was easily able to read the bottom row from at least twice the distance of the test. Needless to say, I passed the test with no glasses.
Last time I renewed my licence I spent the entire time staring past the lady at the counter at the back wall. My eyesight isn't 100% and I wear glasses mostly when driving so I can read street signs etc, but in order to keep my long distance vision better I made sure I went in early and hadn't been sitting in front of the computer all day, then stared at the far wall as much a s possible too. after all that they didn't test my eyes, but I was confident of passing anyway.
If you are concerned about your vision, just get an eye test done by your local optometrist. Piece of mind and they will sort you out if there are any issues.
As I remember you can wear glasses to perform an eye test at RMS. So failing the test would be quite an effort :)