How good must your vision be to read a number plate?

• A. 10 metres
• B. 15 metres
• C. 20 metres
• D. 25 metres

Answer: (C)

Being able to read a number plate from twenty metres is the standard you must meet for driving legally in the UK. This threshold is set so you can identify other vehicles clearly at a reasonable distance, helping you react to traffic and aiding police identification if needed. The requirement is specifically about reading the plate in good daylight and with clear contrast; if you need glasses or contact lenses to achieve this, you must use them.

Why twenty metres fits best here: reading from shorter distances (like ten or fifteen metres) would not meet the official eyesight standard, while twenty metres is the defined distance used in tests and by licensing authorities. Reading from twenty-five metres goes beyond the minimum and isn’t the standard you’re tested against.