Kentucky drivers will soon need to pass a vision test to renew their license because of a House Bill signed into law three years ago.House Bill 439 was previously signed into law and will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.Beginning in 2025, Kentucky drivers can go to any Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Driver Licensing Regional Office to complete the test. Officials said the test takes less than one minute to complete, on average.People can also choose to have a vision specialist (optometrist/ophthalmologist) perform the test and bring the results to the offices.Drivers who do not pass will be instructed to see a vision specialist before getting their license renewed."Driving is a privilege many of us enjoy and this best practice is one way we look out for each other on the road to make our highways safer for everyone," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.Existing state law allows Kentucky drivers to renew their license up to 180 days before the card's expiration date.Online and mail-in driver's license renewal will still be available after Jan. 1, for drivers who choose to complete their test with a doctor."We know this will be a change for license holders when it's time to renew every four or eight years, but it's a measure driven by safety, and that's something we can all get behind," Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said in a release. "People are the most precious cargo on our roads."Kentucky will join several other states who have a vision test to renew licenses, including Indiana and Ohio. For more information on the test, click here.
Kentucky drivers will soon need to pass a vision test to renew their license because of a House Bill signed into law three years ago.
House Bill 439 was previously signed into law and will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Beginning in 2025, Kentucky drivers can go to any Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Driver Licensing Regional Office to complete the test. Officials said the test takes less than one minute to complete, on average.
People can also choose to have a vision specialist (optometrist/ophthalmologist) perform the test and bring the results to the offices.
Drivers who do not pass will be instructed to see a vision specialist before getting their license renewed.
"Driving is a privilege many of us enjoy and this best practice is one way we look out for each other on the road to make our highways safer for everyone," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.
Existing state law allows Kentucky drivers to renew their license up to 180 days before the card's expiration date.
Online and mail-in driver's license renewal will still be available after Jan. 1, for drivers who choose to complete their test with a doctor.
"We know this will be a change for license holders when it's time to renew every four or eight years, but it's a measure driven by safety, and that's something we can all get behind," Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said in a release. "People are the most precious cargo on our roads."
Kentucky will join several other states who have a vision test to renew licenses, including Indiana and Ohio. For more information on the test, click here.