North Dakota requires 20/40 corrected vision in at least one eye to maintain your driver's license. If you have glaucoma, periodic vision testing and updated medical reports are required, and your carrier needs documentation to avoid coverage gaps.
What Vision Threshold Does North Dakota Require for Drivers with Glaucoma?
North Dakota requires 20/40 corrected vision in at least one eye to maintain an unrestricted driver's license, measured using both eyes together or separately. If glaucoma has reduced your vision below 20/40 but you still meet 20/70 in at least one eye, you qualify for a restricted license with daylight-only driving privileges. Vision below 20/70 in both eyes disqualifies you from holding a North Dakota driver's license.
The state accepts corrected vision measurements, meaning you can wear glasses or contact lenses during the exam. Your peripheral vision must also meet minimum standards: a horizontal visual field of at least 105 degrees combined, or 55 degrees temporally in one eye. Glaucoma patients often lose peripheral vision before central acuity declines, which is why the field-of-vision test matters as much as the acuity chart.
If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, your ophthalmologist must complete a North Dakota Vision Examination Report (Form SFN 51866) and submit it to the North Dakota Department of Transportation Medical Review Unit. This form certifies your current vision status and confirms whether corrective lenses are required. The DMV will not accept a generic eye exam printout from your doctor's office.
How Often Must You Submit Updated Vision Exams?
North Dakota does not mandate annual vision retesting for all drivers over 75, but the Medical Review Unit can impose periodic testing requirements based on your ophthalmologist's report. If your glaucoma is stable and well-controlled, the DMV typically requests updated certification every two years. If your ophthalmologist notes progressive vision loss or field defects, the DMV may require retesting every six months or annually.
Your ophthalmologist determines the retesting frequency recommendation on Form SFN 51866. The DMV follows this recommendation unless its own review suggests more frequent monitoring is warranted. Missing a required retest date results in automatic license suspension without additional notice beyond the initial certification letter. You will receive a suspension notice approximately 30 days after the missed deadline, but your license is considered invalid the day after the deadline passes.
Some drivers receive their first mandatory vision retest notice only after a traffic stop or renewal triggers a DMV system flag. If you have documented glaucoma and have not received a vision certification request, contact the Medical Review Unit at 701-328-2603 to confirm whether periodic testing applies to your file. Carriers consider driving on a suspended license a material misrepresentation, which voids coverage retroactively to the suspension date.
What Happens If Your Vision Falls Below the Threshold?
If your corrected vision drops below 20/40 but remains at or above 20/70 in one eye, the DMV will issue a restricted license allowing daytime driving only. This restriction appears on the front of your license card and prohibits driving between sunset and sunrise. If your vision falls below 20/70 in both eyes, the DMV will not renew your license and will send a cancellation notice within 10 business days of receiving your ophthalmologist's updated report.
You can request a formal administrative hearing within 20 days of receiving a cancellation notice. The hearing allows you to present updated medical evidence or contest the DMV's interpretation of your vision exam results. Approximately 15% of glaucoma-related cancellation hearings result in reinstatement with restrictions, typically when a driver provides documentation of successful cataract surgery or new treatment that has stabilized vision above the threshold.
If your license is cancelled due to vision loss, you must wait until your vision improves to the required threshold and then reapply as a new driver. North Dakota does not offer provisional or conditional licenses for drivers whose vision falls below 20/70. Your insurance policy will be cancelled effective the date of license cancellation, and you cannot reinstate coverage until you hold a valid license again.
How to Notify Your Insurance Carrier About Vision Restrictions
You must notify your carrier within 30 days of receiving a restricted license or updated vision certification requirement. Most carriers operating in North Dakota require policyholders to report any medical condition that results in license restrictions, and failure to disclose a daylight-only restriction is grounds for retroactive claim denial. If you are involved in a collision after sunset while driving on a daylight-restricted license, your carrier will deny the claim and may cancel your policy for material misrepresentation.
Call your agent or carrier customer service line and request to update your policy file with your new license restriction status. Ask the representative to document the call and send written confirmation that your file has been updated. Keep this confirmation letter with your policy documents. Some carriers will not change your premium based on a daylight-only restriction, while others may reduce your rate slightly due to reduced exposure hours.
If your carrier non-renews your policy after you report a vision restriction, you have options. North Dakota does not operate an assigned risk pool for drivers with medical restrictions, but several non-standard carriers write policies for drivers with daylight-only licenses, typically at rates 20–30% higher than standard market pricing. Contact the North Dakota Insurance Department at 800-247-0560 for a referral list of carriers that write policies for medically restricted drivers.
Does the Mature Driver Course Discount Still Apply?
North Dakota-licensed carriers are not required to offer a mature driver course discount, but most major carriers writing policies in the state provide a 5–10% discount for drivers who complete an approved course. If you hold a vision-restricted license due to glaucoma, you remain eligible for the mature driver discount as long as you hold a valid license and meet the carrier's other eligibility criteria, which typically include no at-fault accidents in the past three years.
The discount applies for three years from your course completion date, but you must recertify by retaking an approved course before the expiration date to maintain the discount. AARP Smart Driver and AAA Driver Improvement are the most widely accepted programs in North Dakota. Both offer online and in-person formats. Completion certificates must be submitted to your carrier within 30 days to receive the discount at your next renewal.
If your carrier non-renews your policy due to age or vision restrictions, your mature driver course certificate remains valid and transferable to a new carrier. When shopping for a replacement policy, provide your certificate with your application. Some non-standard carriers serving the 75-and-older market honor the mature driver discount even for drivers with license restrictions, which can partially offset the higher base premium.
Is Full Coverage Still Justified on Your Vehicle?
If you drive a vehicle worth less than $5,000 and you carry comprehensive and collision coverage, you are likely paying more in annual premiums than you would recover in a total loss claim after your deductible. For a vehicle valued at $4,000 with a $500 deductible, the maximum claim payout is $3,500. If your combined comprehensive and collision premium exceeds $700 per year, you will reach break-even in five years, assuming no claims.
Drivers over 75 with vision restrictions often reduce their annual mileage significantly, which lowers collision risk but does not reduce comprehensive risk from hail, theft, or animal strikes. If you park in a garage and drive fewer than 3,000 miles per year, comprehensive-only coverage may be the most cost-efficient option. You retain protection against non-collision losses while eliminating the higher collision premium.
Before dropping collision coverage, confirm that you do not have a loan or lease on the vehicle. Lenders require both comprehensive and collision coverage until the loan is satisfied. If you own your vehicle outright and your state-minimum liability coverage is current, you can drop physical damage coverage at any time by contacting your carrier. Most carriers will process the change effective the date of your call and issue a pro-rated refund for the unused portion of your comprehensive and collision premium.
