Restrictions on a driver’s license are coded conditions printed on the card that limit how, when, or what you’re allowed to drive. The most common one is a requirement to wear glasses or contacts behind the wheel, but restrictions also cover adaptive equipment, daylight-only driving, nighttime and passenger limits for new drivers, and specialized rules for commercial vehicles. Each code sits next to your license number or expiration date, and ignoring it is a traffic violation in its own right.
What the Common Restrictions Require
Most restrictions fall into a handful of categories, and the one on your license almost certainly belongs to one of them.
Corrective Lenses
If you passed your vision screening wearing glasses or contacts, your license carries a code requiring you to wear them every time you drive. Federal guidelines recommend corrected visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye for standard licensing, though the exact threshold varies by state.1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Driver Fitness Medical Guidelines The requirement applies on every trip, no matter how short.
Adaptive Equipment
Other equipment-based restrictions flag prosthetic devices, hand controls, spinner knobs, left-foot accelerators, or similar vehicle modifications. These are assigned after a driving evaluation confirms you can operate a vehicle safely with the specific equipment installed, and you’re limited to driving vehicles that have it.
Daylight Only
A daylight-only restriction limits you to driving between sunrise and sunset. It’s typically imposed when a medical condition — often poor night vision — makes after-dark driving unsafe. This is a medical restriction and is separate from the nighttime curfews that come with new-driver programs.
Graduated Licensing for New Drivers
All 50 states run some form of graduated driver’s license program that phases in full driving privileges over time. During the intermediate stage, common restrictions include nighttime driving curfews (often between 10 p.m. or midnight and 5 a.m.) and passenger limits, frequently capping non-family passengers at one.2Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Graduated Licensing Laws Table These restrictions loosen automatically as the driver reaches the next licensing stage.
Commercial Driver’s License Restrictions
CDL restrictions are governed by federal regulation and tied directly to the vehicle and equipment used during your skills test. Test in a truck with an automatic transmission, and your CDL will bar you from driving a commercial vehicle with a manual. If you didn’t test with air brakes or failed the air brake knowledge exam, your CDL will note that you cannot operate a commercial vehicle equipped with air brakes.3eCFR. 49 CFR 383.95 – Restrictions
Additional CDL restrictions apply to tractor-trailer combinations. A driver who tested in a combination vehicle using a pintle hook rather than a fifth wheel is restricted from operating fifth-wheel tractor-trailers. A medical variance restriction also appears on the CDL of any driver who holds a federal medical exemption for a condition that would otherwise disqualify them.3eCFR. 49 CFR 383.95 – Restrictions
How To Read the Codes on Your Card
Every state uses its own restriction codes for regular licenses, and there’s no single national standard. The codes are typically one or two characters, and each state defines what they mean. Many states follow similar conventions: “B” for corrective lenses, “C” for mechanical aids, and “G” for daylight-only driving are common examples, but your state may use different letters entirely.
The codes usually sit on the front of the card, on a line near the expiration date or the endorsements field. The back of the card typically prints a short legend explaining what each code means. If yours doesn’t, the full list is on your licensing agency’s website.
CDL codes are different. They follow a federally standardized system, including L (air brake restriction), E (automatic transmission only), O (no tractor-trailer), and V (medical variance).3eCFR. 49 CFR 383.95 – Restrictions
A Restriction on Your License Is Not the Same as a Restricted License
These sound alike and get confused constantly. An equipment or condition restriction (corrective lenses, hand controls, daylight only) is a notation on an otherwise valid license — you have full driving privileges as long as you comply with the stated condition. A restricted driving privilege is something else entirely: it’s what you may receive after your license has been suspended or revoked. Sometimes called a hardship license, occupational license, or limited license depending on the state, this type of privilege typically limits you to driving only for specific purposes such as commuting to work, attending school, or making medical appointments. Those restrictions are court-ordered or agency-imposed as a consequence of a driving offense, not a medical or physical condition.
What Happens If You Drive Outside Your Restrictions
Driving without your required corrective lenses, operating a manual-transmission commercial vehicle when your CDL says automatic only, or driving after dark with a daylight-only restriction are all violations of your license terms. The specific penalty varies by state, but operating outside your restrictions is generally treated as a traffic violation and can result in fines, points on your record, or both. Repeated or more serious violations can escalate to suspension. For CDL holders, the stakes are higher because a restriction violation can jeopardize a commercial driving career.
The financial fallout can run well past the ticket. If you’re in an accident while driving outside your restrictions, your auto insurer may limit the payout, increase your premiums, or deny the claim on the grounds that you were operating the vehicle in violation of your license terms. Even if the restriction had nothing to do with the crash, the violation gives the insurer leverage to dispute coverage. It’s a risk that costs almost nothing to avoid.
How To Get a Restriction Removed
Restrictions aren’t necessarily permanent. If the underlying condition changes, you can usually get the restriction removed or modified by providing new evidence to your state’s licensing agency.
After Vision Correction
The most common scenario is removing a corrective lenses restriction after LASIK or another vision correction procedure. Having the surgery alone isn’t enough. You need to visit your licensing office in person and pass the agency’s vision screening without glasses or contacts. A letter from your surgeon or optometrist generally won’t substitute for the in-office test. Until the restriction is formally removed from your license, you can still be cited for driving without corrective lenses even if your vision is now perfect.
After a Medical or Equipment Change
For restrictions tied to medical conditions or adaptive equipment, you’ll typically need updated documentation from a healthcare provider showing that the condition has improved or resolved. In some cases, the agency will also require a new road test in a vehicle without the previously required equipment. Commercial drivers seeking to remove a transmission or air brake restriction must retake the CDL skills test in a vehicle equipped with the relevant feature.3eCFR. 49 CFR 383.95 – Restrictions
What To Expect From the Process
Start by contacting your state’s DMV or equivalent agency to find out exactly what documentation and testing they require. Some states handle certain restriction removals online, but most require an in-person visit. Expect to pay a license replacement or amendment fee, which typically runs between $5 and $37 depending on the state. The turnaround is usually quick once you pass the required screening or submit the necessary paperwork. Don’t drive as if the restriction is lifted until the change is officially reflected on your license or in the agency’s system.