“REST AB” on a driver’s license means two restriction codes — A and B — have been placed on your driving privileges. What those letters actually require depends on the state that issued your license, because restriction codes are not standardized across the country. The same letter can mean corrective lenses in one state, a learner’s permit condition in another, and nothing at all in a third.
What A and B Usually Stand For
Every state assigns its own meanings to the letters printed after “REST.” There is no single national definition for code A or code B. A few patterns show up repeatedly across state charts:
- In some states, code A means corrective lenses are required and code B indicates a supervised-driving condition.
- In others, code A is a placeholder meaning no restrictions, and code B means corrective lenses.
- In still others, code A signals motorcycle learner status and code B means corrective lenses.
When “AB” appears together, both conditions apply at the same time. A common real-world combination is a corrective-lens requirement paired with a learner’s permit or provisional license condition, but the only way to know for certain is to check the chart published by the agency that issued your license.
How to Look Up Your State’s Codes
Your state DMV publishes the full restriction code list, usually in the driver’s manual and on the agency website. Search for “restriction codes” along with your state’s name, or open the manual’s index. The chart will show each letter alongside its meaning in a single line. Match the letters on your license to the entries, and you have your answer.
If the chart is hard to find or the wording is ambiguous, call the DMV directly or ask at a field office. Staff can pull your record and tell you exactly which conditions attach to your license.
Other Restrictions That Commonly Appear
Corrective lenses are the most frequently applied restriction, which is why they show up in so many AB combinations. Other restrictions you may see on a license, each with its own letter or number depending on the state, include:
- Daylight driving only, usually tied to poor night vision or certain eye conditions.
- Automatic transmission, applied when you tested in an automatic and are not authorized to drive a manual.
- Mechanical or adaptive aids such as hand controls, a steering knob, or left-foot accelerator pedals.
- Outside mirrors required, often tied to limited peripheral vision.
- Supervised driving, requiring a licensed adult (often 21 or older) in the front passenger seat, common on learner’s permits and provisional licenses.
- Geographic or road-type limits that restrict driving to areas near your home or bar freeway use.
When several restrictions apply, the letters pile up after “REST.” That’s how a license ends up reading AB, or sometimes ABC.
Removing a Corrective Lens Restriction
If one of your letters stands for corrective lenses and your vision has improved — through surgery or otherwise — you can get that restriction taken off. The process is to prove you can pass the vision test without lenses. Most states offer several paths:
- Visit a DMV office, take the vision screening without glasses or contacts, and request an updated license. This is often done at renewal.
- Have an optometrist or ophthalmologist complete your state’s vision report form confirming you meet the acuity standard without correction. Some states accept electronic submission.
- In some states, mail in the completed vision report with a replacement license application. The replacement document fee typically runs between $10 and $50.
Until the new license is in your hand, you are still legally bound by the restriction printed on your current card. Keep your glasses or contacts with you when you drive.
What Happens If You Drive Outside Your Restrictions
Driving in violation of a license restriction is a citable offense in every state, but the classification varies. Some states treat it as a simple traffic infraction with a fine. Others classify it as a misdemeanor, which can carry jail time. A few treat driving without required corrective lenses the same as driving without a valid license at all, which brings steeper consequences.
First-offense fines typically fall between $100 and $500. Points are often added to your driving record. Enough points within a set period can bring warning letters, mandatory driving courses, higher insurance premiums, and eventually suspension. If you cause an accident while violating a restriction, the penalties increase substantially.
Enforcement usually happens at routine traffic stops. An officer who sees a corrective-lens code on your license will ask where your glasses are, and the answer matters.