Restriction B is a corrective lens requirement
Restriction B on your Texas driver's license means you must wear corrective lenses—glasses or contact lenses—every time you drive. The restriction appears as a small code on the back of your license, and driving without the required lenses is a violation that can result in a traffic ticket.
Texas issues this restriction when your vision during the license exam does not meet the state's uncorrected vision standard, but does meet it when you wear correction. The restriction protects you and other drivers by ensuring you have adequate vision to see road signs, pedestrians, and hazards at safe distances.
If you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, you should be aware that some drivers find the transition zones between lens powers can affect their ability to see the road clearly in certain positions. Positioning your glasses correctly on your nose helps avoid this problem.
Key Takeaways
- Restriction B requires you to wear glasses or contact lenses whenever you operate a motor vehicle in Texas.
- The restriction is issued if your corrected vision meets the standard but your uncorrected vision does not.
- Driving without the required correction while Restriction B is on your license is a traffic violation.
- You can request removal of the restriction by passing a vision test without correction at the Texas Department of Public Safety.
- Bifocals and progressive lenses are permitted under Restriction B as long as you wear them while driving.
How Texas vision standards work
Texas requires all drivers to have vision of at least 20/40 in each eye, or 20/40 in one eye and 20/60 in the other, to receive an unrestricted license. During your license exam, the Department of Public Safety tests your vision both with and without correction.
If you fail the uncorrected vision test but pass it while wearing glasses or contacts, the examiner will issue Restriction B. This means your corrected vision is safe for driving, but your natural vision is not. The restriction stays on your license until you either renew it or request a vision retest without correction.
Some people's vision improves over time through surgery or other means. If your uncorrected vision has improved since your last exam, you can visit any DPS office and ask for a vision retest to see whether the restriction can be removed.
What happens if you drive without your correction
Driving with Restriction B on your license but without wearing your required glasses or contacts is a traffic violation in Texas. A police officer who stops you can cite you for this violation, and you may face a fine. The violation also goes on your driving record.
Beyond the legal consequence, driving without correction when you need it puts you at real risk. You may not see a pedestrian stepping into the road, a stopped vehicle ahead, or a traffic signal until it is too late to react safely. The restriction exists because your uncorrected vision genuinely does not meet the standard for safe driving.
If you frequently forget your glasses, consider keeping a backup pair in your vehicle or switching to contact lenses for driving. Some drivers find contacts more convenient because they move with your eyes rather than sliding down your nose or fogging up.
Removing Restriction B from your license
You can request removal of Restriction B by visiting any Texas Department of Public Safety office and asking for a vision retest. The examiner will test your uncorrected vision using the same standard applied during your original exam. If you now meet the 20/40 standard without correction, the restriction will be removed.
There is no fee for a vision retest, and the process takes only a few minutes. You do not need an appointment at most DPS offices, though wait times vary by location and time of day. If you pass the retest, the restriction is removed when ready, and you can drive without correction.
If you do not pass the retest, the restriction remains on your current license. You can request another retest at any time if you believe your vision has changed, but there is no benefit to retesting more than once every few months unless you have had vision correction surgery or another significant change.
Restriction B and vision correction options
Glasses and contact lenses both satisfy Restriction B equally. You do not need to specify which type of correction you use on your license—the restriction straightforward requires that you wear some form of correction while driving.
If you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, they are permitted under Restriction B. However, some drivers find that the transition zones in these lenses can create blind spots when looking down or to the sides. If you experience this, ask your eye doctor about lens designs that minimize the transition zone, or consider using single-vision lenses for driving and keeping a separate pair for reading.
Contact lens wearers should keep a backup pair of glasses in the vehicle in case a lens tears or falls out while you are driving. If you cannot see well enough to drive safely without correction, you should pull over rather than continue driving with impaired vision.
Restriction B on your license renewal
When you renew your Texas driver's license, you will be required to take another vision test. If you still need correction to meet the vision standard, Restriction B will appear on your new license. The restriction does not expire—it remains on your license as long as you need correction to drive safely.
You can renew your license online, by mail, or in person at a DPS office, depending on your age and how long it has been since your last renewal. If you renew by mail or online, you will not take a new vision test, and your current restriction will carry over to your new license. If you renew in person, you will take a new vision test at that time.
Some drivers choose to renew in person specifically so they can request a vision retest without correction, hoping to have the restriction removed. This is a reasonable approach if you think your vision may have improved or if you have had corrective surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with Restriction B if I forget my glasses at home?
No. Driving with Restriction B on your license without wearing your required correction is a traffic violation. If you forget your glasses, you should not drive. Keep a backup pair in your vehicle or use contact lenses to reduce the chance of being without correction.
Does Restriction B affect my insurance rates?
Restriction B itself does not affect your insurance rates. However, if you receive a traffic ticket for driving without the required correction, that ticket may increase your rates. Insurance companies care about violations on your record, not about the restriction itself.
What if I have Restriction B but my vision has improved?
Visit a Texas Department of Public Safety office and ask for a vision retest without correction. If you now meet the state standard, the restriction will be removed when ready at no cost. You do not need an appointment or advance notice.
Can I get Restriction B removed by showing a doctor's note?
No. The only way to remove Restriction B is to pass the vision test without correction at a DPS office. A doctor's note about your vision will not remove the restriction—you must demonstrate that your uncorrected vision meets the state standard.
Does Restriction B appear on my license in a way other drivers can see?
Restriction B appears as a code on the back of your license. It is not visible on the front, so other people cannot easily see it. However, a police officer checking your license during a traffic stop will see the restriction and can cite you if you are not wearing correction.