Restriction B is a corrective lenses requirement printed on your Florida driver's license
If your license shows Restriction B, it means you must wear corrective lenses — glasses or contact lenses — whenever you drive. The restriction appears as a code on the front or back of your card, and law enforcement can cite you for driving without the required correction even if your vision would otherwise be legal.
Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) adds this restriction during your vision screening at the license office. The restriction stays on your license until you pass a new vision test without it, or until your license expires and you renew it with updated vision results.
The restriction is not a penalty — it is a safety measure based on your measured vision at the time of testing. Understanding what it means and how to change it can prevent traffic stops and help you understand your driving requirements.
Key Takeaways
- Restriction B requires you to wear glasses or contacts while driving, and you can be cited for not wearing them even if you are not in an accident.
- The restriction is added during your vision screening at the DHSMV office and appears as a code on your license card.
- You can remove the restriction by passing a new vision test at any DHSMV office without wearing correction, or by renewing your license with updated vision results.
- If you have had vision correction surgery or your eyesight has improved, you may now pass the test without glasses or contacts.
- Driving with Restriction B in place but without wearing your corrective lenses is a traffic violation in Florida.
How the vision test determines if Restriction B is added
When you explore for or renew a Florida driver's license, a DHSMV employee administers a vision screening. You read letters or numbers on a chart from a set distance, usually 20 feet. If you cannot read the required line clearly without correction, the examiner notes that you need glasses or contacts to meet the legal vision standard.
Florida's legal vision standard for driving is 20/40 in each eye, with or without correction. If you cannot reach 20/40 without correction but can with it, Restriction B is added to your license. The restriction applies even if you only need correction in one eye.
You can request a retest at the same visit if you believe the result was wrong, though the examiner will use the same chart and procedure. If you want to challenge the result, you must return on a different day with your glasses or contacts and ask for another screening.
What happens if you drive without wearing your corrective lenses
Driving with Restriction B on your license but without wearing glasses or contacts is a traffic violation. An officer who stops you can cite you for violating the restriction, which is typically charged as a non-criminal traffic infraction. The citation can result in a fine, points on your driving record, and increased insurance rates.
The violation does not require an accident or unsafe driving — the officer only needs to confirm that your license shows the restriction and that you were not wearing correction. If you are involved in an accident while driving without the required correction, the violation can be used as evidence of negligence in a civil claim or as an aggravating factor in a criminal case.
If you forget your glasses occasionally, keeping a spare pair in your vehicle reduces the risk. If you regularly have trouble remembering, consider switching to contact lenses, which you cannot forget once they are in.
How to remove Restriction B from your license
The most straightforward way to remove Restriction B is to pass a new vision test without wearing correction. Visit any DHSMV office, tell the employee you want to retest your vision, and take the screening without glasses or contacts. If you pass, the restriction is removed when ready, and you receive an updated license.
You can also remove the restriction when you renew your license. If your vision has improved — for example, after corrective surgery or a change in your prescription — you may pass the renewal vision test without correction. The new license will not include Restriction B.
There is no fee to retest your vision at a DHSMV office. You do not need an appointment for a vision retest, though wait times vary by location. Some offices are less busy early in the morning or on weekday afternoons.
Vision correction surgery and Restriction B
If you have had LASIK, PRK, or another refractive surgery to correct your vision, you may now be able to pass the vision test without glasses or contacts. After your surgery heals — typically four to six weeks, though your surgeon will give you a specific timeline — you can visit a DHSMV office and request a vision retest.
Bring any documentation from your surgeon confirming the procedure and the expected outcome. The DHSMV employee will not require it, but having it on hand can help explain why you are retesting. If you pass the retest, Restriction B is removed on the spot.
If your vision has not yet stabilized after surgery, you may not pass the test when ready. Wait until your surgeon confirms that your vision is stable before retesting, as a failed retest will not remove the restriction and you will have to wait before trying again.
Restriction B versus other vision-related restrictions
Florida uses several vision-related restriction codes on driver's licenses. Restriction B specifically means corrective lenses are required. Other restrictions include Restriction C (outside mirrors required), Restriction D (automatic transmission required), and Restriction E (no interstate driving), though these are less common and address different driving limitations.
If your license shows multiple restrictions, each one is a separate requirement. For example, if you have both Restriction B and Restriction C, you must wear corrective lenses and have functioning outside mirrors. Removing one restriction does not affect the others.
You can check your license restrictions by looking at the front or back of your card — the restriction codes are usually printed in small text. If you are unsure what a code means, the DHSMV website lists all restriction codes, or you can ask an employee at any DHSMV office.
What to do if you disagree with the vision test result
If you believe the vision test was administered incorrectly or that you should have passed without correction, you can request a retest. Return to a DHSMV office on a different day, bring your glasses or contacts if you want to wear them, and ask for another vision screening. The examiner will use the same chart and procedure.
If you fail the retest and still disagree with the result, you can have your vision tested by an optometrist or ophthalmologist and bring the results to the DHSMV. Some offices will accept an outside vision test if it is recent and shows that you meet the legal standard without correction. Call your local DHSMV office before visiting to ask whether they accept outside test results.
If the DHSMV refuses to remove the restriction based on an outside test, you can file a complaint with the DHSMV or request a hearing through the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings. These options are rarely needed, but they exist if you believe the restriction was added in error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with Restriction B if I wear my glasses?
Yes. Restriction B only prohibits driving without correction. As long as you are wearing your glasses or contacts, you are complying with the restriction and can drive legally. The restriction is not a limit on when or where you can drive — only on whether you must wear correction while doing so.
Do I have to tell a police officer about Restriction B if I am pulled over?
You do not have to volunteer the information, but the officer will see it on your license when they check it. If you are wearing your correction, there is no violation. If you are not, the officer can cite you for violating the restriction.
What if I lost my glasses and need to drive?
Driving without the required correction is a violation, even in an emergency. If you have lost your glasses, consider asking someone else to drive, using a rideshare service, or waiting until you can replace them. If you must drive, the risk of a citation and a traffic violation is real.
Does Restriction B affect my insurance rates?
The restriction itself does not affect your rates. However, if you are cited for driving without the required correction, the traffic violation will appear on your driving record and can increase your insurance costs. Wearing your correction prevents the violation and protects your record.
How long does it take to get a new license after removing Restriction B?
If you pass the vision retest at a DHSMV office, you can receive an updated license on the same day or within a few days, depending on the office's processing time. Ask the employee for the expected timeline when you retest. You can drive legally with Restriction B until the new license arrives.