Restriction A limits you to wearing corrective lenses while driving
Restriction A on an Ohio driver license means you must wear eyeglasses or contact lenses every time you drive. The restriction appears on your license as a condition of your driving privilege, and driving without the corrective lenses you were required to wear is a violation — even if you can see reasonably well without them on that particular day.
This restriction is issued when the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles determines that your vision meets the minimum standard to drive, but only with correction. The restriction protects you and other drivers by ensuring you have the visual clarity needed to spot hazards, read signs, and judge distances accurately.
Restriction A is one of the most common restrictions on Ohio licenses. It does not prevent you from driving or limit where you can drive — it only specifies that you must correct your vision while doing so.
Key Takeaways
- Restriction A requires you to wear corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) every time you operate a vehicle.
- Driving without the required correction is a traffic violation and can result in a ticket.
- The restriction is placed on your license during the vision screening at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
- You can request removal of Restriction A by passing a vision test without correction, though this is uncommon.
- Restriction A does not limit the type of vehicle you can drive or the roads you can use.
How Restriction A appears on your license
When you look at your Ohio driver license, Restriction A will be listed in a section labeled "Restrictions" or "Conditions." It may appear as straightforward "A" or as "Corrective Lenses" depending on your license format. The restriction is printed on both the front and back of your physical license card.
If you received your license recently or renewed it, the restriction was added based on your performance during the vision screening at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. You do not need to do anything to set up the restriction — it is automatically placed if your vision test results show you need correction.
What happens if you drive without your corrective lenses
Driving without the corrective lenses required by Restriction A is a traffic violation in Ohio. If a police officer stops you and discovers you were driving without your glasses or contacts, you can receive a citation. The violation is separate from any other traffic offense and appears on your driving record.
The penalty for violating Restriction A typically includes a fine. The amount varies depending on the court and whether you have prior violations. A violation can also affect your insurance rates and may be considered by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles if you are ever involved in an accident or face a license suspension hearing.
Enforcement depends on whether an officer observes you driving or whether the violation comes to light during an accident investigation or traffic stop for another reason. Many people with Restriction A never encounter enforcement because they consistently wear their correction, but the violation remains possible at any time you drive.
Requesting removal of Restriction A
You can request that Restriction A be removed from your license by visiting a Bureau of Motor Vehicles office and taking a vision screening without your corrective lenses. If you pass the vision test without correction — meaning your uncorrected vision meets Ohio's minimum standard of 20/40 in each eye — the restriction can be removed.
Most people with Restriction A will not pass an uncorrected vision test, since the restriction was placed precisely because uncorrected vision did not meet the standard. However, vision can change over time, and some people find their uncorrected vision has improved enough to pass. There is no fee to request the vision screening, and you can attempt it at any time.
If you do not pass the uncorrected vision test, the restriction remains on your license. You will need to continue wearing your corrective lenses while driving.
Restriction A versus other common Ohio license restrictions
Ohio uses a letter system for license restrictions, and several others appear frequently. Restriction B requires automatic transmission only — it is placed on drivers who have a physical limitation that prevents them from safely operating a manual transmission. Restriction D limits you to daylight driving only, usually for drivers with significant vision limitations or certain medical conditions.
Restriction E requires you to wear a hearing aid if you are deaf or hard of hearing. Restriction F limits you to vehicles with hand controls for drivers with lower-body mobility issues. Unlike Restriction A, which is purely about vision correction, these other restrictions address different types of physical or sensory limitations.
A single license can have multiple restrictions. For example, you might have both Restriction A (corrective lenses) and Restriction D (daylight driving only) if your vision is limited even with correction. Each restriction is independent and must be followed.
Keeping your corrective lenses current
Because Restriction A requires you to wear corrective lenses while driving, it is important to keep your prescription current. If your vision has changed and your glasses or contacts no longer correct your vision properly, you are not truly meeting the requirement of the restriction — you are wearing lenses that do not provide adequate correction.
Visit an eye care professional (optometrist or ophthalmologist) if you notice that your current lenses no longer seem to correct your vision as well as they used to. A new prescription ensures that you are meeting the intent of Restriction A, which is to maintain safe vision while driving.
If you wear contact lenses, keep backup glasses available in case you cannot wear your contacts on a particular day. Driving with only one contact lens or with a damaged lens does not meet the requirement either. Having a backup pair ensures you can always drive safely and legally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with just one corrective lens if I only need one eye corrected?
No. Restriction A requires you to wear the corrective lenses prescribed to you — the full prescription in both eyes, even if only one eye needs correction. Driving with an incomplete or partial correction does not meet the requirement and could result in a violation.
Does Restriction A mean I cannot drive at night?
Restriction A alone does not restrict nighttime driving. However, if your eye care professional or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles determines that your vision is too limited even with correction for safe nighttime driving, you may receive Restriction D (daylight driving only) in addition to Restriction A. Check your license to see if you have both restrictions.
What if I lose my glasses while I am out and need to drive home?
You should not drive without your required corrective lenses, even to get home. Call a friend or family member for a ride, use a taxi or rideshare service, or wait until you can obtain your backup glasses or replacement lenses. Driving without the correction required by Restriction A is a violation regardless of the reason.
Will Restriction A affect my car insurance rates?
Restriction A itself does not typically increase insurance rates — it is a standard restriction that many drivers have. However, if you receive a ticket for driving without your required correction, that violation will appear on your driving record and may affect your rates. Insurance companies review your driving record, not your license restrictions.
Can I get a commercial driver license with Restriction A?
Commercial driver licenses have their own vision standards and restrictions. You would need to meet the vision requirements for a commercial license, which may be stricter than those for a regular license. Contact the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles for specific information about commercial license vision requirements and whether Restriction A would explore.