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 Texas Department of Public Safety adds this restriction when your vision test shows you need correction to drive safely, but your corrected vision meets the legal standard.
This is one of the most common restrictions issued in Texas. It does not limit where you can drive, what vehicles you can operate, or the hours you can drive. It only requires that you have your corrective lenses with you and in use whenever you are behind the wheel.
If you drive without your glasses or contacts when Restriction B is on your license, you are driving in violation of that restriction. A police officer can cite you for this violation even if your vision would have been fine without the restriction, because the restriction itself is a condition of your license.
Key Takeaways
- Restriction B means you must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive, as determined by your vision test at the license office.
- This restriction appears on your license card and in the Texas Department of Public Safety database.
- Driving without your corrective lenses when Restriction B is on your license is a traffic violation, even if you feel you can see well enough.
- You can request a vision test to remove Restriction B if your uncorrected vision has improved, but you must meet the state standard without correction.
How Restriction B gets added to your license
When you take your vision test at a Texas Department of Public Safety office or an approved vision testing location, the examiner checks both your uncorrected vision and your corrected vision. If your uncorrected vision does not meet the legal standard but your corrected vision does, the examiner will add Restriction B to your license.
Texas requires that drivers have at least 20/40 vision in each eye, or 20/30 in one eye and 20/40 in the other, to drive without restriction. If you fall short of this without glasses or contacts but meet it with them, Restriction B is the result.
You will see the restriction printed on your physical license card. It will also appear in the Texas Department of Public Safety computer system, so any officer who runs your license will see it when ready.
What you need to do to comply
Compliance is straightforward: keep your corrective lenses with you and wear them while driving. This means glasses on your face or contact lenses in your eyes before you start the engine and for the entire time you are operating the vehicle.
If you wear contact lenses, keep a backup pair of glasses in your vehicle. Contact lenses can tear, fall out, or cause discomfort, and you need a way to drive safely if that happens. Carrying glasses takes up almost no space and protects you from being stranded or forced to drive without correction.
If you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, make sure your prescription is current. An outdated prescription can affect your ability to see the road clearly, and an officer could argue that you are not truly complying with the restriction if your vision is compromised by an old prescription.
How to remove Restriction B from your license
You can request a new vision test at any Texas Department of Public Safety office. If your uncorrected vision has improved and now meets the legal standard without correction, the examiner will remove Restriction B from your license.
Bring your current license and be prepared to pay the vision test fee, which varies by location but is typically a small amount. The examiner will test both eyes without correction. If you pass, they will issue you a new license without the restriction, usually on the spot or within a few days depending on the office.
If your vision has not improved enough to meet the standard without correction, Restriction B will remain. You can test again later if you believe your vision has changed, but repeated failed tests will not remove the restriction.
Penalties for driving without your corrective lenses
Driving without your glasses or contacts when Restriction B is on your license is a traffic violation in Texas. An officer can pull you over and cite you for violating the restriction, separate from any other traffic offense.
The violation is typically treated as a minor traffic offense, but it still goes on your driving record and can result in a fine. If you are stopped multiple times for this violation, it can affect your insurance rates and your driving history. In some cases, repeated violations can lead to license suspension.
The safest approach is to treat Restriction B as a non-negotiable part of driving. The restriction exists because your vision test showed you need correction to drive safely, and wearing your lenses protects both you and others on the road.
Restriction B versus other vision-related restrictions
Texas uses other vision restrictions in specific situations. Restriction C limits you to daytime driving only, usually issued when your vision is adequate during the day but not at night. Restriction D restricts you to driving within a certain distance of your home, typically issued when vision or medical conditions make long-distance driving unsafe.
Restriction B is purely about corrective lenses and does not carry any of these additional limits. You can drive at night, on highways, and anywhere else your license normally allows — you just have to wear your glasses or contacts.
If you have multiple restrictions, each one applies independently. For example, if you have both Restriction B and Restriction C, you must wear your corrective lenses and you can only drive during daylight hours.
What to do if you disagree with the vision test result
If you believe the vision test was inaccurate or that your vision has changed since your last test, you can request another test at a different Texas Department of Public Safety office. Different examiners may conduct the test slightly differently, though the standards are the same statewide.
You can also have your vision tested by your own eye doctor and bring those results to the Department of Public Safety. If your eye doctor's test shows that your uncorrected vision meets the legal standard, the Department of Public Safety may remove the restriction based on that documentation. Bring a letter from your eye doctor stating your uncorrected vision measurement.
Keep in mind that the Department of Public Safety uses specific testing equipment and procedures, so results from a private eye doctor's office may not automatically override their test. However, it is worth presenting the information and asking whether it changes their assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with Restriction B if I forget my glasses at home?
No. Driving without your corrective lenses when Restriction B is on your license is a violation, even if you only forgot them. If you are stopped, you can be cited. The safest practice is to make wearing your lenses part of your routine before you get in the car, the same way you would check that you have your license.
Does Restriction B mean I can only drive certain types of vehicles?
No. Restriction B does not limit the type of vehicle you can drive. You can operate any vehicle your license class allows — cars, trucks, motorcycles (if your license permits) — as long as you are wearing your corrective lenses. Other restrictions, like Restriction D, do limit where or how far you can drive.
What if I wear contact lenses and one falls out while I'm driving?
Pull over safely as soon as possible. You should not continue driving with only one contact lens or without correction if Restriction B is on your license. This is why keeping a backup pair of glasses in your vehicle is important — you can put them on and continue driving legally and safely.
Will Restriction B affect my car insurance rates?
Restriction B itself does not typically affect your insurance rates, because it is a standard safety measure. However, if you are cited for driving without your corrective lenses, that violation will appear on your driving record and could increase your rates. The best way to avoid this is to always wear your lenses when driving.
Can I get a commercial driver's license with Restriction B?
Yes, you can hold a commercial driver's license with Restriction B. You must still wear your corrective lenses while operating a commercial vehicle. Some commercial driving jobs may have additional vision requirements beyond the state minimum, so check with your employer or the company hiring you about their specific standards.