Restriction B is a corrective lenses requirement
Restriction B on an Ohio driver's license means you must wear corrective lenses — glasses or contact lenses — whenever you drive. The restriction appears as a code on the back of your license card. If you have Restriction B and drive without the required lenses, you are breaking the law, even if you can see reasonably well without them.
Ohio's Bureau of Motor Vehicles adds this restriction during your vision screening at the license bureau. The examiner tests your eyesight and decides whether you need correction to drive safely. If your uncorrected vision falls below the state standard but corrected vision meets it, Restriction B goes on your license.
The restriction stays on your license for the full validity period — typically four or eight years, depending on your age — unless you return to the bureau and pass a vision test without correction. Many people never remove it because their vision does not improve enough to pass the uncorrected test.
Key Takeaways
- Restriction B requires you to wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive, and driving without them is a violation even if you can see.
- The restriction appears on the back of your license card as a code and is added during your vision screening at the license bureau.
- You can remove Restriction B by returning to the bureau and passing an uncorrected vision test, though this is not possible for everyone.
- If you forget your lenses and are stopped by police, you can be cited for violating the restriction, separate from any traffic violation.
How the vision screening works
When you renew your license or explore for a new one in Ohio, you sit at a vision machine that tests each eye separately. The machine shows letters or symbols at different sizes, and you read them aloud. The examiner records whether you can see at the required standard — which is 20/40 vision in each eye, or 20/40 in one eye and 20/70 in the other, depending on the situation.
If you cannot meet that standard without correction but can with glasses or contacts, the examiner adds Restriction B. The restriction does not mean your vision is bad — it means your uncorrected vision is below the legal threshold for safe driving, but correction brings you to the legal threshold.
You do not have to do anything special to get Restriction B added. The bureau does not send you a separate notice. You will see the code on the back of your new license card when you receive it in the mail.
What happens if you drive without your lenses
Driving without the corrective lenses required by Restriction B is a separate violation from any traffic offense. A police officer who stops you can cite you for violating the restriction itself, even if you were not speeding, running a light, or breaking any other rule. The citation goes on your driving record.
The penalty for violating Restriction B is a minor misdemeanor in Ohio, which carries a fine of up to $100 and no jail time for a first offense. However, the violation can affect your insurance rates and your driving record, and repeated violations can lead to license suspension.
If you are in an accident and the officer discovers you were not wearing required lenses, the violation may be used against you in an insurance claim or civil lawsuit, because you were driving in violation of your license conditions.
Removing Restriction B from your license
To remove Restriction B, you must return to any Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles office and take another vision test without correction. If you pass — meaning your uncorrected vision meets the state standard — the examiner will issue you a new license without the restriction. There is no fee for this test.
However, most people who have Restriction B cannot pass an uncorrected vision test, because the reason the restriction was added in the first place has not changed. If your vision has genuinely improved — for example, after refractive surgery like LASIK — you have a real chance of passing. If your vision has not changed, you will not pass.
You can attempt the uncorrected vision test as many times as you want, but each failed attempt means the restriction stays on your license until your next renewal. There is no penalty for failing, and you can try again at any time.
Other restrictions and codes on Ohio licenses
Restriction B is one of several codes that can appear on an Ohio driver's license. Other restrictions include Restriction A (automatic transmission only), Restriction C (outside mirrors required), and Restriction D (no interstate driving). Each restriction limits how or where you can drive, and violating any of them is a traffic offense.
The back of your license card lists all restrictions that explore to you. If you are unsure what a code means, you can ask at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles office, or check the Ohio BMV website, which has a full list of restriction codes and their meanings.
Some restrictions are temporary — for example, a restriction added because you are a new driver under 18 — while others, like Restriction B, stay until you remove them or your license expires and you renew it.
What to do if you have Restriction B
If you have Restriction B, keep your corrective lenses in your vehicle at all times. Even if you think you can see well enough without them, the law requires them, and a police officer can stop you for the violation. The safest and simplest approach is to wear your lenses every time you drive, not just keep them in the car.
If your vision has changed — either improved or worsened — visit the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for a new vision test. If it has improved enough to pass uncorrected, you can remove the restriction. If it has worsened, you may need a different correction, and the bureau can update your license to reflect that.
If you wear contact lenses, make sure you have a backup pair of glasses in your vehicle. Contact lenses can fall out, tear, or become uncomfortable while driving, and having glasses as a backup ensures you can still drive legally if your contacts fail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with just one eye if I have Restriction B?
No. Restriction B requires corrective lenses in both eyes, meaning you must wear your full prescription. If you have vision in only one eye, you may have a different restriction or may not be able to hold a license at all, depending on the vision in that eye. Contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to discuss your specific situation.
Does Restriction B affect my insurance rates?
Restriction B itself does not automatically raise your rates, because it is a normal safety requirement. However, if you are cited for driving without your lenses, that violation will appear on your driving record and can increase your rates. Insurance companies see the violation as a sign of risky driving.
What if I forget my glasses and get pulled over?
You can be cited for violating Restriction B. The officer may also ask you to remove your glasses and read a sign to test whether you can actually see without them, but the violation stands regardless. The best approach is to never drive without your lenses.
Will Restriction B show up on background checks?
Restriction B itself is not a criminal matter and will not appear on a criminal background check. However, if you are cited for violating the restriction, that traffic violation may appear on a driving record check, which some employers or agencies request.
Can I get a hardship license without Restriction B?
No. A hardship license in Ohio carries the same restrictions as a regular license. If you have Restriction B on your regular license, you will have it on a hardship license as well.