Restriction B is a corrective lens requirement that appears on your Indiana driver's license
Restriction B means you must wear corrective lenses — glasses or contact lenses — whenever you drive. The restriction appears on your license as a condition of your driving privilege, and driving without the required correction is a violation of your license terms, even if you can see reasonably well without them on a particular day.
Indiana imposes this restriction during the license exam if your vision meets the legal minimum to drive (typically 20/40 in each eye with correction), but you cannot meet that standard without correction. The restriction protects you and other drivers by ensuring you maintain the visual acuity the state determined was necessary for safe operation.
The restriction stays on your license until you request removal through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), which requires a vision test showing you now meet the standard without correction — or that your corrected vision remains adequate and your eye care provider confirms the correction is no longer medically necessary.
Key Takeaways
- Restriction B requires you to wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive, and violating this condition can result in a traffic citation.
- The restriction is placed on your license if you pass the vision test only with correction, not without it.
- You can request removal by visiting the BMV with proof from an eye care provider that you no longer need correction or that your corrected vision is adequate.
- Driving with Restriction B in effect but without your corrective lenses is treated as a separate violation from driving without a valid license.
How the restriction appears on your physical license
On your Indiana driver's license card, Restriction B appears in the "Restrictions" field, usually printed as a code or short text. It is visible to law enforcement during a traffic stop, and an officer can cite you for violating the restriction if you are stopped and cannot produce the required glasses or contacts.
The restriction does not prevent you from driving or make your license invalid — it straightforward adds a condition. Your license remains legal to use as long as you follow the restriction. If you forget your glasses at home and are stopped, you have violated the restriction, which is a separate infraction from an expired or suspended license.
Why Indiana places Restriction B on some licenses
The BMV uses Restriction B to balance public safety with driver access. Your eyes may not meet the state's uncorrected vision standard, but with glasses or contacts, they do. Rather than deny you a license entirely, the state allows you to drive under the condition that you use the correction that brought your vision into the safe range during testing.
This approach recognizes that corrective lenses are reliable, affordable, and widely available. If you wear the correction consistently, your vision during driving is as safe as someone who passes the test without correction. The restriction straightforward makes that requirement official and enforceable.
Steps to remove Restriction B from your license
To remove Restriction B, you must visit an Indiana BMV branch with documentation from an eye care provider — an optometrist or ophthalmologist. The provider must confirm either that your uncorrected vision now meets the state standard (20/40 in each eye), or that your corrected vision remains adequate and correction is no longer medically necessary.
Bring your current driver's license, the eye care provider's statement, and proof of identity. The BMV will conduct a vision screening at the branch. If your vision meets the standard without correction, or if the provider's statement supports removal, the restriction will be removed and a new license issued. There is a fee for the replacement license, which varies but is typically under $30.
If your vision still requires correction, the restriction remains. You cannot remove it by straightforward requesting it — the BMV requires objective evidence from a licensed eye care provider that the restriction is no longer necessary.
What happens if you drive without your corrective lenses
Driving with Restriction B in effect but without your glasses or contacts is a traffic violation. An officer who stops you can issue a citation for violating a license restriction. The violation is separate from any other traffic offense and carries its own penalty, which typically includes a fine and may include court costs.
The violation does not automatically suspend your license, but it creates a record. Multiple violations for the same restriction can lead to license suspension or other enforcement action. Additionally, if you are involved in an accident and it is discovered that you were driving without the required correction, your insurance company may deny a claim or use the violation against you in settlement negotiations.
Restriction B versus other vision-related restrictions
Indiana uses several vision-related restrictions, each with a different meaning. Restriction B specifically means corrective lenses are required. Other restrictions may limit your driving to daylight hours only, restrict highway driving, or require special mirrors or other vehicle modifications. These restrictions address different vision or medical conditions and carry different requirements.
If your license shows multiple restrictions, each one is a separate condition you must follow. For example, if you have both Restriction B and a daylight-only restriction, you must wear your corrective lenses and you cannot drive at night. Violating any restriction is a separate infraction.
How to prepare for your vision test at the BMV
When you renew your license or take a vision test at the BMV, wear the corrective lenses you actually use while driving. If you wear glasses, bring them. If you wear contacts, wear them. The BMV tests your vision with the correction you will use on the road, and the restriction is based on that result.
If your prescription has changed since your last test, consider visiting an eye care provider before your BMV appointment. A current prescription ensures your vision is tested accurately and may prevent an unnecessary restriction from being placed on your new license. If you already have Restriction B and your prescription has improved, an updated prescription from your provider is the first step toward removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive without my glasses if I have Restriction B?
No. Driving without your corrective lenses when Restriction B is on your license is a violation. You must wear your glasses or contacts every time you drive, or you risk a citation and fine.
How long does Restriction B stay on my license?
Restriction B remains until you request removal through the BMV with proof from an eye care provider that you no longer need correction or that your corrected vision is adequate. There is no automatic expiration date. It stays on your license through renewals until you take action to remove it.
What if I lost my glasses and need to drive?
If you have Restriction B, you should not drive without your corrective lenses. If your glasses are lost or broken, visit an eye care provider or optical shop for a replacement or temporary solution before driving. Driving without the required correction is a violation, even in an emergency.
Does Restriction B affect my insurance rates?
The restriction itself does not automatically raise your rates, but a citation for violating it will. Insurance companies consider traffic violations when calculating premiums, so driving without your required correction and receiving a citation can increase your costs.
Can I get Restriction B removed at the eye doctor's office?
No. You must visit the BMV in person with documentation from your eye care provider. The BMV conducts its own vision screening and makes the final decision about removal. Your eye doctor can provide the statement you need, but the BMV handles the actual removal process.