Restriction B is a corrective lens requirement
Restriction B on your Ohio driver license means you must wear corrective lenses — glasses or contact lenses — every time you drive. The restriction appears on your license as a code, and law enforcement can cite you if you are caught driving without the lenses you are required to wear.
This restriction is issued during your vision screening at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). If you fail the vision test without correction but pass it with glasses or contacts, the examiner will place Restriction B on your license. You cannot remove it yourself; you must return to the BMV with proof that your vision now meets the standard without correction, or that you have been fitted with a different corrective device.
Restriction B is one of the most common restrictions issued in Ohio. It does not limit where you can drive or what type of vehicle you can operate — only that you must wear your correction while doing so.
Key Takeaways
- Restriction B requires you to wear glasses or contact lenses whenever you operate a vehicle, and driving without them is a violation.
- The restriction is placed on your license during the vision test at the BMV if you cannot read the eye chart without correction.
- You can remove Restriction B by returning to the BMV with a current eye exam showing your vision meets the standard, or by obtaining a different corrective device approved by your eye care provider.
- Restriction B does not prevent you from driving any type of vehicle or traveling to any location — it only requires you to wear your prescribed correction.
How Restriction B gets placed on your license
During your vision screening at the BMV, you will read an eye chart from a specific distance. The examiner is checking whether you can see well enough to drive safely. If you cannot read the required line without glasses or contacts, but you can read it with them, the examiner will add Restriction B to your license.
You do not have to bring your glasses or contacts to the BMV for the test — the examiner will ask you to remove them, test your uncorrected vision first, then allow you to put them back on and test again. If your corrected vision meets the standard and your uncorrected vision does not, Restriction B will appear on your license.
The restriction is printed on the front or back of your physical license card and is also recorded in the BMV database. Any officer who scans your license will see it when ready.
What happens if you drive without your correction
Driving with Restriction B on your license but without wearing your required glasses or contacts is a traffic violation in Ohio. An officer can pull you over and cite you for this violation, which is separate from any other traffic offense you might commit.
The violation is typically classified as a minor misdemeanor, which carries a fine. The exact penalty depends on whether it is your first offense and whether the violation contributed to an accident or other incident. A conviction can also affect your insurance rates and your driving record.
If you forget your glasses at home or they break while you are out, you should not drive. If you are already on the road and realize you do not have your correction, pull over safely and call for a ride or wait until you can retrieve your glasses.
How to remove Restriction B from your license
To remove Restriction B, you must return to the BMV with proof that your vision now meets the standard without correction. This proof comes from an eye care provider — an optometrist or ophthalmologist — in the form of a current eye exam.
Schedule an eye exam with your provider and ask them to test your uncorrected vision. If your vision now meets Ohio's standard (which is 20/40 or better in each eye, or 20/30 in one eye and 20/40 in the other), ask your provider to document this on your exam results or to write a letter stating that you no longer require correction for driving.
Bring your exam results or letter to the BMV along with your current license. The BMV will review the documentation and, if it meets their standard, will issue you a new license without Restriction B. There is no fee for this replacement if you are only removing a restriction.
If your vision has changed but you still need correction, you can also remove Restriction B by obtaining a different corrective device — such as progressive lenses or a new prescription — that allows you to meet the vision standard. Bring documentation from your eye care provider showing that your corrected vision now meets the requirement.
Restriction B and different types of Ohio licenses
Restriction B can appear on any class of Ohio driver license — commercial (CDL), non-commercial, motorcycle, or temporary. The restriction applies the same way regardless of license type: you must wear your correction while operating any vehicle for which your license is valid.
If you hold a commercial driver license and have Restriction B, you must wear your correction while driving a commercial vehicle. Some employers may have their own vision requirements that are stricter than Ohio's standard, so check with your employer or the company that hired you before assuming Restriction B will not affect your job.
If you are renewing your license and currently have Restriction B, you will be asked to take the vision test again during renewal. If your vision still requires correction, Restriction B will remain on your renewed license. If your vision has improved, you can provide current exam results at that time to have it removed.
Temporary vision correction and Restriction B
If you have just had eye surgery or are waiting for new glasses to arrive, you may be concerned about driving with Restriction B. The restriction does not distinguish between permanent and temporary correction — it straightforward requires that you wear whatever correction your eye care provider has prescribed.
If you are recovering from surgery and your vision is temporarily impaired, your eye care provider may recommend that you not drive at all until your vision stabilizes. Follow your provider's guidance rather than relying on Restriction B to permit you to drive with inadequate correction.
If you are waiting for new glasses, wear your current glasses or contacts until the new pair arrives. Once you have your new correction and your vision has adjusted to it, you can continue driving with Restriction B in place until you can return to the BMV to have it removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive at night with Restriction B?
Yes. Restriction B does not limit when you can drive — only that you must wear your correction while driving. If your eye care provider has recommended that you not drive at night due to your vision, follow that medical guidance, but Restriction B itself does not prohibit night driving.
Will Restriction B affect my car insurance rates?
Restriction B itself does not typically affect your rates, because it is a standard safety requirement. However, if you receive a citation for driving without your required correction, that violation will appear on your driving record and may increase your rates.
What if I lose my glasses while I'm driving?
Pull over safely as soon as possible. Do not continue driving without your correction if you have Restriction B. Call someone to pick you up, use a ride service, or wait until you can retrieve your glasses or contact lenses before driving again.
Do I need to tell the BMV if I get new glasses?
No. You only need to contact the BMV if your vision has improved enough that you no longer need correction, or if you want to have Restriction B removed. Getting a new prescription or new frames does not require you to update your license.
Can I get Restriction B removed online?
No. You must visit a BMV office in person with your current license and documentation from your eye care provider. You cannot remove restrictions by mail or through the BMV website.