Restriction A is a corrective lenses requirement
Restriction A means you must wear corrective lenses — glasses or contact lenses — every time you drive. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles places this restriction on your license if your vision does not meet the standard without correction, but meets it with correction in place.
When you take your vision screening at the BMV, the examiner tests your uncorrected vision first. If you fail that test but pass when wearing glasses or contacts, the examiner will note Restriction A on your license. It is not a mark against you — it straightforward tells law enforcement and insurance companies that you have a vision requirement.
Driving without your corrective lenses while Restriction A is on your license is a traffic violation in Ohio. You can be cited and fined, and the violation can affect your insurance rates and driving record.
Key Takeaways
- Restriction A means you must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive, as determined by your vision test at the BMV.
- The restriction appears on your license if your uncorrected vision fails the standard but corrected vision passes.
- Driving without your corrective lenses when Restriction A is on your license is a traffic violation with fines and potential insurance consequences.
- You can request removal of Restriction A by passing a vision test without correction, or by having an eye doctor document that your uncorrected vision now meets the standard.
How the vision test determines Restriction A
During your license exam or renewal, the BMV vision screener tests both your uncorrected and corrected vision. The standard in Ohio is 20/40 vision in each eye, or 20/30 in one eye and 20/40 in the other. If your uncorrected vision falls short of this standard but your corrected vision meets it, Restriction A is added to your license.
The screener will ask you to read the eye chart without glasses first. If you cannot see well enough, they will then test you with your current glasses or contacts. If that brings you to the passing standard, Restriction A goes on your license. You will see it printed on the front or back of your license card, usually listed under "Restrictions" or "Conditions."
What happens if you drive without your corrective lenses
Driving without your glasses or contacts when Restriction A is on your license is a minor misdemeanor in Ohio. A police officer who stops you can cite you for violating the restriction. The fine is typically between $100 and $150, though the exact amount depends on the court and whether you have prior violations.
Beyond the fine, a violation can raise your insurance premiums and add points to your driving record. Some insurers may even deny a claim if you were driving in violation of a license restriction at the time of an accident. If you are cited multiple times for the same violation, penalties increase.
Removing Restriction A from your license
You can have Restriction A removed by passing a vision test without correction. This means visiting the BMV, taking the vision screening again, and demonstrating that your uncorrected vision now meets Ohio's standard of 20/40 in each eye (or 20/30 in one eye and 20/40 in the other).
If your vision has improved naturally or through surgery such as LASIK or PRK, you may be able to pass the uncorrected test. You can also bring documentation from an eye doctor stating that your uncorrected vision meets the standard. The BMV will accept this letter in place of a new screening in some cases — call your local BMV to confirm their policy before your visit.
There is no fee to request a vision retest or to have the restriction removed once you pass. You straightforward need to visit a BMV location during business hours.
Restriction A versus other Ohio license restrictions
Ohio uses several letter codes for different restrictions. Restriction A is the most common and refers only to corrective lenses. Other restrictions include Restriction B (automatic transmission only), Restriction C (daylight driving only), and Restriction D (no interstate driving). A single license can have multiple restrictions if you have multiple conditions.
Restriction A is also different from a suspension or revocation. A restriction allows you to drive under certain conditions; a suspension or revocation removes your driving privilege entirely. If you have Restriction A, you can drive freely as long as you are wearing your corrective lenses.
Renewal and Restriction A
When you renew your Ohio driver's license, you will take another vision test. If your uncorrected vision still does not meet the standard but your corrected vision does, Restriction A will remain on your new license. If your vision has improved, you may be able to remove it at that time.
You do not need to do anything special to keep Restriction A on your license during renewal — it carries forward automatically unless you pass a new vision test without correction. If you are renewing online or by mail, you will not take a vision test, so the restriction will stay as is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive at night with Restriction A?
Yes. Restriction A only requires corrective lenses; it does not limit when you can drive. As long as you are wearing your glasses or contacts, you can drive at any time of day or night. If you also have Restriction C (daylight driving only), that is a separate restriction that would limit your hours.
What if I forget my glasses and get pulled over?
You can be cited for violating Restriction A. The officer may ask you to remove your glasses to confirm the restriction is real, or they may straightforward cite you based on the license notation. Either way, the violation is a minor misdemeanor with a fine. It is best to always carry your corrective lenses when driving.
Does Restriction A affect my insurance?
Restriction A itself does not automatically raise your rates, but violating it can. If you are cited for driving without your corrective lenses, the violation goes on your driving record and insurers may increase your premium. Some insurers ask about license restrictions during the quote process.
Can I get Restriction A removed before my license expires?
Yes. You can visit any BMV location and request a vision retest at any time, not just at renewal. If you pass the uncorrected vision test, the restriction can be removed when ready, and you may receive an updated license card or a corrected notation in the system depending on your BMV's process.
What if I wear contacts instead of glasses?
Contacts count as corrective lenses for Restriction A. You must wear them every time you drive, just as you would with glasses. The restriction does not specify which type of correction you use — only that you use some form of vision correction.