On a Texas driver’s license, “REST” is short for “restriction.” It marks conditions the Texas Department of Public Safety has placed on your driving privileges based on things like your vision, a medical condition, your age, or the type of vehicle you tested in.1State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.221 – Imposition of Special Restrictions and Endorsements Each restriction appears as a letter code, and driving outside what the code allows is a criminal offense, not a routine traffic matter.
Where the Code Appears on Your License
Look at the front of the card for a field labeled “REST” or “RESTRICTIONS.” Your codes appear there as single letters: A, B, G, and so on. Some codes carry an expiration date printed next to them. Restriction G, for example, shows the date it stops applying. The back of some Texas licenses includes a short legend for the most common codes, but it does not cover every possibility.
What Each Common Restriction Code Means
These are the codes most drivers on a standard Class C license will see.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Endorsements and Restrictions
- A — Corrective lenses. You must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive.
- B — Supervised driving. A licensed driver aged 21 or older has to be in the front passenger seat whenever you’re behind the wheel. This is the standard condition on learner permits and provisional licenses.
- C — Daytime driving only. You can only drive during daylight hours. It’s typically imposed when a vision condition makes night driving unsafe.
- D — Speed limit of 45 mph. You cannot exceed 45 miles per hour, regardless of the posted limit on the road.
- F — Valid learner license required. Your license is valid only while you hold a current learner permit, through the date shown.
- G — Minor driver rules. This applies to drivers under 18 and bundles several rules together: no driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless you’re going to work, a school activity, or a medical emergency; no more than one passenger under 21 who isn’t a family member; and no use of wireless communication devices while driving. The rules come from the Transportation Code and expire on the date printed with the code.3State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 545.424 – Operation of Vehicle by Person Under 18 Years of Age
Beyond these, Texas uses dozens of less-common restriction codes for things like motorcycle engine size limits, moped operation, hearing aids or outside mirrors, prosthetic devices, power steering requirements, and ignition interlock devices (often tied to a DWI history). If your license shows a letter not listed above, the DPS office that issued it can tell you what it means.
CDL Restriction Codes
Commercial driver’s license holders see a different set of codes, tied to what equipment they tested in.
- E — No manual transmission CMV. You tested in an automatic and cannot operate a commercial vehicle with a manual transmission.
- L — No air brake CMV. You either didn’t pass the air brake knowledge test or didn’t test in a vehicle with full air brakes.
- M — No Class A passenger vehicle. You earned your passenger endorsement in a Class B vehicle, so you’re limited to Class B and C passenger vehicles.
- N — No Class A and B passenger vehicle. You earned your passenger endorsement in a Class C vehicle and are limited to Class C passenger vehicles.
- T — Automatic transmission. Similar in effect to Restriction E; this one can also appear on non-CDL licenses.
To clear a CDL restriction, you generally have to retake the relevant portion of the skills test in a vehicle equipped with the feature you were previously restricted from using.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Endorsements and Restrictions
What Happens If You Drive Outside Your Restriction
Operating a vehicle in violation of any license restriction is a misdemeanor under Texas law, punishable by a fine of up to $200.4State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.461 – General Violation The fine itself is modest. The downstream costs often aren’t.
The conviction goes on your driving record. Texas repealed the Driver Responsibility Program and its surcharge in 2019, so you won’t accumulate points, but insurers still see the violation when they pull your record and may raise your premium at renewal.5Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver Responsibility Program Surcharge Repeal FAQs Repeated violations can also prompt DPS to suspend or revoke your license.
If you’re in an accident while driving outside your restriction, your insurer may argue you breached the terms of your policy by driving without legal authorization. That dispute can delay or reduce a claim payout when you most need coverage.
How to Get a Restriction Removed
The route to removal depends on why the restriction was placed in the first place.
Vision Restrictions
If you have Restriction A and your vision has improved, through LASIK surgery for instance, you can take a new vision screening at any DPS driver’s license office. Pass without corrective lenses and DPS will remove the restriction. The replacement license costs $11.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
Medical Restrictions
Restrictions tied to a medical condition take longer. DPS may ask you to submit a Medical Information Request (form DL-177), filled out by your physician, describing your condition and your ability to drive safely.7Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS Internet Forms – Medical Information Request Cases needing further review go to the state’s Medical Advisory Board, which makes a recommendation back to DPS; DPS then makes the final licensing decision.8Texas DSHS. Medical Advisory Board Submit your medical paperwork well before any renewal deadline.
Learner and Provisional Restrictions
Restriction B comes off when you pass the driving skills test and graduate from a learner permit to a provisional license.9Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Provisional License as a Teen Restriction G, the under-18 rules, usually stays in place until you turn 18.
Any restriction change requires an in-person visit to a DPS driver’s license office, and the replacement license costs $11.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees