Missouri License Restrictions
In some situations, the Department of Revenue may be forced to place a restriction onto your Missouri drivers license. Such restrictions usually specify limitations of your driving skills, due to either a health condition or lack of appropriate training. Teenagers should also be mindful of Missouri intermediate drivers license restrictions that are part of the state graduate license program.
Drivers License Restriction Codes
A full list of Missouri drivers license restriction codes is available in the official Missouri drivers license manual, so you are more than welcome to check it out there. Here are the restriction codes that we were able to gather so far:
- A - Corrective Lenses
- B - Outside Rearview Mirror
- C - Daylight Driving Only
- D - Auto Trans/Power Steering
- E - Seat Cushion
- F - Restricted to 45 MPH
- G - 25 Mile Radius
- H - Special Hand Devices
- I - Intermediate License
- J - Electrical Turn Signals
- K - Intrastate CDL Only
- L - Non-airbrake CDL
- M - Extension on Foot Device
- N - Leg Brace(s)
- O - Foot Operated Emergency Brake
- P - Accelerator on Steering Column
- R - Back Cushion
- S - School Bus
- T - Right Outside Mirror
- U - Uncoded Restriction
- W - 3-Wheel Motorcycle Only
- Y - Left Outside Mirror
- Z - More than 5 Restrictions
An uncoded restriction can be any restriction that is not presented in this list.
Most of these restrictions may apply either to you drivers license or your permit. A restriction is usually placed onto your license at the time when you take your Missouri permit test or license test and are issued with a driver license. Removing a restriction from your license usually requires you to prove that the condition that warranted the restriction no longer applies. For example, if you have a restriction that allows operation of vehicles equipped with automatic transmission only and you would like to have it removed, you will be required to take a Missouri driving test in a vehicle equipped with manual transmission.
Intermediate License Restrictions
Most states today have some form of a graduated drivers license system in place and Missouri is no exception. In order to reduce the number of teen drivers being injured on state roads every year, the DOR has enacted a number of additional restrictions and requirements that are known as the Missouri graduated driver license program. The graduated license program breaks the licensing procedure into a number of steps, as opposed to granting the applicant with full driving privileges right away. Every applicant starts by achieving a Missouri instruction permit and practicing driving under supervision of a licensed driver at least 21 years of age (if you are under 16 years of age at the time, the supervising driver must be your parent or legal guardian). If you follow all Missouri permit restrictions, in six months, you are allowed to take a driving test and are issued with an intermediate drivers license, which needs to be held for at least 12 months before graduating to the next level. The following intermediate drivers license restrictions must be observed in Missouri:
- Passenger restrictions. No more than three passengers under the age of 19 for the first six months. No more than three passengers under 19 years of age after the first six months. Immediate family members are excluded from the rule.
- Nighttime driving restriction. The curfew prohibits you from operating a vehicle between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless you are accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years of age or older.
These intermediate license restrictions need to be observed for at least 12 months before you can go ahead and upgrade to a full unrestricted Missouri driver's license. During this period, you may not have any alcohol-related offenses or traffic convictions.
