New Jersey Drivers License Restrictions

In certain cases, the Motor Vehicle Commission may decide to place a restriction onto your New Jersey drivers license. License restrictions specify under which conditions the licensee is required to operate a vehicle and if these conditions are not met, the licensee should withhold from driving. You may find a license of New Jersey driver's license restriction codes in the drivers handbook or contract the MVC for assistance. Those who just received their first drivers license should be aware of New Jersey probationary license restrictions that must be observed for at least one year from the date of license issuance.

Drivers License Restriction Codes

Keep in mind that the list of New Jersey license restriction codes that is provided below is not full and you may have to contact the MVC if you do not find a certain code here:

1- Corrective lenses required
2- Prosthetic device
3- Mechanical device
4- Hearing impaired
5- Attached restrictions (This category applies to special modifications to an applicant’s vehicle or limited driver privileges for a medical condition. The card detailing the attached restrictions must remain with the driver license.

Probationary License Restrictions

Probationary drivers license restrictions are part of New Jersey's graduated drivers license program and apply to all first time licensees. The following probationary license restrictions must be observed for at least one year after passing the New Jersey drivers test:

Curfew. No driving between 11:01 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Passenger restrictions. Passengers are limited to dependents of the probationary license holder and one additional person, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Seat belts. Safety belts must be worn by everyone in the vehicle.
Cell phones. Cell phone usage, even with a hands-free device, is prohibited.

Licensees 21 years of age and older do not need to observe passenger restrictions and the curfew.

In addition to restrictions listed above, all probationary drivers license holders under the age of 21 years must display a GDL decal on the vehicle's license plate while driving. You may obtain these decals at your local MVC office.

All probationary license restrictions once the licensee is at least 18 years of age and have held a probationary license for at least one year. At this point, a regular New Jersey drivers license is issued.

Graduated License Restrictions

Operating under a probationary drivers license is the final step of the graduated license program and there are intermediate steps that you have to take before you even get to this point. When you are operating under a New Jersey special learner permit, you have to observe the following permit restrictions:

Supervised driving only. Whenever you operate a vehicle, you must have a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age, has at least 4 years of driving experience and holds a current New Jersey driver license seated next to you.
Curfew. No driving between 11:01 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Safety belts. Seat belts must be worrn by everyone in the vehicle.
Passenger restrictions. Only parents, guardians or dependents are allowed as passengers and only one passenger is allowed if the supervising driver is not a parent.
A decal must be placed on the vehicle license plates
No cell phones. You can't use a cell phone or any other electronic device while driving a vehicle.

If you hold an examination permit, please make sure to check out New Jersey examination permit restrictions, they are different from the ones listed above.

Of course, everything listed above applies only to those who already passed a New Jersey permit test and received a learners permit of some kind. If you are just looking to take the test, make sure to check our New Jersey drivers practice tests that can help you learn the state driving rules and pass the permit test in no time.