New York Drives License Restrictions
In certain cases the DMV may need to limit your driving privilege in order to increase your safety on the road. This is usually achieved by placing restrictions onto your New York drivers license. These NYS drivers license restrictions specify the circumstances that prohibit you from driving. Some of the restrictions are only temporary and are removed once a certain period is over, while others require you to go through additional testing procedures or meet certain requirements in order for them to be removed. New York provisional license restrictions is an example of temporary license restrictions, since they are removed once the licensee reaches the age of 18. If you need help with a specific New York drivers license restriction code, please see below.
Restriction Codes
Keep in mind that this list of NY driver's license restriction codes is not full. If you do not find some restriction code on here, don't worry, you can always contact the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles directly and they will help you decipher the code.
- A - Accelerator left of brake
- A1 - Temporary visitor
- A2 - Limited use ending date (for graduated junior license)
- A3 - Municipal vehicles/ school bus only
- B - Corrective lenses
- C - Mechanical aid
- D - Prosthetic device
- E - Automatic transmission
- F - Hearing aid or full-view mirror
- G - Daylight driving only
- H - Limited to employment
- I - Limited use Auto MAX 40 MPH
- I1 - Limited use MCY MAX 40 MPH
- I2 - Limited use MCY MAX 30 MPH
- I3 - Limited use MCY MAX 20 MPH
- I4 - Three wheel MCY
- K - CDL interstate only (no operation outside NYS for commerce)
- L - No air brakes
- L1 - No air brakes class A VEH
- L2 - No air brakes Class B VEH
- M - Pass restricted to Class B VEH
- N - Pass restricted to Class C VEH
- N1 - No vehicle designed for 15 or more adult passengers
- N2 - No vehicle designed for 8 or more adult passengers
- O - Truck/Trailer Combi only
- O1 - Truck/Trailer Combi/Truck not over 26,000 GVWR
- P - Power brakes
- Q - Power Steering
- R - Built up seat/Ped/Shoe
- T - CMV tractor only
- U - Hand-operated brake
- V - Foot-operated parking brake
- X - Full hand control
- Y - Shoulder harness use
- Z - Wheel spinner
- 3 - Telescopic lens 3
- 5 - No limited access roads
These restrictions may be placed onto your drivers license after your take a New York drivers permit test or the drivers license exam. If you have any of these restrictions on your New York drivers license and you would like to have them removed, please contact the Motor Vehicles office and they will assist you with the procedure.
New York Provisional Drivers License Restrictions
Those who receive a drivers license before the age of 18 are subject to the New York graduated license program and have to meet a number of additional requirements prior to being issued with a full license. Thus, upon completing the New York drivers license test, teenagers are issued with a junior drivers license and must observe all provisional license restrictions. Please note: these restrictions are different from the New York permit restrictions that you had to observe while driving under a New York drivers permit. Since NY provisional license restriction differ between jurisdictions, we have divided them up for you.
NYC Junior License Restrictions
Operating a vehicle under a provisional drivers license in New York City is prohibited.
Long Island Provisional Drivers License Restrictions
5 a.m. to 9 p.m. - you may drive alone only directly between your home and employment, a work-study program, a course at a college, university, or registered evening high school, a driver education course, or while engaged in farm employment. You may drive when accompanied by your licensed parent,guardian, person “in loco parentis,” driver education teacher, or driving school instructor.
9 p.m. to 5 a.m. - You may drive alone only directly between your home and a work- study program, a course at a college, university, or registered evening high school, a driver education course, or while engaged in farm employment.
Upstate Junior License Restrictions
5 a.m. to 9 p.m. - You may drive without being accompanied.
9 p.m. to 5 a.m. - You may drive alone only when traveling directly between your home and employment or a school course. All other driving must be accompanied by your licensed parent, guardian, or person “in loco parentis.”
Provisional license restrictions must be observed for 12 months or until you turn 18, whichever comes first.
