Oregon License Restrictions
In certain situations, the Department of Motor Vehicles may have to place a restriction onto your Oregon drivers license. Such restrictions limit your driving privileges to operating a vehicle only when certain conditions are met. Some of the Oregon driver's license restrictions are temporary, while others are there to stay, unless you can prove that the condition that warranted for the restriction in the first place no longer applies to you. Young drivers should familiarize themselves with the graduated drivers license program and all provisional driver's license restrictions that come with the program.
Drivers License Restriction Codes
Most of the Oregon drivers license restriction codes can be located through the DMV website and we urge you to go ahead and visit the site for an up to date list. We try to keep our list as fresh as possible, but the DMV is always first to roll out the updates when the changes come.
The following license restrictions are currently active in Oregon:
- B Corrective Lenses
- D Anatomical Donor
- E Automatic Transmission
- F Outside Mirror
- G Daylight Driving Only
- J Other (i.e. Hardship Permit, Driver Improvement Restriction, etc.)
- K CDL Intrastate Only
- L Vehicle Without Air Brakes
- M No Class A Passenger Vehicles
- N No Class A or B Passenger Vehicles
- R Hand Controls
- S Turn Signals
- U Prosthetic Aid
- V Emancipated Minor
- 2 Emergency Permit
- 3 Student Permit
- 4 Golf Cart Permit
- 5 Moped Only
As already mentioned, if you want to remove a restriction from your drivers license, you have to provide proof that this restriction no longer applies. In most cases, this means going through additional testing. For example, if you are restricted to daylight driving only and you wish to be able to drive at night, you need to visit an eye care specialist who will certify that your eye sight has significantly improved and that you are up to the task now. The report will need to be submitted to the DMV and they will update your current Oregon drivers license with this change.
Provisional License Restriction
Provisional or intermediate drivers license restrictions are part of the Oregon graduated driver's license program and being such, they apply only to those who receive driving privileges before reaching the age of 18 years. During the intermediate license period, teenagers are allowed to perform most of the day to day driving, however they are discouraged from driving in conditions that are considered to be high risk.
If you just passed the Oregon drivers test and you are under 18 years of age, the following provisional driver's license restrictions are to be observed:
- Curfew. The nighttime driving restrictions prohibits you from operating the vehicle between midnight and 5 a.m. You can disregard this restriction if you are driving between home and work, to/from a school event for which no other transportation was available, for employment purposes or if there is a licensed driver at least 25 years of age seated next to you.
- Passenger restrictions. For the first six months, you cannot carry passengers under the age of 20, unless they are members of your family. For the second six months, no more than three passengers under the age of 20 are allowed to be in the vehicle.
- No cell phones. You cannot use a cell phone or any other communication device while driving until you are at least 18 years of age.
The curfew and passenger restrictions must be observed for a year, the cell phone restriction is not lifted until the 18th birthday. If you wish to know more about the graduated drivers license or intermediate license restrictions, please refer to the Oregon drivers license handbook.
Instructional Permit Restrictions
Permit restrictions are another important part of the graduated license program and they go into effect as soon as the applicant passes the Oregon permit test (if you have not taken the exam yet, make sure to check out this free Oregon practice drivers test).
The following Oregon drivers permit restrictions must be observed by permit holders under 18 years of age:
- No driving alone. You must be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years of age or older. If you want the driving hours to count towards the required driving time, the supervising driver must have at least three years of driving experience.
- No cell phones. You cannot talk on the phone or text while driving. This forbids usage of all communication devices, which means you cannot twit either.
Those who receive an Oregon learners permit and are 18 years of age or older only need to observe the supervised driving requirement.
