Pennsylvania Drivers License Restrictions

In certain cases, the Department of Transportation may be forced to put a restriction onto your Pennsylvania drivers license. License restrictions limit your driving privileges to operating a vehicle when certain conditions are met. Most of the Pennsylvania driver license restrictions are health related, although we can distinguish a number of junior license restrictions that apply to drivers who receive a license before they reach the age of 18 years. Pennsylvania junior drivers license restrictions are automatically removed from the license once the licensee reaches the age of 18. If you need help with a specific Pennsylvania license restriction code, please contact the PennDOT directly.

License Restriction Codes

Keep in mind that the list of Pennsylvania drivers license restriction codes that is provided below is not full and it may not have a code that you're looking for. If your Pennsylvania drivers license has a restriction and you did not find the code here, don't stress, just pick up the phone and call a local DOT office, they will be able to assist you with the issue.

1 - License holder must wear corrective lenses when driving (glasses/contacts)
2 - Vehicle must be equipped with mirrors on both sides of the vehicle. (dual mirrors)
3 - Vehicle must be equipped with an automatic transmission (no manual transmission)
4 - Vehicle must be equipped with special equipment (spinner knob, left foot gas pedal, etc.)
5 - License holder can only drive during daylight hours sunrise to sunset (no night driving)
6 - License holder is considered a Classified driver because of a physical impairment that will not affect ability to drive (missing fingers, missing an arm, etc.)
7 - License holder has a Restricted license because of a visual impairment (limited to driving within a limited radius of residence; limited to roads other than freeways; limited to passenger vehicles weighing no more than 10,000 pounds; cannot operate a motorcycle)
8 - Driver’s M License is restricted to a motor-driven cycle (motorcycle motor cannot be greater than 5 brake horsepower)
9 - Driver’s M License is restricted to a 3-wheeled motorcycle (No 2-wheeled motorcycle)
A - Permit holder is restricted to operating a vehicle equipped with dual controls (right side brake pedal) with a certified driver trainer in the passenger seat.
Z - Motorcycle learner’s permit holder can only operate a motorcycle during daylight hours sunrise to sunset (no night riding)

Drivers license restrictions can be added or removed from your license only by the DOT and the procedure usually requires to you meet certain conditions, for example, if you have restriction 3 on your drivers license and you would like to have it taken off, you must pass a Pennsylvania drivers test in a vehicle equipped with manual transmission.

Pennsylvania Junior License Restrictions

In Pennsylvania, a junior drivers license is issued only to those who are under 18 years of age, so if you are already 18 or older, you don't need to read on. If you took a drivers license test and got a license before you turned 18, you are currently holding a junior driver's license (sometimes also called a provisional drivers license).

The following Pennsylvania junior license restrictions are currently active and must be observed until the licensee reaches the age of 18 years:

Curfew. There is a nighttime driving restriction that prohibit youngsters from driving between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless accompanied by a supervising driver at least 18 years of age.
Mandatory sanctions against all high-risk drivers under the age of 18, regardless of whether they hold a permit, a junior license or an unrestricted license. A junior license holder's operating privileges will be suspended for 90 days if he or she accumulates six points or is convicted of a single high speed violation (26 miles per hour or more over the speed limit).
Seat belts. The number of passengers that can be present in the vehicle operated by a junior license holder cannot exceed the number of available seatbelts.

Note how these drivers license restrictions differ from Pennsylvania permit restrictions that had to be observed during the second stage of the Pennsylvania graduated driver's license program. While operating under a permit, a teen is not allowed to drive without a supervising driver present, no matter the conditions.

Junior license restrictions are automatically lifted from your license once you reach the age of 18. You can also have these license restrictions removed from your license earlier if you meet the following requirements:

you have held a junior license for at least one year, without being convicted of a moving violation during this period
you have completed a state approved Pennsylvania drivers education course

If these requirements are met, just visit the DOT and file an Application for Change from a Junior Drivers License to a Regular Non-Commercial Drivers License DL-59.

Pennsylvania Drivers Permit Restrictions

Learners permit restrictions apply to everyone who passed a Pennsylvania permit test and received a drivers permit. The main purpose of issuing you with a Pennsylvania drivers permit is the fact that it will allow you to practice driving in a relatively low-risk environment. Make sure to observe these restrictions while driving:

Supervised driving only. Whenever you get out on the road, you must be accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old or a parent, legal guardian or a spouse who is at least 18 years of age. Needless to say, the supervisor must have a valid drivers license.
Curfew. If you get out on the road between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., the supervising driver must be your parent, legal guardian or a spouse.
Passenger restrictions. The number of passengers in the vehicle is limited to the number of seatbelts the vehicle is equipped with.

If you haven't passed your permit test yet and are looking for some study materials, make sure to grab a copy of the Pennsylvania drivers manual and take a few Pennsylvania practice drivers tests. Combining these two things should allow you to pass the test in no time.