What Is Restriction B on a Texas License?
Restriction B means a licensed driver aged 21 or older must be in the front passenger seat at all times. The B restriction is printed on the Texas Learner License (teen learner’s permit) and B-Restricted License (adult learner’s permit). Driving alone while holding a restricted license is a misdemeanor violation under Texas Transportation Code § 521.221. You can be fined and the offense can delay your eligibility to upgrade to a full, unrestricted license.
Note: Drivers sometimes confuse a Restriction B with a Class B License, but they are not related. The B restriction is a safety condition placed on a standard driver license. A Class B License is a specific classification of driver license required to operate heavy non-commercial vehicles (such as large RVs or buses) weighing 26,001 lbs or more.
How to Remove Restriction B: A Step-by-Step Guide
To get an unrestricted license, you need to meet your age-based education requirements and complete an application. Here is everything you need to know to remove Restriction B and drive independently.
Step 1: Complete Age-Specific Driver Education
Your driver education prerequisites depend on your age when you apply for a license.
- Ages 16–17: Must complete a 24-hour teen driver education course and 44 behind-the-wheel practice hours.
- Ages 18–24: Must complete a 6-hour adult driver education course.
- Ages 25+: Driver education is not mandatory, but it is recommended. If you do not take driver’s ed, study the official Texas Driver Handbook before taking the road test.
Drivers aged 16–17 are legally required to have held their learner’s permit for at least 6 months before they can take the road test and remove Restriction B. Adults do not have a permit holding period before they can apply for the road test.
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Step 2: Complete the Free Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) Course
Before taking your driving skills test, you must complete the free online Impact Texas Drivers (ITD) video course. DPS policy states that the ITD video must be viewed after completing any required driver education, but before taking the road test.
- Minors (16–17): Watch the Impact Texas Teen Drivers (ITTD) video.
- Adults (18+): Watch the Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) video.
Print your ITD completion certificate, which is valid for exactly 90 days. If it expires before you pass the road test, you must watch the video again.
Step 3: Schedule the Road Skills Test
You can take your behind-the-wheel test at either the DPS office or an approved Third Party Skills Testing (TPST) provider. The testing format is the same no matter where you take it, but the cost and waiting times can vary.
- At the DPS, the test is included with your application fee, but appointment wait times can be longer.
- Driving schools may charge a separate test fee (around $75–$100) but often offer faster scheduling. After passing the test at a driving school, you will receive your official results in a sealed envelope, which you should not open. Bring your sealed test results to the DPS to get your unrestricted license.
To schedule a road test at the DPS, or to book your license appointment after testing with a commercial school, use the online Texas DPS - Appointment Scheduler portal.
- Under the service category, select “Change, Replace, Renew DL” or “Test to add/remove restriction” and fill in your information.
Note: Teens who pass the road test with a participating driving school may be eligible to upgrade from a permit to a Provisional License online through the Texas by Texas (TxT) portal. Adults removing restriction B should expect to complete the transaction at the DPS, unless the testing provider confirms that they qualify for online processing.
Step 4: Submit the Restriction B Removal Documents
Passing a driving test does not grant you permission to drive alone immediately. You must complete the official transaction with the DPS to issue your license without the B restriction.
Bring the following items to your DPS appointment:
- Current Texas B-restricted license
- Application for Driver License: Form DL-14-B for minors or DL-14A for adults
- Driver Education Completion Certificate: Form DE-964 for teens or Form ADE-1317 for adults
- Printed Impact Texas Drivers Certificate (dated within 90 days)
- High school Verification of Enrollment (VOE) form (if under 18)
- Proof of insurance and registration, if testing at the DPS
- Sealed road test results if you tested at a commercial school
Step 5: Pay the Fee and Receive Your Unrestricted License
After you pay the $11 DPS restriction-removal fee, you will be issued a temporary paper license without the B restriction, and your permanent plastic card will arrive by mail within 2 to 3 weeks.
Driving Restrictions That Still Apply to Minors
Removing Restriction B and upgrading to a provisional license does not give a driver under 18 completely unrestricted driving privileges. Provisional license holders remain subject to Texas Graduated Driver License Program (GDL) rules until age 18.
Minor license holders (under 18) may not:
- Carry more than one passenger under age 21 who is not a family member.
- Drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless for work, school, or an emergency.
- Use a wireless communication device, including a hands-free device, except in an emergency.
What to Do if Your Paperwork Is Lost or Expired
Lost or expired paperwork can delay the process of removing a license restriction, but it does not require starting the entire process again.
- If your B-restricted permit is lost, you can still take your driving test and visit the DPS. You must bring primary proof of identity (such as an original U.S. passport, birth certificate, or state ID) to your appointment.
- If your ITD certificate expired, log back into the Impact Texas Drivers portal and rewatch the video to generate a new certificate.
- If your license application expires before you pass the road test, you must start a new one.
FAQs
Can I drive home alone right after passing my road test at a driving school?
Passing the road test satisfies the examination requirement, but Restriction B remains legally active on your driving record until DPS processes the update and issues your temporary license.
Can I remove Restriction B from my Texas license online?
If you completed your road driving test through a participating third-party testing provider, you may be able to process the upgrade online through the Texas by Texas (TxT) portal. Participating testing centers will gather your documents and submit a request to the DPS, and then you can finalize the process and pay online. If you took your road test at a DPS office, you will finalize the process in person.
Does removing the B restriction extend my license expiration date?
Paying the $11 restriction-removal fee issues a replacement card that retains your existing expiration date. If you are within your renewal window, you can pay the standard $33 renewal fee instead to renew for 8 years while removing the B restriction.
Does an adult over age 25 need driver education to remove Restriction B?
Adults aged 25 and older are not required to complete a formal drivers education course. They only need to complete the Impact Texas Adult Drivers (ITAD) course, pass the road skills test, and pay the DPS fee.
Can a Texas license have more than one restriction code?
Restriction B is only one of several codes the DPS places on drivers licenses. Other restrictions may relate to corrective lenses, daylight-only driving, required vehicle equipment, supervision, medical conditions, or commercial driving privileges. Removing Restriction B does not automatically remove any other restriction shown on the license.
