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  • 15½Youngest age for the knowledge testSection 1
  • 30 of 40To pass the knowledge test (75%)Section 1
  • 6 monthsHolding the permit, if under 18Section 1
  • 50 hoursOf practice, 10 of them at nightSection 1

Step by step

  1. Study the manual and gather your documents

    Ohio asks for proof of:

    • Your full legal name and date of birth
    • Your Social Security number (if you have one)
    • U.S. citizenship or legal presence
    • Your Ohio street address (two documents for a compliant card)

    (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)

  2. Pass the vision screening and knowledge test

    From 15 and a half. The test has 40 multiple-choice questions and you need 75 percent. Take it online, at a Driver Exam Station or at select Deputy Registrar agencies. (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)

  3. Buy your TIPIC within 60 days

    Visit a Deputy Registrar License Agency within 60 days of passing; after that you start over. Under 18, a parent or guardian comes along to co-sign. (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)

  4. Under 21: driver education and practice

    Take a driver education course (24 hours of class or online, 8 hours driving) and log 50 hours of practice with an eligible licensed driver, 10 of them at night. (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)

Fees and the full list of accepted documents change from time to time, so check them on the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) website before you go.

Rules while you have a temporary instruction permit (TIPIC)

  • Under 16: a parent, guardian, custodian, licensed driving instructor or an adult 21 or older acting as a parent sits in the front passenger seat. (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)
  • Ages 16 and 17: any licensed driver 21 or older may ride with you, but from midnight to 6 a.m. only a licensed parent, guardian or custodian. (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)
  • Everyone wears a seat belt, no more people than seat belts, and no mobile electronic devices while driving. Always carry the TIPIC. (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)

If you don't pass

Wait one day and try again. In person there's no limit, once a day; online you get two tries in six months. (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)

What comes next

After driver education and 50 logged hours (and, under 18, six months with the TIPIC), pass the maneuverability and on-road driving tests, then buy your license at a Deputy Registrar. (Ohio Driver Manual, Section 1)

Ready for the knowledge test?Free Ohio practice exam: 40 questions, 30 to pass.

This guide is a free learning aid based on the Ohio Driver Manual (Online edition (October 2026)), not official advice. Rules, documents and fees can change: always confirm with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) before you go. This handbook is published online in sections; tap a section to open it on the official website.