Driver's Licenses, IDs and Name Change

Getting a driver's license under 21

Learn how to get a driver’s license as a new driver under 21 years old in Ohio.

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If you're under 21, you must complete several requirements before you can get your driver's license in Ohio.

In general, you must:

If you're in foster care, it can be more complicated to complete the requirements to get a driver's license. Learn about what you should consider.

Get a temporary permit

A temporary permit lets you practice driving with an adult before you get your actual driver’s license.

Your temporary permit also may be called your learner’s permit, temps, instruction permit or TIPIC, which stands for Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card.

To get your temporary permit:

  • Study the guide from the BMV. Review the Ohio Driver Manual from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The manual covers driving laws and how to be safe on the road in Ohio.
  • Gather documents proving who you are. You’ll need documents like your birth certificate and Social Security card to prove your identity. Learn how to get copies of your vital records. You must be at least 15 and a half years old to get your temporary permit.
  • Pass the knowledge test. You’ll need to take a multiple-choice test covering traffic signs and Ohio’s driving laws. Get at least 75% of the questions right to pass. You can take the test in person or online. Look for a Driver Exam Station to take the test in person, or take it online through the BMV’s website. If you take it online, you’ll need to be on a webcam in a well-lit space. If you’re under 18, you’ll need an adult to supervise you. The test is available in other languages. You can also request an ADA accommodation if you need one. The Driver Exam Station may have staff who could help you with the accommodation. Find a practice test on the BMV’s website.
  • Pass the vision test. You will need to pass a vision screening before you can get your temporary permit. You can take the vision test at a Deputy Registrar License Agency. Watch a sample vision test.
  • Buy your permit within 60 days. Once you have passed the knowledge test and the vision test, you can purchase your temporary permit at a Deputy Registrar License Agency. If you don’t get your permit within 60 days, you’ll need to start over with the vision test and knowledge test. 
  • Have an adult sign for you. If you’re under 18, a parent, guardian, custodian or responsible person will need to show their ID and sign for you. This adult must agree to be responsible for you. For example, they agree to pay for damages if you hit something while driving with your temporary permit.

You can take your knowledge test and vision screening on the same day. Make sure you bring your documents and have an adult who can sign for you if you’re under 18.

Once you have your temporary permit:

  • Keep your permit with you. Any time you drive, make sure you carry your temporary permit card with you.
  • Drive only with a qualified adult. If you’re under 16, you generally need a parent, guardian or driving instructor. If you’re 16 or 17, you need an adult who is over 21 and has a valid license, but if you’re driving between midnight and 6 a.m., it must be a parent, guardian or custodian. If you’re 18 or older, you need an adult over 21 with a valid license.
  • Log your driving hours. Keep track of your driving hours. You’ll need at least 50 hours total, including at least 10 hours at night.

The adult who signed off on your temporary permit can later ask the BMV to cancel your permit. If that happens, you can try to find another adult who is willing to sign for you. If you find another adult, you can get a new permit without retaking the test or paying another fee.

Complete driver's ed and practice time

You’ll need to go through a driver’s education school, drive with an instructor, and also drive with a qualified adult.

Find an approved school

The course you need is known as a “Class D” course. Class D means a standard driver’s license.

  • Search for a driving school. You can search for approved schools on the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s website. Under Program Type, look for Class D Driving Schools or Class D Online Courses. It’s a good idea to research the schools for yourself. Ask people around you for their recommendations or experiences. Search for complaints against a school with the Better Business Bureau or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. 
  • Understand you may need to wait. Some driving schools have wait times. The school you want may be full at the time you want it. You may need to book the school in advance and wait until a spot is available.
  • Look for scholarships, if you need help paying. Driver’s education often costs hundreds of dollars in Ohio. The state’s Drive to Succeed program offers scholarships for some new drivers under 21. To qualify, you will need a valid Ohio permit and you must be eligible for a program like SNAP or Medicaid. You will need to apply and fill out forms. If you’re under 18, you’ll need a parent or guardian to complete a parent orientation.

Complete the course

  • Take 24 hours of classroom or online learning. You will need 24 hours of classroom or online learning through the school you choose. Some driving schools offer in-person instruction, and some offer online instruction. Some may offer both.
  • Drive 8 hours with a driving instructor. Your driver’s training must include at least 8 hours where you’re driving with a qualified driving instructor. This is also known as behind-the-wheel training. You will need your temporary permit before you can drive with an instructor.
  • Get your certificate. Get a certificate of completion from your driving school when you have finished the program.

Drive 50 hours with adult supervision

In addition to your 8 hours behind the wheel with a driving instructor, you also need 50 hours of driving with an adult supervising you.

  • Make sure the adult qualifies. The adult must have a valid driver’s license. They also must be seated in the passenger seat and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol when you’re driving. You may have more than one adult who helps you get your hours. Log which adult you’re driving with each time you drive.
  • Drive at least 50 hours, including 10 at night. You must drive at least 50 hours total, and at least 10 of those hours must be at night.
  • Get the 50-hour affidavit. An adult will need to complete a sworn statement called a Fifty Hour Affidavit saying that you have completed your 50 hours of practice time. You will need a driving log showing the dates and times you drove. You can find the form on the BMV’s website or by using the RoadReady Ohio app. The adult must sign the form in front of a notary. You may be able to find a notary at a BMV Deputy Registrar or at some banks or libraries.

Pass your driving test

Once you’ve met all the driver’s training requirements and you feel confident in your driving ability, you can schedule a driving test with the BMV. You can schedule your driving test online by logging into the BMV’s Online Services.

You will need:

  • Your temporary permit. If you’re under 18, you must have had your temporary permit for at least 6 months before you can take the driving test.
  • The 50-hour affidavit. This form shows that you have completed your 50 hours of practice time with a qualified adult. You can find the form on the BMV’s website: BMV5791 Fifty-Hour Affidavit.
  • Your identity documents. You’ll use documents like your birth certificate and Social Security card to prove who you are. You can choose between a standard card or a complaint card, also known as a Real ID, which lets you fly and get into federal buildings. Find a list of the documents you need on the BMV’s website. If you have changed your name, you may need additional documents.
  • A working vehicle. You’ll need to have a vehicle that’s in good working condition to use to take the driving test with the BMV.

The driving test – also called the road test – includes:

  • Driving. You’ll need to show that you can start and stop the car, turn, drive in the correct lane and keep enough space between you and other drivers.
  • Maneuverability. You’ll need to go through markers or cones to show that you can maneuver the car back and forth between them.

Once you’ve passed the test, you can get your driver’s license. You will need to turn in your temporary permit and pay a fee. You can find a list of fees on the BMV’s website.

Follow restrictions for younger drivers

Your driver’s license is considered a “probationary license” until you turn 18 in Ohio.

That means you have some limits on when you can drive and who can be in the car with you. For example:

  • Don’t drive late at night, in most cases. Younger drivers have restrictions on when they can drive. For example, when you’re 16 as a new driver, you usually can’t drive between midnight and 6 a.m. unless you have a form from your work, school or church saying you have a specific reason to drive.
  • Don’t drive with more than one friend. At 16 and 17, for the first year you have your driver’s license, you can only have one passenger in the car with you, except for your family members.

If you’re over 18 when you get your driver’s license, you get your full license, not a probationary license. You don’t have the same restrictions as a 16- or 17-year old.

But keep in mind:

  • Your license will expire on your 21st birthday. You should renew your license before your turn 21.
  • Renew it in person. You have to renew your license in person when you’re turning 21. Later, when you’re older, you’ll likely be able to renew it online.

If you’re in foster care

Youth in the foster care system can have a harder time getting a driver’s license compared to other people their age.

  • Check your county’s policy. Ask your caseworker or case manager about getting your driver’s license. Ohio counties may not let foster youth under 18 years old drive. You may not be able to get a temporary license or your driver’s license until you’re over 18.
  • Talk to your caseworker. Ask about their “normalcy policy” to understand the normal and beneficial activities you can participate in. You have the right to participate in extracurricular activities, such as activities to help you get your driver’s license. Tell them that you would like to participate in these kinds of activities.
  • Understand your parents' or caregivers’ position. Your parents, caregivers or foster parents may not be able to add you to their personal insurance. They may not be willing or able to help you complete the required driving practice time.
  • Ask for details in your transition plan. When you’re 17 and preparing to transition out of foster care, ask your caseworker to include details about getting a driver’s license in your transition plan. You should receive a copy of your final transition plan, along with your state ID and information about getting a driver’s license.
  • Look into other options. Find out if you can get other help if you can’t drive yourself. For example, if you have a job and need transportation to get to work, ask if your county will pay for your transportation or reimburse your foster parents for taking you to your job.

Find a copy of the Foster Youth Rights Handbook on the state’s website.

If you just need an ID to show who you are, you can apply for an identification card (ID card) instead of a driver’s license. Learn about ID cards on the BMV’s website, or learn about getting a “Real ID” if you need to fly or get into a federal building.

Drive safely

Driving is a huge responsibility. It also comes with significant costs, like paying for gas, insurance and maintenance.

Whenever you’re driving, you must follow the law:

  • Wear your seat belt. You and anyone else in the car with you must wear a seatbelt when you’re driving.
  • Don’t use your phone. It’s generally illegal to use or hold your phone when driving in Ohio. If you’re under 18, you can’t even use your phone if it’s hands-free or you’re stopped in traffic.
  • Don’t use alcohol or drugs. Do not use alcohol or drugs while driving.
  • Make sure you have insurance. If you drive without car insurance, your driver’s license could get suspended. A suspended license can lead to a lot of costs and complications. Learn about driver’s license suspensions in Ohio.

If your license gets suspended, you can use our driver’s license reinstatement action plan to help understand your suspensions and how to clear them.

Find more resources

  • Ohio Driver Manual. The BMV’s Ohio Driver Manual explains the steps to getting a driver’s license and following driving laws in Ohio.
  • Driving schools. You can search for driving schools on the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s website. Some new drivers under 21 years old can get scholarships to cover the cost of driver’s education through the Drive to Succeed program.
  • RoadReady Ohio app. You can use the RoadReady Ohio app to log your 50 hours of supervised drive time. The app can also provide feedback on your driving itself, like telling you what you need to work on.
  • BMV locations. Search the BMV's directory to find a Deputy Registrar License Agency or Driver Exam Station.
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