Ohio Driver Licensing Law

Obtaining an Ohio Temporary Permit

Ohio Temporary Permits may be acquired once turning 15 ½ years old. For individuals under 18, it is required that a parent or guardian must co-sign the permit. Additionally, applicants must supply the following:

• Proof of full legal name and date of birth
• Social Security number
• Proof of citizenship and legal presence
• Proof of residency

Applicants will then need to pass vision and knowledge exams. If successful, the permit will be issued and the supervised driving period will begin. Until the permit holder's 16th birthday, they must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or licensed driver at least 21 years old sitting in the front seat at all times. Before being eligible to move on to the next step of the Graduated License Program, drivers must receive a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction with eight hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. An additional 50 hours of driving with a parent or legal guardian is required and must be verified as well. Ten of the hours must be at night.

Permit holders are further restricted from driving between 12AM and 6AM unless accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian, or legal custodian. While practicing, the driver must carry their permit.

Obtaining a Probationary License

When a driver turns 16 and has held a Temporary Permit for at least six months, they will become eligible for a Probationary License. This will require the driver to also successfully complete the Ohio driving test.

The Probationary License is restricted in the following ways:

• Sixteen-year-old drivers are prohibited from operating vehicles between 12AM and 6AM unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Further exceptions include traveling between home and work or school, or in case of an emergency.
• Seventeen-year-old drivers are prohibited from operating vehicles between 1AM and 5AM with the same restrictions as above
• Sixteen-year-old drivers are prohibited from transporting more than one non-relative unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian
• Seventeen-year-old drivers may not transport more people than the number of originally installed seat belts in the vehicle

This Probationary License remains valid until the driver turns 18. If all the probationary requirements have been met, the driver will then be eligible for a Full License.

Suspensions and Restrictions

• If a probationary driver license holder under the age of 17 is convicted of having committed one moving violation during the first six months of license issuance, the person must be accompanied by a parent or guardian whenever operating a motor vehicle during the six-month period commencing on the date on which the person pleads guilty to, or is convicted of, the moving violation or until the person attains the age of 17, whichever comes first.
• A probationary driver license holder placed under their parent/guardian restriction may petition the court for one time only, limited driving privileges.
• A person's temporary permit or probationary license can be suspended for periods of up to one year if the person is convicted of multiple moving violations or if the person is convicted of any alcohol-related offense.
• A person whose temporary permit or probationary license is suspended has to meet a number of requirements before their permit or license can be returned, including completion of a juvenile driver improvement program and retaking the driver's examination.