RoadVisa Beta

How to get a driving licence in Ohio

Getting a car licence from scratch, country by country.

Car licence

Getting your licence in Ohio

Knowledge test questions40
Pass mark75%
Temporary permit$26.50
Licence for 4 years ($54 for 8)$27.50
Knowledge test from homeOnline

Fees include the deputy registrar's charge.

Before you start driving

2
Temporary permitYes. Under 18, hold it 6 months before the driving test.
Medical checkNo doctor's exam. The BMV tests your vision.

Required lessons

2
Driver education (under 21)24 hours in class or online, plus 8 hours of driving with a school.
Supervised practice (under 21)50 hours, 10 at night, logged on form BMV 5791.

Good to know

7
Minimum ageTemporary permit from 15½. Probationary licence from 16, after 6 months on the permit.
Licence validity4 or 8 years, your choice. 8 years only from age 21.
Exam languagesKnowledge test in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Russian, Somali or Spanish. Other languages with your own interpreter at a driver exam station.
If you failKnowledge test: wait 24 hours. Driving test: wait 2 days. From 21, after a first fail you take a short adult training course.
Automatic or manualNo restriction. A licence earned in an automatic covers manual cars too.
New driversUnder 18: a probationary licence with limits on night driving and passengers.
Already have a licence from abroad?Ohio doesn't publish exchange agreements with other countries, so expect the tests. See the Abroad tab.

Step by step

  1. Knowledge test and visionOnline, or at a driver exam station.
  2. Temporary permitBuy it at a deputy registrar within 60 days of passing.
  3. PractiseUnder 21: driver education and 50 logged hours.
  4. Driving and maneuverability testIn your own car, booked online.
  5. LicenceAt a deputy registrar within 60 days of passing.

Tips

  • Practise the maneuverability test: forward and backwards through a box of cones. Hitting a cone is an instant fail.
  • Online knowledge testing allows only 2 attempts in 6 months. In person there's no limit.

Official links

Ohio BMV: Driver licence fees ↗Ohio Revised Code 4507.101: International reciprocity ↗Last checked 20 Oct 2026
Wrong information? Help us fix itTell us what's incorrect and we'll check it against the official sources.

About: This page

Frequently asked questionsCoverage, sources and how RoadVisa works.

Why isn't my country listed?

RoadVisa is still growing. It covers 42 countries and all 50 US states plus Washington, D.C. so far, and more are added step by step. Each country is checked against its own official sources, in its own language, before it goes live.

Why isn't Africa covered?

Many African licensing authorities publish little detail about their driving rules online, so we can't yet check the answers against official sources. We'll add African countries as official information becomes available.

Where does the information come from?

From official sources only: licensing authorities, ministries, police and government websites, read in each country's own language. Every answer links to its sources and shows when it was last checked.

What's the difference between Visiting and Moving?

Visiting covers short stays such as holidays and business trips, when you keep your home licence. Moving covers becoming a resident, when most countries want you to exchange your licence or take tests by a deadline.

What is an International Driving Permit?

A translation of your licence in a standard format. It's only valid together with your own licence, and you get it in the country that issued your licence, usually from a motoring club or the licensing authority. RoadVisa tells you when a country expects one.

Does RoadVisa cover motorcycles or trucks?

Not yet. The answers are about car licences: category B in Europe, and the local equivalent elsewhere, such as Class C or D in most US states. Other licences may follow later.

Is RoadVisa official?

No. RoadVisa is an independent guide and isn't linked to any government or licensing authority. The authority that handles your application always has the final word.

Is RoadVisa free?

Yes, RoadVisa is free to use.

I found a mistake. What should I do?

Use "Wrong information? Help us fix it" above. We check every report against the official sources and correct the answer.

About RoadVisa and disclaimerWho we are, and how to use this information.

An independent guide. RoadVisa is a private project. It is not run by, linked to or approved by any government, licensing authority (such as a national road traffic agency or a US DMV), embassy or driving school.

Information only, not legal advice. RoadVisa sums up official rules in plain English. It does not replace the official rules, and it is not a decision about your case. Only the authority that handles your application can decide that.

Rules change. Every answer shows when it was last checked and links to the official source. Check that source before you drive, book a test, move or apply. If RoadVisa and the official source differ, follow the official source.

Your situation matters. The answer can depend on your residence status, licence category, age and when your licence was issued. If you're unsure, ask the licensing authority or your embassy.

Car hire and insurance. Car hire companies and insurers can set their own rules, for example asking for an International Driving Permit even where it isn't required. Check with them too.

Our responsibility. We work hard to keep RoadVisa correct, but we can't promise it is complete or up to date. As far as the law allows, we are not responsible for fines, refused applications, costs or other losses that come from relying on it.

Links to other sites. We link to official and other websites for your convenience. We don't control them and aren't responsible for their content.

Found a mistake? Use the report form above. What you send is used only to check and correct the information. See our privacy notice.