Getting a first driver license in Ohio as a teen: TIPIC, training and tests

The steps an Ohio teen follows to get a first license, from the knowledge test and temporary permit (TIPIC) through driver education, 50 practice hours, the driving test and the probationary license rules.

Guide · Ohio · Driver licenses · Teen drivers · updated October 29, 2026

Ohio uses a step-by-step system for drivers under 18, run by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). A teen first earns a Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC), practices with supervision while taking driver education, and then passes a driving and skills test to get a probationary license with extra restrictions. Here is the path in order.

Step 1: Take the knowledge test (from age 15 and six months)

At 15 years and six months, a teen can take the knowledge test. It has 40 multiple-choice questions about traffic laws and road signs, and the passing score is 75 percent.

There are two ways to take it:

  • Online, through BMV Online Services. Online attempts are limited to two in a six-month period.
  • In person, at select deputy registrar locations or at any driver exam station.

The BMV publishes a sample knowledge test and the Ohio Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws on its site, which are the natural study materials.

A vision screening is also required. If you take the knowledge test online, the screening is done at a deputy registrar license agency when you buy the temporary permit. If you fail the knowledge test, you must wait at least 24 hours before trying again.

Step 2: Buy the TIPIC within 60 days

After passing the knowledge test, the TIPIC must be purchased within 60 days. Bring documents that prove:

  • Full legal name
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number (if one has been assigned)
  • Ohio residency
  • U.S. citizenship or legal presence

The BMV has a page listing acceptable identity documents. For a minor, a responsible adult must co-sign for the TIPIC and show their own driver license or ID card. Co-signing carries legal obligations under Ohio law (Ohio Revised Code 4507.07), which the BMV links to.

The BMV does not list the TIPIC fee on its teen licensing page; it links to a separate fees page.

Step 3: Practice driving with the right supervisor

The TIPIC must be carried every time the teen drives. Who can sit in the passenger seat depends on age:

  • Under 16: a parent, guardian or licensed driving instructor.
  • 16 or older: any validly licensed driver over 21. Between midnight and 6 a.m., though, the supervisor must be a parent, guardian, custodian, or a licensed driver 21 or older who is named on a notarized form BMV 2438.

The supervising adult must not be intoxicated.

Step 4: Complete driver education

Under-18 drivers must complete a driver education course at a licensed driver training school. The course includes 24 hours of classroom or online instruction and 8 hours of driving time with the school. The BMV links to a search tool for approved driving schools.

Keep the Driver Education Certificate. It must be provided at the driving and skills test.

Step 5: Log 50 hours of practice

On top of driver education, the teen must complete 50 hours of driving, including at least 10 hours at night. Record these on form BMV 5791, the Fifty-Hour Affidavit, and bring the completed form to the driving test appointment.

Step 6: Hold the TIPIC for at least six months

The teen must have held the TIPIC for at least six months before moving on to the probationary license.

Step 7: Pass the driving and skills tests

Schedule the test through BMV Online Services by choosing the "Schedule a Driving or Skills Test" option. The BMV notes that tests are not scheduled by email.

On test day:

  • Bring the TIPIC. Applicants under 21 must also present the completed BMV 5791 Fifty-Hour Affidavit, and the Driver Education Certificate must be provided.
  • Bring a vehicle in good condition. It will be inspected before the test starts.

The test has two parts: a driving portion on the road and a maneuverability portion, which involves driving forward and backward through a set of markers.

If an applicant under 21 fails either the driving or the skills test, they must wait two days before trying again.

Step 8: Know the probationary license rules

After passing, the teen buys the probationary license at a deputy registrar license agency within 60 days. The BMV asks for the same kinds of identity documents as for the TIPIC plus the completed BMV 5791, a minor again needs a responsible adult to co-sign, and the TIPIC is surrendered at this point. The BMV lists these restrictions for probationary drivers under 18:

During the first 12 months

  • Night driving: no driving between midnight and 6 a.m., unless the teen is with a parent, guardian or custodian, or a licensed driver 21 or older named on a notarized BMV 2438, or is driving to or from work, a school-sponsored event or a religious event with the required documentation (forms BMV 2825 for employers and BMV 2826 for school or religious events).
  • Passengers: no more than one non-family passenger unless a parent or guardian is in the car.

After the first 12 months, until 18

  • No driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., unless an exception applies.

At all times while probationary

  • The driver and every passenger must wear a safety belt.
  • The driver may not use any mobile device, including a cell phone.

Violations have consequences

  • A traffic conviction in the first six months of holding a license can lead to a requirement that a parent or guardian ride along for six months or until the driver turns 17.
  • Multiple traffic convictions before the driver turns 18 can lead to a license suspension.

If the teen waits until 18

The rules change somewhat for new drivers who are 18 to 20, but they still involve driver education. The BMV says applicants in this age group must complete a Class D driver education class at a licensed driver training school (24 hours of classroom or online instruction plus 8 hours of driving), log 50 hours of supervised practice including 10 at night on form BMV 5791, and pass the driving and skills tests.

Quick checklist for parents

  • Age 15 and six months: knowledge test (online or in person) and vision screening.
  • Within 60 days: buy the TIPIC with identity documents and a co-signer.
  • Enroll in a licensed driver training school: 24 hours of instruction plus 8 hours behind the wheel.
  • Log 50 practice hours, 10 at night, on BMV 5791.
  • Hold the TIPIC at least six months.
  • Schedule the driving and skills test online; bring the TIPIC, BMV 5791, education certificate and a test-ready car.

Sources · checked October 29, 2026

We wrote this summary ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMVorganization.org is independent and not a government agency.

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