Ohio Drivers License Endorsements
In most situations, drivers license endorsements are used for granting you additional driving privileges without having you to apply for a different type of drivers license. Most of the Ohio driver's license endorsements apply to commercial drivers licenses and thus won't be useful to those who currently hold a regular class C license. However, there are exceptions to this trend, such as a motorcycle endorsement. A motorcycle endorsement can be added to any regular drivers license.
Ohio Driver License Endorsement Codes
Keep in mind that the list of Ohio driver's license endorsements that is presented here is not full and you may always contact the Department of Motor Vehicle for more details regarding any specific drivers license endorsement.
- H — authorizes the driver to drive a vehicle transporting hazardous materials in an amount requiring placarding;
- K — restricts the driver to only intrastate operation;
- L — restricts the driver to vehicles not equipped with air brakes;
- T — authorizes the driver to drive a vehicle configured with double or triple trailers that create more than one articulation point for the combination;
- P — authorizes the driver to drive vehicles designed to transport sixteen or more passengers, including the driver;
- P1 — authorizes the driver to drive class A vehicles designed for fewer than sixteen passengers, including the driver, and all lesser classes of vehicles without restriction as to the designed passenger capacity of the vehicle;
- P2 — authorizes the driver to drive class A or B vehicles designed for fewer than sixteen passengers, including the driver, and all lesser classes of vehicles without restriction as to the designed passenger capacity of the vehicle;
- P4 — Restricts the driver to driving class C school buses designed to transport fewer than sixteen passengers including the driver.
- N — authorizes the driver to drive tank vehicles;
- S — authorizes the driver to drive school buses transporting children;
- X — authorizes the driver to drive tank vehicles transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding;
- W — restricts the driver to the operation of commercial motor vehicles in accordance with a waiver for farm-related service industries issued under section 4506.24 of the Revised Code.
To get the HazMat endorsement, you must pass a written test based on the information in Section 9 of the Ohio CDL drivers manual. You also will need a tank vehicle endorsement if you transport hazardous products in a cargo tank. If you apply for an original or renewal HazMat endorsement, you must undergo a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) federal security threat assessment (background records check). You start the TSA background records check after you apply for your CDL at DOT, successfully complete all appropriate law tests, and submit a valid medical form. You must submit fingerprints, a fee, and any additional required information to one of TSA’s designated agents.
Ohio Motorcycle Endorsement
You can either add a motorcycle endorsement to your existing Ohio drivers license or apply for a separate motorcycle driver's license if you do not currently hold a regular license. The application process is very similar to that of applying for a regular license - you will have to take a separate Ohio permit test, get a permit, than pass the Ohio driver's test and get your motorcycle drivers license. The permit test will be somewhat different from the regular one and will emphasize the regulations that apply to motorcycles. You may wish to take a few Ohio drivers practice tests to see if you are prepared for the exam. Signing up for a Ohio drivers education class is also not a bad idea if you have not competed the class yet.
Ohio License Restrictions
Apart from granting you additional driving privileges with these driver license endorsements, the DMV may also slap some restrictions onto your license. Ohio driver's license restrictions are used to discourage or prevent you from driving under certain conditions, for example, if you take the driving test on a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, you are not allowed to drive a vehicle that is equipped with a regular manual gear shifter.
If you have questions about any specific Ohio drivers license endorsement, please contact your local DMV office for assistance.
