Ohio Drivers License

Ohio Drivers License

In order to drive legally in the state of Ohio all first time drivers or new residents who recently moved to the state must have a valid Ohio drivers license. All teenagers need to obtain a probationary driving license before applying for the unrestricted Ohio driver’s license.

Drivers License Types

Operating different vehicles requires different level of skills and this is why the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) offers different types of driving licenses. Each license has its own privileges and you must choose the license type carefully. At the moment, you can apply for one of the following types of the Ohio driver’s license:

• Class D. Regular drivers license
• Motorcycle license
• Commercial drivers license
• Motorized bicycle license

If you are the first time drivers license applicant, you should probably start with the regular driver’s license. Once you gain some driving skills, you will be able to upgrade to a more advance license class.

Ohio GDL

Ohio has three graduated licensing steps, each step providing new challenges for the license applicant and bringing him to the new level. The Ohio GDL system was developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and it applies to teenage drivers, as they belong to the high risk group when it comes to driving. All teenage license applicants have to go through the following steps: learner’s permit, probationary license and full-privilege license.

The learner’s permit stage requires teen drivers to pass vision and knowledge tests and drive with a licensed adult 21 years old or older. At this stage, all passengers must wear seat belts. The minimum permit age in Ohio is 15 and ? and the permit must be held for at least 6 months before you can advance to the probationary driving license stage.

The next step towards obtaining a probationary drivers license is passing a road skills test.

Drivers Permit

No matter how old you are, the first step towards obtaining the Ohio driving license is taking the written knowledge exam at the local BMV office. Those who took a drivers education program should not worry - the test will be a breathe for you. Those who have not taken any steps to prepare for the exam should start by reading the BMV drivers handbook, an official guide to the Ohio driving rules. Ohio practice tests can help you evaluate your current level of preparation.

The Drivers License Testing

When you are ready to take a road skills test please make an appointment on-line or by calling the nearest driver license examination office. Applicants under 18 years of age are required to present a certificate from a drivers education course and a proof of completion of 50 hours supervised driving with parents.

All applicants should provide a car that is covered by an auto insurance policy in order to take a driving exam. You must pass both driving and maneuverability tests. After passing a driving skills test your examiner will give you a completion document. You will need to present it at the local deputy registrar branch and they will issue you with the Ohio driver’s license.

If you fail a road skills test you can re-take it in 7 days. You'll only have to take the test part you failed. In the unlikely event when you fail a test four times, you need to wait 6 months and start the permit process all over again.

Upgrading to Full-privilege License

If you are under 18 years of age, you are issued with the probationary drivers license once you pass the driving exam. Even with your new probationary license, you are not allowed to drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., unless supervised by a licensed adult. The probationary license is valid until your 18 birthday, at which time the license becomes a full driver license.