If you’re planning to get your Ohio driver’s license and you’re not yet 18, you’ll need to take a drivers’ education course. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires all minors to complete this step before receiving a full-fledged driver’s license.
Luckily, it doesn’t take much time to complete an Ohio driver’s ed course and you can easily take it online. However, there is one hang-up for some teens — the cost. Driver’s ed courses aren’t free, and there are several steps involved that require you to pay fees. Here’s a look at the costs you'll need to pay and what you’ll get for your investment.
Requirements for Ohio Drivers’ Education
To sign up for an Ohio driver’s ed course, you must be at least 15 years and 5 months old. There are two parts to the required course: classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training.
1. Ohio Drivers’ Ed Instruction
The first step to getting your Ohio driver's license is learning the basics. Before the Ohio BMV will allow you to get behind the wheel, you must complete the classroom instruction. This will teach you everything you need to know to safely operate a vehicle on the road, including all the local Ohio driving laws and defensive driving techniques that can help you avoid a collision.
You must complete 24 total hours of instruction, either in-person or online. However, you’re only allowed to complete two hours of instruction per day. While you could complete the entire classroom portion of your Ohio driver’s ed course in just 12 days, you have up to 180 days to get through the full 24 hours.
Aceable’s BMV-approved online Ohio driver’s ed course costs $90, and covers all 10 levels and 24 hours of required classroom instruction. This multimedia course includes videos, memes, pop quiz questions, interactive elements, and photos. It’s easy to complete and is a super engaging way to learn.
2. Required Knowledge Test
Once you’ve turned 15 years and 6 months old, you’re eligible to get your learner’s permit as long as you’ve completed at least the first two hours of your 24-hour course. To get your permit, you must pass a 40-question multiple-choice knowledge test with a score of 75 or higher. You must also complete a vision screening.
3. Ohio Temporary Permit
Within 60 days of completing your exam and vision screening, you and a parent can head over to a deputy registrar license agency and pay for your Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC), also known as a temporary learner’s permit. The cost of a TIPIC for drivers under 18 years old is $23.50.
4. Behind-the-Wheel Instruction
Now that you’ve got your learner’s permit, you’re ready to start your behind-the-wheel instruction. The state of Ohio requires drivers under the age of 18 to complete at least eight hours of instruction with a professional driving instructor. To sign up for this course, you must show your learner’s permit and a Certificate of Enrollment, which proves that you are either currently enrolled in a driver’s ed course or you have already completed one.
Now, this is where things can start to get expensive. A BMV-approved professional driving instructor typically charges around $40 per hour. You may also have to make additional payments for the cost of gas and insurance. To complete the required behind-the-wheel instruction at an approved driving school, you can expect to spend about $300 to $400.
In addition to the required eight hours of professional driving instruction, you must also complete an additional 50 hours of behind-the-wheel training. However, this doesn’t have to be done at a driving school. Your parent or guardian can supervise the hours, as long as they are a licensed driver and at least 10 hours of the driving is done at night.
Total Cost of Ohio Drivers’ Ed
If you want to get your Ohio driver's license before you turn 18, you’ll likely need to save up some funds. The costs you’ll need to cover include:
Classroom instruction - $48+
Behind-the-Wheel training - $300+
Temporary permit packet - $23.50
In total, you can expect to spend a minimum of $372.50 to cover the costs of taking all of the parts of your required Ohio driver’s ed course.
Ohio Drivers’ License Fees
Once you’ve completed all of the steps above and have held a restricted permit for at least six months, you can take the Ohio driving exam at your local BMV driving exam station.
It’s free to take the exam, but if you want to receive your license, you’ll need to pay another fee. This cost varies depending on your age:
16 years old - $25.75
17 years old - $24.50
18 years old - $23.25
19 years old - $22.00
20 years old - $20.75
21 + years old - $24.50
If you get your license before you turn 18, you will still be in a probationary status and there will be driving restrictions. Make sure you don’t break the rules, or you could face a license suspension!
Getting Started With Ohio Driver’s Ed
If the costs associated with completing the required Ohio driver’s education courses and getting your licenses seem a bit overwhelming, don’t worry. Many teens choose to get started with the classroom instruction since it takes a while to complete and is less expensive than behind-the-wheel training.
A good classroom course can help prepare you for driving and teach you what you need to know so you can pass your exam and get your learner’s permit. Once you have that, you can start driving legally with someone over 21 in the vehicle. You also need to have your temporary permit for at least six months before you’re eligible for a probationary license, so it’s a great idea to get started as soon as you can.
Updated 10/18/2024