Summary of Ohio (OH) BMV Handbook 2026

Driving in Ohio is a privilege that starts with getting your Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC). You must meet vision standards and pass a 40-question knowledge test.

Getting Your TIPIC (Permit)

• Must be at least 15 years and six months old to take the knowledge test.
• You need a 75% passing score (at least 30 correct answers) on the knowledge test.
• If you pass, you have 60 days to purchase your TIPIC at a License Agency.
• If you fail, you must wait one full day before retesting.

Driver Education Requirements

• Under age 21: Must complete 24 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of driving with an instructor.
• Must log 50 hours of driving with an eligible adult, including at least 10 hours at night.
• Drivers under 18 must hold their TIPIC for at least 6 months before taking the driving test.

Vehicle Inspection & Equipment

Ensure your vehicle is safe and legal to drive before you hit the road:

• Tires: Must have a minimum of 1/16-inch tread depth. Check pressure regularly. Studded tires are legal in Ohio from November 1 to April 15.
• Lights: Headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and license plate lights must be in working order.
• Window Tinting: Windshield must allow 70% light transmission. Front side windows must allow 50%.

Seat Belts and Safety Restraints

• Ohio law requires the driver and front-seat passengers to wear safety belts at all times in most passenger vehicles.
• Drivers under age 18: The number of occupants is limited to the number of installed safety belts, and everyone must wear a seat belt.
• Wear the shoulder belt across your chest with minimal slack. Do not wear it under your arm or behind your back.

Mirror and Seat Adjustment

Keep at least 10 inches between your chest and the steering wheel to allow safe airbag deployment. Adjust all mirrors to provide maximum visibility and minimize blind spots.

Distracted Driving Laws

Ohio has strict laws regarding the use of electronic devices while driving:

• Drivers Age 18 and Older: It is illegal to hold or support a cell phone while driving. You may only use hands-free technology and activate features with a single touch or swipe.
• Drivers Under Age 18: It is illegal to use any electronic device, even in hands-free mode or while stopped at a red light. Violation is a primary offense (60-day suspension and $150 fine for first offense).

Impaired Driving

• It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• This includes legally prescribed and over-the-counter medications that impair your ability to drive safely.
• Alcohol blurs vision, slows reaction time, and reduces your ability to judge distance and speed.

Speed Limits in Ohio

You must never drive faster than a speed that allows you to stop safely within the assured clear distance ahead. Standard limits are:

Right-of-Way Principles

• Intersections: Yield to the driver who arrives before you. If you arrive at the same time at a 4-way stop, yield to the driver on your right.
• Left Turns: You must yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn.
• Pedestrians: You must always yield to pedestrians entering or currently in a crosswalk.
• Emergency Vehicles: Yield to police, fire, and ambulances displaying flashing lights and sounding a siren.

Traffic Signals

• Solid Red: Stop behind the line or crosswalk. You may only turn right on red if safe and not prohibited by a sign.
• Flashing Yellow: Slow down and proceed through the intersection with caution.
• Flashing Red: Treat exactly like a stop sign. Come to a complete stop before proceeding.
• Inoperable Light: Treat an intersection with broken traffic lights as a four-way stop sign.

Bringing the Vehicle to a Stop

• Maintain a 3-4 second following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you to ensure you have enough stopping distance.
• Stopping distance depends on your reaction time, vehicle speed, brake condition, and pavement conditions.
• Stop behind the stop line or crosswalk at any stop sign or red traffic signal before entering an intersection.

Turning and Signaling

• A turn signal must be activated at least 100 feet before your intended turn.
• Right Turn on Red: You may turn right on red after a complete stop unless a sign specifically prohibits it. Yield to crossing pedestrians and traffic.
• Left Turn on Red: You may only turn left on red from the extreme left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless a sign prohibits it.
• When turning multiple lanes, stay in your lane until the turn is completely finished.

Passing and Lane Changes

• Pass only when safe. A broken (dashed) yellow line means passing is allowed; a solid yellow line means passing is prohibited.
• Two-Way Left Turn Lane: Marked with a broken yellow line on the inside and solid yellow on the outside. This center lane is for left turns only—it is not for traveling or passing.

Roundabouts

Traffic travels counterclockwise. Vehicles entering the roundabout must yield the right-of-way to the circulating traffic already inside. Do not change lanes once you enter a roundabout.

Alcohol and Drug Laws

Ohio law strictly prohibits Driving Under the Influence (OVI). Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limits are:

• Implied Consent: By driving in Ohio, you agree to submit to a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) if arrested for OVI. Refusal leads to an immediate license suspension (at least 1 year).
• First OVI offense carries severe penalties, including a minimum 3 days in jail (or intervention program), fines, and a license suspension from 1 to 3 years.

Financial Responsibility (Insurance)

• You must maintain auto liability insurance to drive in Ohio.
• Minimum coverage: $25,000 for injury/death of one person, $50,000 for multiple people, and $25,000 for property damage.
• Proof of insurance must be shown at traffic stops and accident scenes.

Child Passenger Safety

• Under 4 years old AND under 40 lbs: Must be in a federally approved child safety seat.
• Under 8 years old AND under 4'9": Must be in a booster seat when riding in a motor vehicle.
• Age 8 to 15: Must use a standard safety belt.

Headlights and Night Driving

• Headlights must be turned on from sunset to sunrise.
• Also required at any time visibility is less than 1,000 feet, or when using windshield wipers due to precipitation.
• Dim your high beams before you meet oncoming traffic or when you are following another vehicle closely.
• At night, keep your speed reasonable so you can stop safely within the distance illuminated by your headlights.

Fog and Winter Driving

• Fog: Use low-beam headlights. High beams reflect off the fog and impair visibility. Slow down and increase distance.
• Winter Ice & Snow: Bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas freeze first. Start your vehicle slowly, brake gently, and maintain a large space cushion.

Work Zones

Give construction workers a "brake." Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Watch out for orange diamond-shaped warning signs, barrels, and cones, and follow the instructions of any flaggers.

Visual and Space Management

• Scan the road ahead instead of staring at the vehicle directly in front of you. This gives you advance warning of hazards.
• Look ahead at least 10 to 15 seconds of travel time.
• Leave a space cushion around all sides of your vehicle to allow room to maneuver in an emergency.

Communicating with Others

• Always use your turn signals before changing direction or lane positioning.
• Use your horn to establish eye contact with other drivers or pedestrians if you feel they do not see you.
• Use your hazard (flashers) when your vehicle is disabled and pulled off the road.

Vulnerable Road Users

• Pedestrians: Always have the right-of-way in a crosswalk. If a pedestrian is at a corner, yield.
• Bicyclists: Must obey the same traffic rules as cars. Provide a safe passing distance of at least 3 feet.

Sharing the Road with Commercial Trucks

• The "No-Zone": Trucks have large blind spots on the front, rear, and both sides. If you can't see the truck driver in their side mirror, they can't see you.
• Turning: Large trucks make wide right turns. Do not pull up alongside a truck that has its right signal on.
• Stopping Distance: Trucks take much longer to stop. Never unexpectedly pull in front of a truck and hit your brakes.

Ohio's Move Over Law

Slow-Moving Vehicles

Farm machinery and animal-drawn vehicles travel at 25 mph or less. They display an orange triangle sign with a red border. By law, you may pass these slow-moving vehicles even in a no-passing zone if there is enough visibility and it is safe.

In the Event of a Crash

• Stop immediately: Leaving the scene of a crash is a serious offense (hit-and-run).
• Warn approaching traffic by turning on hazard lights or setting up flares.
• Notify police, especially if there are injuries, fatalities, or property damage exceeding $1,000.
• Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information with all involved parties.

Vehicle Malfunctions

The Ohio driving test consists of two parts: Maneuverability and On-Road Skills. You must pass both.

1. Maneuverability (Cones Test)

• You will steer your vehicle through a set of cones to demonstrate vehicle control.
• It involves driving forward and backing up through traffic markers.
• Knocking over a marker or displacing one will result in lost points.

2. On-Road Skills Test

• You must demonstrate safe driving in normal traffic situations.
• You will be judged on starting, stopping, turning, lane positioning, backing, and responding correctly to traffic signs and signals.
• If you commit a dangerous action or cause a crash during the test, it is an automatic failure.

• Once you pass the maneuverability and on-road tests, you must purchase the actual license from a Deputy Registrar License Agency.
• A standard driver's license expires on your birthday either four (4) or eight (8) years after issuance, depending on the option you choose.
• Always notify the BMV of an address change within 10 days.

Organ Donation and Programs

• Organ Donor: You may enroll in the Ohio Donor Registry when you get your license. A heart symbol will be printed on the card.
• Save Our Sight: You can donate $1 or more to help preserve children's vision in Ohio.
• Next of Kin: Adding emergency contact information allows law enforcement to easily reach your relatives in an emergency.

Vehicle Inspection & Equipment

Ensure your vehicle is safe and legal to drive before you hit the road:

• Tires: Must have a minimum of 1/16-inch tread depth. Check pressure regularly. Studded tires are legal in Ohio from November 1 to April 15.
• Lights: Headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and license plate lights must be in working order.
• Window Tinting: Windshield must allow 70% light transmission. Front side windows must allow 50%.

Seat Belts and Safety Restraints

• Ohio law requires the driver and front-seat passengers to wear safety belts at all times in most passenger vehicles.
• Drivers under age 18: The number of occupants is limited to the number of installed safety belts, and everyone must wear a seat belt.
• Wear the shoulder belt across your chest with minimal slack. Do not wear it under your arm or behind your back.

Mirror and Seat Adjustment

Keep at least 10 inches between your chest and the steering wheel to allow safe airbag deployment. Adjust all mirrors to provide maximum visibility and minimize blind spots.

Distracted Driving Laws

Ohio has strict laws regarding the use of electronic devices while driving:

• Drivers Age 18 and Older: It is illegal to hold or support a cell phone while driving. You may only use hands-free technology and activate features with a single touch or swipe.
• Drivers Under Age 18: It is illegal to use any electronic device, even in hands-free mode or while stopped at a red light. Violation is a primary offense (60-day suspension and $150 fine for first offense).

Impaired Driving

• It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• This includes legally prescribed and over-the-counter medications that impair your ability to drive safely.
• Alcohol blurs vision, slows reaction time, and reduces your ability to judge distance and speed.

Speed Limits in Ohio

You must never drive faster than a speed that allows you to stop safely within the assured clear distance ahead. Standard limits are:

Right-of-Way Principles

• Intersections: Yield to the driver who arrives before you. If you arrive at the same time at a 4-way stop, yield to the driver on your right.
• Left Turns: You must yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn.
• Pedestrians: You must always yield to pedestrians entering or currently in a crosswalk.
• Emergency Vehicles: Yield to police, fire, and ambulances displaying flashing lights and sounding a siren.

Traffic Signals

• Solid Red: Stop behind the line or crosswalk. You may only turn right on red if safe and not prohibited by a sign.
• Flashing Yellow: Slow down and proceed through the intersection with caution.
• Flashing Red: Treat exactly like a stop sign. Come to a complete stop before proceeding.
• Inoperable Light: Treat an intersection with broken traffic lights as a four-way stop sign.

Bringing the Vehicle to a Stop

• Maintain a 3-4 second following distance behind the vehicle ahead of you to ensure you have enough stopping distance.
• Stopping distance depends on your reaction time, vehicle speed, brake condition, and pavement conditions.
• Stop behind the stop line or crosswalk at any stop sign or red traffic signal before entering an intersection.

Turning and Signaling

• A turn signal must be activated at least 100 feet before your intended turn.
• Right Turn on Red: You may turn right on red after a complete stop unless a sign specifically prohibits it. Yield to crossing pedestrians and traffic.
• Left Turn on Red: You may only turn left on red from the extreme left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless a sign prohibits it.
• When turning multiple lanes, stay in your lane until the turn is completely finished.

Passing and Lane Changes

• Pass only when safe. A broken (dashed) yellow line means passing is allowed; a solid yellow line means passing is prohibited.
• Two-Way Left Turn Lane: Marked with a broken yellow line on the inside and solid yellow on the outside. This center lane is for left turns only—it is not for traveling or passing.

Roundabouts

Traffic travels counterclockwise. Vehicles entering the roundabout must yield the right-of-way to the circulating traffic already inside. Do not change lanes once you enter a roundabout.

Alcohol and Drug Laws

Ohio law strictly prohibits Driving Under the Influence (OVI). Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limits are:

• Implied Consent: By driving in Ohio, you agree to submit to a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) if arrested for OVI. Refusal leads to an immediate license suspension (at least 1 year).
• First OVI offense carries severe penalties, including a minimum 3 days in jail (or intervention program), fines, and a license suspension from 1 to 3 years.

Financial Responsibility (Insurance)

• You must maintain auto liability insurance to drive in Ohio.
• Minimum coverage: $25,000 for injury/death of one person, $50,000 for multiple people, and $25,000 for property damage.
• Proof of insurance must be shown at traffic stops and accident scenes.

Child Passenger Safety

• Under 4 years old AND under 40 lbs: Must be in a federally approved child safety seat.
• Under 8 years old AND under 4'9": Must be in a booster seat when riding in a motor vehicle.
• Age 8 to 15: Must use a standard safety belt.

Headlights and Night Driving

• Headlights must be turned on from sunset to sunrise.
• Also required at any time visibility is less than 1,000 feet, or when using windshield wipers due to precipitation.
• Dim your high beams before you meet oncoming traffic or when you are following another vehicle closely.
• At night, keep your speed reasonable so you can stop safely within the distance illuminated by your headlights.

Fog and Winter Driving

• Fog: Use low-beam headlights. High beams reflect off the fog and impair visibility. Slow down and increase distance.
• Winter Ice & Snow: Bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas freeze first. Start your vehicle slowly, brake gently, and maintain a large space cushion.

Work Zones

Give construction workers a "brake." Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Watch out for orange diamond-shaped warning signs, barrels, and cones, and follow the instructions of any flaggers.

Visual and Space Management

• Scan the road ahead instead of staring at the vehicle directly in front of you. This gives you advance warning of hazards.
• Look ahead at least 10 to 15 seconds of travel time.
• Leave a space cushion around all sides of your vehicle to allow room to maneuver in an emergency.

Communicating with Others

• Always use your turn signals before changing direction or lane positioning.
• Use your horn to establish eye contact with other drivers or pedestrians if you feel they do not see you.
• Use your hazard (flashers) when your vehicle is disabled and pulled off the road.

Vulnerable Road Users

• Pedestrians: Always have the right-of-way in a crosswalk. If a pedestrian is at a corner, yield.
• Bicyclists: Must obey the same traffic rules as cars. Provide a safe passing distance of at least 3 feet.

Sharing the Road with Commercial Trucks

• The "No-Zone": Trucks have large blind spots on the front, rear, and both sides. If you can't see the truck driver in their side mirror, they can't see you.
• Turning: Large trucks make wide right turns. Do not pull up alongside a truck that has its right signal on.
• Stopping Distance: Trucks take much longer to stop. Never unexpectedly pull in front of a truck and hit your brakes.

Ohio's Move Over Law

Slow-Moving Vehicles

Farm machinery and animal-drawn vehicles travel at 25 mph or less. They display an orange triangle sign with a red border. By law, you may pass these slow-moving vehicles even in a no-passing zone if there is enough visibility and it is safe.

In the Event of a Crash

• Stop immediately: Leaving the scene of a crash is a serious offense (hit-and-run).
• Warn approaching traffic by turning on hazard lights or setting up flares.
• Notify police, especially if there are injuries, fatalities, or property damage exceeding $1,000.
• Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information with all involved parties.

Vehicle Malfunctions