Easy Steps For Obtaining Your Ohio's Driver's Permit or License
Nothing can be more exciting for a person than going for their driver's license. Being able to drive on your own provides independence and lets you be in charge. Imagine being able to drive yourself to a basketball game featuring Lebron James and the Cavaliers? Or, taking your friends to see the Ohio State Buckeyes play football?
Getting your very own license will also let you drive to the mall, movies or anywhere you want. Still, the entire process can often seem complicated and time-consuming. That's because before you can get your driver's license in the state of Ohio, there are several things you need to be aware of. However, getting your Ohio driver's license, doesn't have to be difficult.
This guide containing the steps for obtaining your Ohio's driver's license can make the entire process easy. It covers everything that you need to know and be aware of when it comes to the Ohio driving test, rules and requirements.
Five Steps To Getting Your Ohio Driver's License
As with everything else, there are a few steps you need to take before you can get your driver's license in the state of Ohio.
For anyone who wants to obtain their Ohio license, the first step to take is registering to use our online driving course. Our course consists of 10, fun and easy to follow, modules. The entire Ohio's Drivers Ed. course totals 24 hours of online classroom instruction. Each person can do up to 4 hours of training per day, or within a 24-hour period. After the four hours, the student must stop and take a break. As regulated by the State, a student must also take a break if he/she does 2 straight hours of online training. The online system is set up so you can log back in and continue with the course once you have taken that break.
Upon beginning again, you can continue right at the place you last left off. Each person will have up to six months to complete the entire course. Since our driving courses are so enjoyable and simple to follow, you will breeze right through them. Using a mixture of images, 3D animations, videos, pop-ups and text, makes the modules very entertaining. So much so, that you will forget that you are actually studying and learning. After you have finished the first 2 modules of the course - or first 2 hours - (Company name) will mail you a certificate. This is a certificate of enrollment that will allow you to begin taking your behind-the-wheel training hours part. That comes after you get your permit. The enrollment certificate is required in order for a student to begin the 8 hours of actual behind-wheel-driving. These 8 hours are done with a licensed instructor.
Before you can begin taking the Ohio drivers license test, you must first get your learner's permit. The TIPIC, as it is called in Ohio, requires that you be at least 15 years and a half old. This is the age required in Ohio in order to be eligible to get a permit. Anyone who matches that age requirement can go their local BMV office to begin the temporary permit process. Anyone under the age of 18 must provide proof of legal name, date of birth, SSN; as well as take the knowledge test and vision screening. Showing your certificate of enrollment from (Company name) won't be required during this process. However, you will need to show it once you begin the behind-the-wheel part of the procedure. Be on the lookout for the certificate which will be mail to you.
In the exam, most of the questions will be largely based on traffic signs and vehicle regulations. You will need to score at least a 75% or higher. Or get no less than 30 out of the 40 questions correct, in order to pass. While some may be worried about the 40-question long exam, there are several things you can do.
For one, be sure to review a few hours of the online courses you took online with us. Going over the material will vastly improve your chances of passing the exam. Plus, it will help you study and prepare for the test. It will also refresh your memory to the material you learned. There is no limit to how many times you can take the written permit test. But, if you fail it, you will have to wait at least 24 hours before retaking it.
Keep in mind that you must go to the Deputy Registrar License Agency within 60 days of passing the written knowledge test and vision exam. By doing so, you can purchase and obtain your Temporary Instructional Permit Identification Card (TIPIC). Be sure to bring items such as your social security number, birth certificate, a valid ID card and any other documents related to this process. In addition, you will also have to pay a $22 fee to get your TIPIC.
After you obtain your permit, the next step is to practice your driving. You will have to enroll in a professional driving school that is State-certified. During this training, you will be required to accumulate 8 hours of total behind-the-wheel driving. Before you enroll in these driving classes, be sure to bring your (Company name) certificate. In addition to these hours, you will be required to complete a total of 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice. Ten of these hours must be done during the night. That means fifty hours behind-the-wheel with either your legal guardian or parent.
While there won't be a requirement for you to log these hours, your parent or legal guardian will have to fill out an affidavit. The document showing you did your 50 hours of driving will need to be notarized. When you go to the Driver Exam station for your driving test to get your license, this affidavit will need to be shown.
Those between the ages of 15 and half and 16 years old are only allowed to drive when they have either a parent or guardian with them. The adults in the vehicle's passenger seat must be licensed. At the same time, an In Loco Parentis Affidavit, can be obtained by your guardian or parent for you. This will allow the permit bearer to have any other licensed adult with them when they drive. The licensed adult will need to be at least 21 years or older though. Those that are 16 years or older, can drive only with a licensed adult who is over 21 years or older.
The minute you have begun to rack-up hours of driving training, you can start to focus on finishing your Driver's Education part. Again, you will have to take another multiple-choice examination. The exam will come at the end of your Online Driver's ed course. In order to move forward, you must score at least a 75% or higher on the exam. In the event that you fail, you will have to wait at least twenty-four hours before you can take it once again. If you fail the exam three times, you will have no choice but to take the entire driver's course all over again. That is the mandate according to DPD regulations.
To avoid this from happening, make sure that you pay attention during your Ohio's driver's online education courses. Upon completion of the online driver education course, you will receive your certificate of completion by mail. Keep in mind that you will need to show this to the professional driving school you select. Doing so will ensure that you will obtain your Driver Education Certificate. If you skip this step, you could be turned away when you go take your license examination.
Let's review below the final steps and requirements. These are the prerequisites you must meet, in order to move to the final phase to obtaining your driver's license! If you meet all of them, then you are ready to proceed.
The minute you meet all of these requirements, you are ready to move forward. To schedule your appointment, you can call the Ohio BMV at 614-752-7600. You can also contact a Driver Exam Station. Keep in mind that during high-volume seasons, the BMV spaces can be booked up right away.
During summer and spring break, it is more difficult to get an appointment. To make sure you get one, schedule it as far advanced as you can. In the event that you fail the driving test, you will have to wait a period of seven days before you can retake it again if you fail it four times in a row, then you will have to wait an entire six months before you are eligible to take it again.
Other things to keep in mind are:
Those under 18 years of age are not allowed to drive during the hours of midnight and 6 am. That is unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Same for those who have a probationary license for a period of less than 12 months.
Unless you are in the company of a guardian or parent, you are not allowed to drive a vehicle, with more than one nonfamily member as a passenger.
Individuals under 18 years of age, or those that only have had a probationary license for 12 months or longer, are not allowed to drive between the hours of 1 AM and 5 Am. That is unless they are in the company of a guardian or parent.
Remember what will happen in the event that you are convicted of a traffic offense within the first six months of you having your driver's license. This can result in you being required to have either a guardian or parent with you each time you drive. Either for six months, or until you reach the age of 17.
Getting several traffic convictions before you are 18, can also lead to your license being suspended.
Drivers that are convicted of traffic offenses which involve alcohol, can have their licenses suspended for a total of six months.
Enjoy Your Driving Freedom
If you have followed all our steps to obtaining your driver's license in Ohio, then you should have yours by now. The only thing left is getting your very own vehicle. Good luck and enjoy your privilege as a licensed driver in the state of Ohio!
