It Just Got Harder to Get a Driver's License in Ohio, but That's Not a Bad Thing
A new state budget requires any Ohioan under the age of 21 to complete a full driver-training course.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine had also looked to move driver training into the public school system, but that's not currently happening.
Thanks to a newly passed state budget in Ohio, adults looking to get a driver's license in the state will have to complete a driver education class, similar to that required for new drivers under the age of 18. If you're not an Ohio resident, it may come as a surprise that this wasn't already a requirement, but it's true. Previously, if you deferred getting your driving license from 16 until 18, all you needed to do was pass a road test or complete a four-hour course.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has been calling for a change to this loophole for months, and has now signed into the budget the requirement that any Ohioan 21 and under will be required to pass a full course. He cites local collision records as proof positive that current driving training isn't cutting it: in 2024, more than half of fatal crashes with teen drivers involved 18- or 19-year-olds. From the statistics, younger drivers may actually be better trained.
If you're a new driver under the age of 18 in Ohio, required driver training is about the same as in many other states: 24 hours of classroom instruction (online is also allowable) is followed by eight hours of on-the-road driving, with a requirement of a further 50 hours of instruction by a parent or guardian. A temporary driving permit has to be held for at least six months.
With it being so easy to just wait until an 18th birthday and wing it, many young drivers choose the path of least resistance. Now, that route is closed, although it's not all good news for public safety.
Gov. DeWine had also looked for an inclusion in the state budget that would make driver education part of the public school curriculum. Other legislators nixed this, keeping driving schools in the private sector. Students will, however, be allowed to leave school outside of core classes to attend a driving class.
If you live in a rural part of Ohio, the new rules might be something of a pain, as accessibility to driving schools is limited. However, the online component at least should be straightforward, and requiring more education and time behind the wheel is undoubtedly a good thing for road safety as a whole.
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