Supervised practice and driver education in Ohio

By the end of this topic you can

• You can describe Ohio's driver education requirement for drivers under 21.
• You can state how many supervised hours you need and how many must be at night.
• You can name who is allowed to supervise you at different ages.
• You can fill in and bring the BMV 5791 Fifty-Hour Affidavit to your road test.
• You can list the rules that apply inside the car while you practice.

What you need to know and understand

• Driver education must be taken at a licensed driver training school: 24 hours of classroom or online instruction plus 8 hours of driving with an instructor.
• You must also log 50 hours of supervised driving, with at least 10 at night, on top of the course.
• Both requirements apply to applicants under 21. Under-18s must also hold the TIPIC for at least six months.
• The completed BMV 5791 Fifty-Hour Affidavit must be brought to your driving test appointment.
• Your supervisor must not be intoxicated, and you and every passenger must wear a seat belt.
• The number of people in the car cannot be more than the number of seat belts, and permit holders may not use mobile electronic devices while driving.

Driver education: the 24 plus 8 course

The course has two parts: 24 hours of classroom or online lessons and 8 hours behind the wheel with a licensed instructor. You will need the Driver Education Certificate at your driving and skills test. Find approved schools through the Ohio Driver Training website run by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office.

Adults aged 21 and over usually do not need the full course, but some temporary residents must complete it plus 50 hours and hold the permit for at least 14 days. If an adult fails the road test the first time, a shorter abbreviated course is required instead.

Who can sit beside you

• Under 16: a parent, guardian, custodian or licensed driving instructor (or an adult aged 21 or older acting in place of a parent).
• Age 16 and 17: any licensed driver aged 21 or older, except midnight to 6 a.m., when a parent, guardian, custodian or an adult named on a notarized BMV 2438 must be with you.
• Age 18 and over: any licensed driver aged 21 or older.

Logging your 50 hours

1. Download the BMV 5791 Fifty-Hour Affidavit, or use the free RoadReady Ohio app to log drives.
2. Record every session: date, time, length and conditions. Make sure at least 10 hours are after dark.
3. Mix up the conditions: city streets, rural roads, highways, rain and night driving.
4. Have the form completed and signed as required, then bring it to your driving test. Our separate 50-hour affidavit checklist covers the form line by line.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the night hours until last. Book darker evenings in winter to collect them early.
• Practicing with a 19 or 20-year-old friend. Supervisors must be licensed drivers aged 21 or older.
• Packing extra friends into the car. Occupants cannot exceed the number of seat belts.
• Losing track of hours. An incomplete affidavit can stop you from testing.

Test yourself: Supervised practice and driver education in Ohio

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Ohio 50-Hour Affidavit
• Ohio Bioptic License Rules
• Ohio Permit Practice Test