New Driver's License & Temps (TIPIC)

The journey at a glance: three places, three jobs

The takeaway: the exam station decides whether you passed, and the BMV office puts the card in your hand.

What to bring for temps (checklist)

Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies and laminated documents are not accepted.

• Proof of full legal name and date of birth (certified U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport)
• Proof of your Social Security number (Social Security card, W-2, or 1099)
• Two proofs of Ohio residency from different sources (utility bill, bank statement, etc.)
• Proof of legal presence in the U.S.
• Proof of any legal name change, if your name differs across documents
• If under 18: a parent or legal guardian present to sign, with their own valid ID
• Payment for the permit fee

If the new driver wants their eventual license to be REAL ID-compliant, the document set is the same one described on the REAL ID page. See the full breakdown on what to bring to the BMV.

Step by step: from temps to license

Step 1, Pass the knowledge test and get temps

Study the Ohio Driver Manual (free on bmv.ohio.gov) before you start. Take the 40-question knowledge test through the state’s online or testing-location path, then bring your passing result and identity documents to a BMV office for vision screening and TIPIC issuance. See the knowledge test page.

Step 2, Complete driver training (under 18)

Ohio requires applicants under 18 to complete 24 hours of classroom instruction (in-person or approved online) and 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed instructor. Keep the completion certificates; you will need them at issuance.

Step 3, Practice during the holding period (under 18)

• Hold the TIPIC at least 6 months.
• Log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night.
• A parent or guardian signs a statement attesting to those hours, so track them honestly.

Step 4, Pass the skills test at a state exam station

The maneuverability (“cones”) exercise and the road test are administered at a state driver exam station, not at a BMV office. Schedule through the state’s driver exam system. You leave with a pass/fail result.

Step 5, Get the license issued at a BMV office

Bring the passing skills-test result, the TIPIC, driver-ed certificates (under 18), full identity documents, and a parent to sign if under 18. The clerk verifies everything, takes the photo, collects the fee, and issues the license. You decide REAL ID or standard at this step.

Adults getting a first license

If you are 18 or older and have never been licensed, you still begin with a TIPIC and the knowledge and vision tests, but the teen holding period and the formal training-hour requirements are eased. The core path is the same: temps, then skills test at an exam station, then issuance at a BMV office.

Fees

The figures below come from the Ohio BMV fee schedule (last updated 9/30/2025) and include the service fee. Confirm current fees on bmv.ohio.gov, as they can change.

A REAL ID-compliant card costs the same as a standard card, there is no surcharge.

Hours & location

• Phone: your local BMV office
• Verify weekday hours with the BMV office
• Saturday: 8 AM-1 PM

For directions, parking, and a map, see hours, location & directions.

What causes return trips

• Going to the exam station expecting a card. The exam station gives a pass/fail result. The BMV office issues the card.
• Arriving for temps without a parent (under 18). A parent or guardian must be present to sign.
• Bringing only one proof of Ohio address. A compliant first license needs two, from different sources.
• Under-logging practice hours. You need 50 hours (10 at night) and a signed attestation.
• Skipping the driver-ed certificates. Under-18 issuance requires proof of completed training.
• Photocopies of identity documents. Bring originals or certified copies.

Common questions

At what age can my teen get temps in Ohio? A new driver can apply for a TIPIC at 15 years and 6 months of age, after passing the knowledge test and a vision screening.

Does a BMV office give the road test? No. The driving skills test (cones + road test) is administered at a state driver exam station. A BMV office issues the license after you pass. See the driving skills test routing page.

How many questions are on the Ohio knowledge test? Forty multiple-choice questions on traffic laws and signs; you need 75% correct to pass. Study the Ohio Driver Manual first.

How long must my teen hold temps before the road test? Drivers under 18 must hold the TIPIC for at least 6 months and log 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night) before the skills test.

Do I have to bring a parent? Yes, if the applicant is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign at both temps and issuance, and must show their own valid ID.

Can I get a REAL ID as my first license? Yes. At issuance you choose REAL ID or standard. A first license requires full identity documents regardless, so meeting the REAL ID document set is straightforward, see the REAL ID page.

Helpful next pages

• DMVQ guide hub
• Knowledge Test & Permit
• Driving Skills Test (routing)
• Driver License Renewal
• Ohio REAL ID, documents & deadline
• What to Bring to the BMV
• Fees
• How to Get an Ohio Driver’s License (guide)

before you visit

Ready for temps, or to pick up that first license? Check queueing options or stop by during business hours. Bring the right documents the first time and the visit goes quickly.

Where this information comes from

• Ohio BMV, Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-gdl.aspx
• Ohio BMV, Acceptable Documents: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx
• Ohio BMV, Ohio’s REAL ID: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-real-id.aspx
• Ohio BMV, Documents & Fees (updated 9/30/2025): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx
• Ohio BMV, Driver License & ID Cards hub: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-gdl.aspx