Overview

• Effective Sept. 30, first‑time applicants under 21 must complete 24 classroom hours, eight hours with an instructor, and 50 supervised practice hours, including 10 at night.
• The new RoadReady Ohio app can log practice time, score braking, acceleration, turning and speed, offer feedback, and generate BMV documentation, though use of the app is optional.
• There is no grandfathering, so 18‑ to 20‑year‑olds who passed the written test but have not taken the road test must meet the new education and practice requirements.
• State leaders point to safety data, including hundreds of thousands of youth‑related crashes since 2020 and 2024 figures showing most fatal teen crashes were attributed to teen drivers.
• To expand capacity, Ohio announced instructor recruitment supports and a one‑time $1,500 bonus available Jan. 1–June 30, as families face typical private‑course costs near $100 for classroom plus $300–$400 for behind‑the‑wheel, and districts may offer courses and excuse eight school hours for private lessons.