Overview

• Starting Sept. 30, first-time applicants ages 16–20 must complete an approved course before taking the road test, ending the option for 18–20-year-olds to skip training.
• The curriculum requires 24 hours of classroom instruction, eight hours of behind-the-wheel training with an instructor, and 50 hours of supervised practice, including 10 at night.
• The new RoadReady Ohio app is optional and lets families log practice drives and see telematics-based feedback on braking, turning, acceleration and speed.
• App use requires an access code from a driver’s ed teacher, and families may print the log or submit a signed paper affidavit to the BMV to verify the 50 practice hours.
• To meet expected demand, the state announced grants for instructor recruitment and training plus a one-time $1,500 bonus for new instructors from Jan. 1 to June 30, while cost and local access remain concerns.