If you’re planning to get your driver’s license in Ohio and you’re 18 to 21 years old, there’s an important new law you should know about.
Thanks to a new state budget passed in July 2025, Ohio has closed a long-standing loophole in driver education. Until now, new drivers over the age of 18 weren’t required to take a full driver’s education course.
That meant someone could wait until their 18th birthday, skip most of the training, and still walk away with a license after just a short written test or a four-hour class.
But that’s changing, and for good reason.
Why the Change?
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine pushed for this new rule, pointing to troubling crash statistics. In 2024, more than half of fatal accidents involving teen drivers happened with 18- or 19-year-olds behind the wheel.
It turns out that younger teens, who are required to go through full driver education, might actually be better prepared than older first-time drivers.
With the new rule in place, anyone age 21 and under will now be required to complete a full driver training course, the same one currently required for 16- and 17-year-olds.
What Does Driver Education in Ohio Include?
For new drivers under 18, Ohio already has a fairly strict training system, which includes:
- 24 hours of classroom instruction (this can be done online),
- 8 hours of driving with a certified instructor, and
- 50 additional hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian.
Young drivers also need to hold a temporary permit for at least six months before they can take the road test.
Now, that same level of training will apply to most first-time drivers up to age 21.
School-Based Driver’s Ed? Not Quite
Governor DeWine also wanted to include driver’s ed as part of the public school curriculum. However, lawmakers chose not to go that far. For now, driving schools will remain private.
The good news is that students will be allowed to leave school during non-core class hours to attend driver education.
What About Rural Areas?
If you live in a rural part of Ohio, finding a certified driving school might be tough. But since much of the classroom part can be done online, getting started should still be fairly easy. And the state hopes that better training will lead to safer roads for everyone.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a teen, a parent, or someone planning to get their first license, this is a big change for Ohio. The goal is simple: better-trained drivers, fewer accidents, and safer streets.
So, if you’re turning 18 soon and thought you could skip driver’s ed, think again. It’s time to hit the books (and the road).