Ohio Commuter'southward License and Country ID Information

The Ohio Agency of Motor Vehicles (BMV) issues commuter's licenses and identification (ID) cards for people residing in the state of Ohio. A driver'southward license provides permission to drive in Ohio and serves every bit official identification. The ID card does not authorize driving, but serves equally official identification. It tin be useful to take legal identification from Ohio for activities such every bit cyberbanking, domestic travel, proving your age (such as at 21-and-over venues), etc.

If yous accept an International Driver's Permit, you may use that document plus your valid dwelling house country license to drive in Ohio for upwards to ane year.  Note: International Driver's Permits must be obtained outside of the U.South.   However, if you buy a car and want to register information technology in your name, or if you do not have an International Commuter'southward Permit or valid driver's license from Ohio, you will demand to go an Ohio driver'southward license. For detailed information about obtaining an Ohio driver's license or ID card, visit the BMV website.

Getting an Ohio Commuter's License

  1. If this is the starting time time that you take ever operated a vehicle, consider attending driving school before applying for your driver'south license. You tin search online for a variety of driving schools in the Youngstown area, as well as Mahoning County.
  2. Laissez passer vision, written, and road tests.
    1. Download, report, and acquire all material in the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws. The Ohio BMV has a free online practice exam. DMV.org also has several free practice exams including one to bank check your knowledge of Route Signs.
    2. Take the vision and written tests at a Driver Test Station
      • 417 E. Master St., Canfield, OH 44406
      • Yous must present the documents listed under Required Documents (encounter page 2) at the time of the vision and written tests.
      • The written test can also exist taken in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Russian, Somali, and Spanish.

If you laissez passer the vision and written tests, you will be issued a Temporary Instruction Allow Identification Card (TIPIC) that volition be valid for ane year. With your temporary driving permit, you must drive with a valid driver (over the age of 21) and are non allowed to drive by yourself. Yous will receive a citation and your vehicle may be towed by the police if you exercise non take a valid driver in the car with you.  If you lot are under the age of xviii, check the BMV website for TIPIC restrictions.

When you lot have developed your driving skills well enough, schedule a route test online. Note that you will demand to take your temporary permit to your road test.  If you pass the road test, yous will get an Ohio commuter'southward license. You must surrender your TIPIC at the fourth dimension of the driver license issuance.

If y'all are a new educatee or a standing pupil who is starting a new program, you must expect at least two weeks afterward the semester begins to apply for a driver'south license. This delay will provide fourth dimension for the government system to synchronize with the BMV's database.

Required Documents

Applicants must present current immigration/visa documents and proof of Ohio residency at each ID card or license issuance. The Ohio BMV requires the following items to apply for a state ID card, to take the vision and written tests, and to use for the TIPIC and/or driver'south license:

  • Valid passport
  • Visa (Exceptions: Canadians & Bermudians)
  • Form I-94 (can be printed from the CBP website)
  • Electric current I-xx or DS-2019
  • Proof of a Social Security number (if you have ane)
  • Proof of Ohio Residency (an official certificate with your Ohio address)
    • Example: lease agreement, bank statement, utility bill, YSU enrollment verification letter of the alphabet.  The of import thing is that your current Ohio street address is printed correctly on the document.
  • Payment for the Driver'south License/ID Card fee (the BMV will accept cash, check, money lodge or credit/debit bill of fare)

To see which specific documents yous can employ to fulfill these requirements, review the Adequate Documents List from the Ohio BMV.

Driver's License Renewals

Your driver's license will just be valid until the stop appointment on your I-xx or DS-2019. If you receive a new I-20 or DS-2019 with a longer end date, yous may renew your license with the new documentation. You should take the new I-xx or DS-2019, the onetime I-twenty or DS-2019 and all of the documents used to apply for your first driver's license to the BMV. Y'all must do this BEFORE your electric current driver's license expires.

If you are in your 60-twenty-four hour period grace menstruum and are leaving the U.Southward. during that period, yous will not be able to renew your commuter's license later on your I-20 end date.

If your I-20 has expired and your OPT asking is awaiting yous will likely not be able to renew your driver'south license until you lot have your OPT bill of fare. Check with the local BMV office.

Driving in the United States

If you purchase a automobile, it is mandatory that you lot besides purchase auto insurance.  Remember to carry both your license and proof of insurance with you whenever you drive.

If yous are driving and a police officer turns on the lights of their car, immediately pull over to the side of the road and await for the officer to approach you. Provide any documentation that the officer asks for and do not leave until they give you permission.  If you receive a citation, you must follow-up and pay any fines or become to any assigned court dates.

Always clothing your seat belt! According to Ohio law, every driver and front seat passenger must wear a seat belt.

Ohio has a ban on texting while operating a motor vehicle.  Developed drivers defenseless writing, sending or reading a text face a misdemeanor fine of upwardly to $150.