Driving Tests

Ohio 50-Hour Affidavit and Driving Log: Who Signs, Night Hours, Notary

informational·how to guide·Published May 26, 2026

What is the Ohio 50-hour affidavit, and who needs it?

The BMV 5791 Fifty-Hour Affidavit shows that a new Ohio driver logged at least 50 hours of supervised driving, with at least 10 at night. Every applicant under 21 needs it, and so do adults 21 or older who apply for a limited term license. An eligible adult, such as a parent or guardian, signs it before a notary, and you bring it to the driving test.

Where the Ohio 50-hour affidavit facts come from

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), part of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, issues the form and gives the tests. The facts in this guide come from Ohio Revised Code 4507.21, the BMV page on temporary permits and new driver licenses and the BMV 5791 Fifty-Hour Affidavit (9/25). The BMV page for non-U.S. citizens and the Ohio Driver Training guide Teaching Your Teen to Drive (DTO 0171) add some details. The law text used here is the version in effect from September 30, 2025; a newer version took effect March 20, 2026. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Ohio BMV (bmv.ohio.gov) before you drive.

Ohio 50-hour affidavit rules by age

Ohio 50-hour affidavit rules by age
Rule	Under 18	18 to 20	21 or older
Needs the affidavit	Yes	Yes	Only for a first limited term (non-renewable) license
Practice hours	50, with at least 10 at night	50, with at least 10 at night	50, with at least 10 at night
Who signs	An eligible adult	An eligible adult	An adult with a valid Ohio license who rode along for the hours
Driver training	24 hours of classroom or online instruction and 8 hours of driving	The same course	An approved driver training course, for a first limited term license
Bring the form to	The driving test and the license purchase	The driving test and the license purchase	The driving test

What counts as night driving on the Ohio 50-hour log

On the BMV 5791, night hours start half an hour after sunset and end half an hour before the next sunrise. The log has separate columns for day and night time, and its footer asks for a minimum of 50 hours: 40 day hours and 10 night hours. For each drive, write the date, the supervising licensed driver's name and Ohio driver license number, and the start and end times with a.m. or p.m. The free question on the practice log for drivers under 21 checks the same numbers.

Who can sign the Ohio 50-hour affidavit?

You are under 21, and a parent, guardian or custodian helps you practice

That parent, guardian or custodian can sign. Ohio Revised Code 4507.21 calls this person an eligible adult. The form asks for the adult's name, driver license or ID card number and relationship to you.

You are under 21, and an adult who is not your parent, guardian or custodian helps you practice

A person over 21 who acts in loco parentis (in place of a parent) can sign, if that person keeps proof of financial responsibility for your car or for your driving. An adult friend or a sibling who does not act as your parent is not on the list.

You are 21 or older and apply for a limited term license

The signer must hold a current valid Ohio driver license (the law also accepts an Ohio commercial driver license) and must ride along for the 50 hours. The same adult supervises the drives and signs the form.

You are 21 or older, and the BMV waives your examination or you come from a country with a reciprocal arrangement with the BMV

The law exempts you from the driver training course and the 50-hour affidavit for a limited term license. The BMV can tell you if this applies to you.

How to fill out and turn in the BMV 5791

1
Choose paper or the app
Log hours by hand on the paper BMV 5791 (at bmv.ohio.gov, any driver license exam station or any deputy registrar), or in the free RoadReady Ohio phone app. With the app, you download the affidavit and the log after you finish the hours.
2
Log every practice drive
Fill in one row for each drive, and keep day and night hours apart until you reach 50 hours, with at least 10 at night.
3
Sign in front of a notary
Take the unsigned form to a notary public. The eligible adult signs it there, and the notary completes the notary block and seal.
4
Schedule the driving test
Book the driving and skills test at BMV Online Services. Bring your TIPIC, the completed BMV 5791 and a vehicle in good condition, which is inspected before the test begins. Under 18, also bring your Driver Education Certificate and hold the TIPIC for at least six months first; at 18 to 20, bring a copy of the certificate. The Ohio driving test guide explains both parts of the test.
5
Buy the license within 60 days
After you pass, go to a deputy registrar license agency within 60 days. Under 21, the completed BMV 5791 is also on the list of documents for the license.

What happens if the 50-hour log is not true?

Under Ohio Revised Code 4507.21, knowingly making a false statement in the 50-hour affidavit of a driver under 21 is a minor misdemeanor with a $100 fine. The notice on the BMV 5791 also warns that a false affidavit can lead to a fine, jail time or both, and it names Ohio Revised Code 2921.21 and 4507.21. Log only real drives, each with the name of the driver who really supervised it.

Tips from Ohio's 50-hour guide for parents

Keep early drives short. Hold each session to an hour or less until the new driver can do all the basics.
Build up slowly. Use a vacant parking lot for the first lesson or two, then move to light traffic, then heavy traffic.
Give clear, calm cues. Tell the driver what to do next, such as easing off the gas and starting to brake, instead of shouting "slow down."
Match the course. When you can, plan practice around what the driver education course teaches that week.
Plan the night hours. The guide has a full lesson on control of the car at night and at twilight.
Call your insurer. Some insurers add a teen to the policy at the temporary permit stage, and others at the license stage.

Key takeaways

Every Ohio applicant under 21, and adults 21 or older who apply for a limited term license, log at least 50 hours with at least 10 at night.
Night hours run from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before the next sunrise.
An eligible adult (a parent, guardian or custodian, or in some cases an adult over 21 who acts in place of a parent) signs the BMV 5791 in front of a notary.
Bring the completed form to the driving test. Under 21, it is also on the document list when you buy the license.
Next step: practice on the free Ohio temps (Class D knowledge) practice test. Its questions are in English only.

Ohio 50-hour affidavit: common questions

Does the Ohio 50-hour affidavit have to be notarized?

Yes. The BMV 5791 has a notary block, and the eligible adult must sign it in the presence of a notary public. Do not sign it at home first. This applies to the paper form and to the affidavit that you download from the RoadReady Ohio app after you finish your hours.

Can I log my 50 hours on an app instead of paper?

Yes. Ohio accepts hours logged in the free RoadReady Ohio phone app or written by hand on the log of the paper BMV 5791. With the app, you download the affidavit and the driving log when the required hours are done. Then the eligible adult signs before a notary, and you bring the form to your driving test.

Do I need the 50-hour affidavit if I am 18 in Ohio?

Yes. Applicants from 18 to 20 must finish driver education and log 50 hours of supervised practice with an eligible adult, at least 10 of them at night. At 21 or older, you need the affidavit only for a limited term license, and then the adult who signs must hold a valid Ohio license and ride with you.

Can my older brother or a family friend sign my 50-hour log?

Only if that person is an eligible adult under Ohio law. For a driver under 21, the signer must be a parent, guardian or custodian, or a person over 21 who acts in place of a parent and keeps proof of financial responsibility for your driving or your car. A brother or friend who does not act as your parent cannot sign.