Driving Tests

Ohio Probationary License Rules: Curfew, Passengers and Phones

informational·how to guide·Published June 22, 2026

What can a probationary license holder under 18 not do in Ohio?

An Ohio probationary license holder under 18 may not drive from midnight to 6 a.m. in the first 12 months, or from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. after that. A parent or guardian in the car, or a trip to or from work, an official school function or a religious event with written documentation, lifts the curfew. In year one, only one passenger may be from outside the family.

Where the Ohio probationary license facts come from

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), part of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, issues the license. The rules in this guide come from Ohio Revised Code 4507.071, the BMV page on teen and new driver licenses and the BMV forms list. Ohio Revised Code 4507.05 and 4507.21 add the eligible adult and 50-hour rules. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Ohio BMV (bmv.ohio.gov) before you drive.

Ohio probationary license limits by stage

Ohio probationary license limits by stage
Rule	First 12 months	After 12 months, under 18
No driving between	Midnight and 6 a.m.	1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Curfew exceptions	A parent or guardian in the car, or a trip to or from work, an official school function or a religious event with written documentation	The same exceptions
Passengers	One person who is not family, unless a parent, guardian or custodian is in the car	No more people in the car than factory-installed safety belts
Safety belts	No more people than factory belts, and every occupant wears all available belt parts	The same
Mobile devices (BMV rule)	No mobile devices, including cell phones	The same

Curfew exceptions and the BMV forms

For a work trip, carry written documentation from your employer. For a school function, carry it from a school official; for a religious event, from an event official. Two BMV forms fit: BMV 2825 for the employer and BMV 2826 for the event official. The documentation form is free, and any other written documentation also counts. You must have it with you while you drive.
The BMV page also lists a licensed driver 21 or older who is named on a notarized BMV 2438 as a curfew companion. The law names only a parent or guardian, so ask the BMV before you rely on a BMV 2438.

Who counts as family for the passenger limit

The law's family list includes a parent, stepparent, grandparent or parent-in-law, an aunt or uncle, a brother or sister (half and adopted siblings too), and a brother-in-law or sister-in-law. A stepparent's son or daughter counts if that stepparent has not adopted you. An eligible adult under Ohio Revised Code 4507.05 also counts, such as an approved driver training instructor, or a person 21 or older with a valid Ohio license who acts as your parent (in loco parentis). Friends are not on the list, so a first-year drive with two friends needs a parent, guardian or custodian along. See the free question on the first-year passenger limit.

What if the curfew rule meets a real situation?

You need to drive at 12:30 a.m. in your first year and have no work, school or religious event paperwork

Do not drive unless a parent or guardian is in the car. The free question on the first-year night limit shows this case.

An emergency made you drive during the curfew, or you are an emancipated minor

The law gives you an affirmative defense to a curfew charge. This defense covers the curfew only. It does not cover the passenger limit or the belt rule.

You were convicted of a moving violation in your first six months and the license was issued before you turned 17

The court may order a parent or guardian to ride along for up to six months or until you turn 17, whichever comes first. While the order lasts, the parent or guardian must be in the car. After a first moving violation, you may ask the court for driving privileges without them.

You get several traffic convictions before you turn 18

The license may be suspended. The Ohio teen driver suspension rules guide has the details.

Can police stop you for breaking curfew?

Not for that reason alone. Ohio Revised Code 4507.071 says an officer may not stop a vehicle for the sole purpose of checking for a curfew violation, and the same protection covers the safety belt rule. A curfew, passenger or belt violation is still a minor misdemeanor.

How to get an Ohio probationary license

1
Hold the TIPIC for six months
You must be at least 16 and have held your temporary instruction permit identification card (TIPIC, often called temps) for at least six months.
2
Finish driver education
Take a class at a licensed driver training school: 24 hours of classroom or online instruction and 8 hours of driving time. The Ohio driver education requirements guide explains the course.
3
Log 50 hours of driving
At least 10 of the 50 hours must be at night. An eligible adult signs the BMV 5791 Fifty-Hour Affidavit.
4
Pass the driving and skills tests
Schedule the test at BMV Online Services. Bring your TIPIC, the completed BMV 5791, a vehicle in good condition and your Driver Education Certificate. The test has two parts: driving and maneuverability.
5
Bring a co-signer and your documents
A responsible person who agrees to take on the obligation in Ohio Revised Code 4507.07 comes with you and shows a driver license or ID card to co-sign. Bring proof of your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number (if assigned), Ohio residency and citizenship or legal presence, plus the completed BMV 5791.
6
Buy the license within 60 days
Go to a deputy registrar license agency within 60 days of passing the driving and skills tests.

Key takeaways

Year one: no driving midnight to 6 a.m. After 12 months and under 18: no driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Exceptions: a parent or guardian in the car, or work, school or religious event trips with written documentation (BMV 2825 or BMV 2826).
Year one: one passenger who is not family, unless a parent, guardian or custodian rides along. Every occupant needs a safety belt.
No mobile devices, including cell phones, in either stage.
Next step: practice on the free Ohio temps (Class D knowledge) practice test. Its questions are in English only.

Ohio probationary license: common questions

Can I drive home from work after midnight on a probationary license?

Yes, if you have written documentation from your employer with you while you drive. The BMV form for this is BMV 2825, and any other written documentation from your employer also works. Without it, you may drive during the curfew only with a parent or guardian in the car.

When does the Ohio teen curfew change to 1 a.m.?

It changes 12 months after you get your probationary license. From then until you turn 18, you may not drive from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. The work, school and religious event exceptions and the parent or guardian exception stay the same.

How many friends can I drive with a probationary license in Ohio?

In your first 12 months, you may drive one person who is not family, unless a parent, guardian or custodian rides along. After that, the limit is your car's factory safety belts, and everyone must be belted. A car with five belts can carry the driver and four passengers.

What is the earliest age for a probationary license in Ohio?

Age 16. You must be at least 16 and have held your TIPIC for at least six months. The permit process can start at 15 years and 6 months, so a teen who gets the TIPIC at that age and finishes driver education, the 50 hours and the driving and skills tests can get the license at 16.

How long do I have to buy the license after I pass the driving test?

You have 60 days after you pass. You buy the probationary license at a deputy registrar license agency. Your co-signer comes with you and must show a driver license or ID card there.