On July 1, 2015, stricter teen driving laws went into effect in the State of Ohio. 1 The new law impacts all drivers between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age who hold a probationary license.
- Setting a curfew can help your teenager get to bed at a reasonable hour. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 years old need about 8 to 10 hours.
- Over the last five years, 15- to 17-year-old drivers have been at fault in more than 67,000 crashes in Ohio. Of those, 150 were fatal and 1,451 included a serious injury, according to the Ohio.
Teen Driving Laws for
16- and 17-Year-Olds
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Brochures
- Safety Tips for Parents and Teen Driving laws for 16-and 17-year-olds (PDF) Best printed on legal-size paper for easy reading.
- NEW:Parent Overview Guide: Welcoming Your New Driver (PDF) - DMV and AAA recommend some stress-reducing practices to help safeguard your teen and give you more peace of mind.
- FAQ's about Teen Driving Laws
Passenger | For the entire time a driver holds a learner’s permit, |
Curfew | No curfew, but must be accompanied by a qualified trainer. |
Seatbelts | All passengers in vehicle must use permanently installed seat belts. |
Cell phones, etc. | May not use cell phones (even if hands-free) or other mobile electronic devices while driving. This includes any hand-held computer or other device with a video display. |
Passenger | For the first 6 months after obtaining a driver license, may only drive with:
For the second 6 months, may drive with the above people and may also drive with immediate family (e.g., brothers, and sisters). |
Curfew | Until 18 th birthday, may not drive between hours of 11 p.m. – 5 a.m. unless it is for:
*See exemptions below |
Seatbelts | Until 18 th birthday, all passengers in vehicle must use permanently installed seat belts. |
Cell phones, etc. | Until 18 th birthday, may not use cell phones (even if hands-free) or other mobile electronic devices while driving. This includes any hand-held computers or other device with a video display. |
*Passenger and Curfew Exemptions:
The passenger and curfew restrictions do not apply to:
Is There A Curfew For 16 Year Old Drivers In Ohio
- active members of a volunteer fire company or department responding to an emergency
- active member of volunteer ambulance service or company responding to an emergency
Motorcycle Restrictions for 16/17 Year Olds
Motorcycle Restrictions for 18 Year Olds and Older
Passenger | · For first 3 months, no passengers. |
Additional Restriction for 16/17 Year Old Permit/License Holders:
In Indiana, there are different paths for young drivers to obtain a license depending on their age, education, and purpose for driving.
Learner's Permit
Driver's education. Beginning at 15 and a half years old, a teen who is enrolled in driver's education can take a written and a vision test to obtain a learner's permit. The permit allows the teen to drive only with a licensed driving instructor as part of the driver's education course. Once the teen has started the driver's education course, he or she can drive under the supervision of an authorized relative. In Indiana, an authorized relative is a licensed relative who is at least 25 years old or a licensed spouse at who is at least 21 years old.
No driver's education. Teens who are 16 years old can apply for a learner's permit without enrolling in driver's education but must still pass the vision and knowledge tests. This permit allows the licensee to drive in Indiana as long as an authorized relative (or licensed instructor) is in the front passenger seat.
The motorist must hold the learner's permit for at least 180 days before advancing to a probationary license.
Operator's License
After holding the learner's permit for 180 days, a teen can apply for an operator's license. The applicant must show completion of 50 hours of supervised driving time (ten of which must have been done at night). The applicant's parent or guardian must also sign a consent and liability statement for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). And to obtain the operator's license, the teen needs to pass a behind-the-wheel driving test.
Restrictions. Anyone who is under 21 years old and holds an operator's license is subject to certain restrictions. These drivers are entirely prohibited from using a cellular phone while driving and for the first 180 days of holding an operator's license:
- may not drive from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. unless for school, work, or religious activity, and
- may not transport any passenger other than the driver's child, sibling, or spouse.
These restrictions don't apply if the driver is supervised by a licensed driver who is at least 25 years old or a licensed spouse who is at least 21 years old.
After the first 180 days, a driver who's under 18 isn't permitted to drive from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. These restrictions are inapplicable if the driver is supervised by a licensed driver who's at least 25 years old or a licensed spouse who's at least 21 years old.
Violation of any teen license restriction is a class C violation and carries a fine of up to $500.
Hardship
Indiana permits individuals who can show hardship conditions to be exempt from certain requirements. The hardship provision can even waive up to six months of the age requirement.
Insurance
Do 16 Year Old Drivers Have A Curfew
Before any driver can operate a vehicle in Indiana, the vehicle must be properly insured. In Indiana, the mandatory insurance requirements are:
- Liability coverage. Must include at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident.
16 Year Old Driving Curfew Ohio
Uninsured driving is a class A violation and can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and driver's license suspension of 90 days to one year. A second offense within five years is a Class C misdemeanor and carries a mandatory one-year suspension of the driver's license and vehicle registration. A class C misdemeanor carries up to 60 days in jail and a maximum fine of $500.