The Ohio permit test is a 40-question multiple-choice knowledge test from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), and you need 75%, or 30 correct answers, to pass. You can take it online at home from age 15 and a half or in person, and once you pass you buy your Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card, the permit most Ohioans simply call "temps".
Ohio permit test at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Agency | Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), bmv.ohio.gov |
| Minimum age | 15 years and 6 months |
| Questions | 40 multiple-choice questions on motor vehicle laws and traffic signs |
| Pass mark | 75%, which is 30 of 40 correct |
| Where | Online at home, or in person at a BMV testing location |
| Online option | Yes, on a computer with a webcam. Up to two online attempts in six months |
| Permit fee | The BMV fee list shows $26.50 for an operator temporary permit, deputy registrar fee included |
| Languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Japanese, Russian, Somali and Spanish, in text and audio, plus American Sign Language video |
| Retake | Wait at least 24 hours. No limit on in-person attempts |
How many questions are on the Ohio permit test?
The Ohio BMV says the knowledge test is 40 multiple-choice questions about motor vehicle regulations and traffic signs, and you must answer 75 percent correctly. That means you need 30 right answers, so you can miss up to 10 questions and still pass.
Ten sounds like a lot of room. In our experience, students who walk in counting on that cushion are the ones who come back for a second try. Study as if you can miss none.
What's on the Ohio temps test
The questions come from the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, which you can download free from the BMV. Ohio law says the exam must test your knowledge of traffic laws, including school bus stopping rules and phone use while driving, and your ability to understand traffic control devices such as signs and signals.
- Road signs: shapes, colors and meanings. Signs are a big share of the test and people skip them.
- Right of way, turning, lane use and passing.
- School buses: when you must stop and when you may keep going.
- Phones and electronic devices while driving.
- Alcohol, drugs and the penalties that come with them.
What makes Ohio different
Two things. First, the local name: most Ohio teens talk about "getting their temps" rather than a permit, because the card is officially a Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC). Second, Ohio lets you take the knowledge test online at home on a computer with a webcam, which many states do not offer.
How to study for the Ohio permit test
- Download the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws and read one section a day.
- Learn road signs by shape and color, then by meaning.
- Take the BMV's sample knowledge test to see the question style.
- Take Ohio permit test practice quizzes and write down every question you miss.
- When you score well above 30 of 40 every time, book your test.
What to bring and how to book
To take the test, the BMV needs your full legal name, date of birth and Social Security number, if you have one. After you pass, you buy the TIPIC at a deputy registrar license agency within 60 days. For that visit, bring:
- Proof of your full legal name, date of birth and Social Security number.
- Proof of Ohio residency.
- Proof of citizenship or legal presence.
- If you are under 18, a responsible adult who shows a driver license or ID card and co-signs.
- Any Ohio ID card you hold, because it is surrendered when the TIPIC is issued.
Check the Ohio BMV's Documents & Fees page for the current list and fees before you go, since requirements change.
Can you take the Ohio permit test online?
Yes. Teens can take the knowledge test online from age 15 and a half, and adults can too. You need a computer or laptop with a working webcam, and anyone from 15 and a half up to 19 must have a supervising adult present. You get up to two online attempts in six months, and some people cannot test online, including anyone with a suspended license, a medical flag, an active out-of-state license, or who needs special assistance.
What happens if you fail
The Ohio BMV says you must wait at least 24 hours before retesting. There is no limit on how many times you can take the test in person, but online you are limited to two attempts in six months, 24 hours apart. Use the day to review what you missed instead of booking the next slot right away.
After you pass
- Carry your TIPIC whenever you drive.
- Under 16: a parent, guardian or licensed driving instructor must sit in the front passenger seat.
- 16 and older: any licensed driver 21 or older may sit in the passenger seat, except from midnight to 6 a.m., when the BMV's stricter supervision rules apply.
- Everyone in the car must wear a seat belt.
Ohio permit test FAQ
Ohio permit test: how many questions?
The Ohio BMV knowledge test has 40 multiple-choice questions on motor vehicle laws and traffic signs.
How many questions are on the Ohio temps test?
The same 40 questions. "Temps" is the local name for the Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card you get after passing.
How many questions can you miss on the Ohio permit test?
You need 75%, which is 30 of 40 correct, so you can miss up to 10.
How much does the Ohio permit cost?
The Ohio BMV fee list shows $26.50 for an operator temporary permit, including the deputy registrar fee. Check bmv.ohio.gov before you go.
