How Ohio’s recently passed budget will expand driver’s education requirements 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio will soon require more of its residents to complete driver's education before receiving a license, thanks to a provision included in the state's recently passed operating budget.

The $60 billion two-year budget, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine last week, will nix a portion of the state’s current law that allows 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to bypass driver’s ed. Instead, the legislation will require training for everyone under 21. 

“We know that young people who go through driver’s training become safer drivers – safer for themselves and safer for everyone else on the road,” DeWine said at a July 1 news conference. “This not only protects young drivers; it protects everyone on our streets and our highways.”

Currently, legal adults may skip driver’s ed and obtain their license by simply passing the road test. If they fail, they are required to complete an abbreviated driver training course, including four hours of classroom instruction and four hours of behind-the-wheel training, before taking the test again. 

Meanwhile, those under 18 must meet multiple requirements before taking the road test, including a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction, eight hours of behind-the-wheel training and 50 hours of in-car supervised practice, including 10 hours at night. They also must hold a temporary permit for six months.

These requirements will soon also apply to residents under 21, when the provision goes into effect on Sept. 28, along with other policy changes included in the legislation.

In 2024, there were 97 fatal crashes involving a teen, nearly 70% of which were at the fault of the teen driver, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Of those drivers, 49% had their driver’s license for a year or less and 34% did not receive driver’s ed. 

Another study by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that Ohio drivers who obtained their license at 18 -- making them exempt from comprehensive driver's ed -- had the highest crash rates in their first year of having a license compared to all drivers under the age of 25.

In a news release, the Ohio Driving School Association (ODSA) said it fully supports the “critical” change, which will “instill a deeper understanding of safe driving practices” among new motorists.

"Our mission has always been to promote responsible driving through comprehensive education, and [the budget] directly reflects that commitment,” said Tom Kircher, President of ODSA. “These laws will ensure that new drivers are better prepared for the complexities of today's roadways, protecting not only themselves but all Ohioans.”

The organization said it is anticipating an increased demand for driver’s ed, and that it is committed to providing its members with the necessary tools to succeed under the new regulations. 

"We anticipate a surge in enrollments this fall, and our schools are gearing up to meet that demand, continuing to deliver the highest quality driver education in the state,” Heather Fox, an ODSA spokesperson, said.

The final version of the budget lacks a provision DeWine proposed that would have given millions to public schools to launch driver’s ed programs. Instead, lawmakers included a provision that will require districts to excuse high school students who are taking a private driving course for eight hours, outside of core classes. 

After the budget passed, some Ohio residents expressed concern on social media about how the change will impact those who cannot afford driver's ed. Some residents stated that they waited until 18 to attempt to get their licenses because they did not have the money for the courses. 

In Ohio, most driving schools charge around $100 for 24 hours of classroom instruction, and between $300 and $400 for eight hours of behind-the-wheel training, according to DriversEd.com, an online provider of driving courses.