Ohio Permit Practice Test — BMV Written Test, 40 Questions
Free 10-question Ohio permit practice test, then full 40-question tests like the BMV exam (30 to pass), each question cited to the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws.
The exam
The Ohio Department of Public Safety knowledge test is 40 questions, and 30 correct is a pass. Everything on it comes out of Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws. Officially it is the knowledge test; most people call it the written test, or the permit test.
How this works
Most practice tests hand you a bank of questions and leave the manual somewhere else. This one puts them together.
You read one law and the reason behind it, then answer a question on that law while it is still fresh. Get it right and you move on; get it wrong and you have found the gap while it is cheap to fix, not on the morning of the exam.
Learning one rule at a time, and proving it immediately, is what turns a manual you skimmed into something you actually know — and it makes studying feel like getting somewhere rather than like waiting to find out.
Ask a question about Ohio road law
Easier than searching the manual: ask in your own words — how far from a fire hydrant you may park, when you must stop for a school bus — and the answer comes from Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws or Ohio’s code, with the page or the section it is in. When neither says, the answer says so rather than guess. Or tick Nationwide and compare every state on one question.
What it costs
- One payment, once — not a subscription. Nothing renews and there is nothing to cancel, for an exam you sit one time.
- Free to start: a 10-question test and the first section of cards. No sign-up and no account.
- Paying opens the rest of the cards, unlimited full-length practice tests, and retests built from exactly the questions you got wrong.
- Every level up to Prepared — 3 tests passed in a row.
- Do the work, fail the real exam, and we refund you.
What Ohio tests
58 concepts, 216 separate rules. Each one is a page of its own.
- Vehicle equipment — 7 laws
- Tire safety — 4 laws
- When to use lights — 3 laws
- Driver position — 4 laws
- Safety belts — 5 laws
- Vision and fatigue — 2 laws
- Aggressive driving — 2 laws
- Distracted driving — 5 laws
- Phones under 18 — 3 laws
- Impairment basics — 3 laws
- Speed limits — 7 laws
- Right of way — 7 laws
- Traffic signals — 5 laws
- Regulatory signs — 5 laws
- Warning signs — 6 laws
- Railroad signs — 2 laws
- Work zone signs — 1 law
- Work zone rules — 2 laws
- Guide and route signs — 1 law
- Route numbers — 1 law
- Pavement markings — 5 laws
- Crosswalks — 2 laws
- Stopping — 4 laws
- Backing up — 4 laws
- Turning — 6 laws
- Turn on red — 4 laws
- Roundabouts — 4 laws
- Lane travel — 2 laws
- Changing lanes — 2 laws
- Merging and exiting — 3 laws
- Passing — 4 laws
- Railroad crossings — 3 laws
- School buses — 4 laws
- Parking — 5 laws
- Insurance — 3 laws
- Alcohol and the law — 7 laws
- Impairing drugs — 3 laws
- Points and suspension — 5 laws
- Child restraints — 5 laws
- Traffic stops — 3 laws
- Night driving — 4 laws
- Hazardous weather — 5 laws
- Work zones — 2 laws
- Visual search — 3 laws
- Stopping distance — 3 laws
- Following distance — 3 laws
- Space to the side — 3 laws
- Communicating — 3 laws
- Hot vehicles — 2 laws
- Pedestrians — 3 laws
- Motorcycles — 4 laws
- Bicyclists — 4 laws
- Large vehicles — 4 laws
- Emergency vehicles — 2 laws
- Slow moving vehicles — 4 laws
- Driving emergencies — 4 laws
- Vehicle malfunctions — 5 laws
- Crashes — 5 laws
Questions from the Ohio test
Who is responsible for a vehicle being roadworthy before it is driven?
The driver, who must not take an unsafe vehicle onto a highway. You cannot control the other traffic, but the state holds you to the one thing you can control. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.7: “No person shall drive or move, or cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person.”
Where do you find the tire pressure your vehicle was designed for?
On the door jamb, recorded in PSI. The number molded into the tire is its maximum, not the pressure your car was designed around. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.8: “Maintain the tires at the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire pressure level. The vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire pressure, measured in PSI, is indicated on the door jamb.”
Your wipers are running in daytime rain. What does Ohio require?
Headlights on, because the wipers are in use for precipitation. The wiper rule is the one that catches people: rain heavy enough to wipe is rain heavy enough to be seen in. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.8: “Ohio law requires headlights to be on sunset to sunrise, at any time visibility is poor (rain, snow, fog, etc.), and any time the windshield wipers are in use because of precipitation.”
How much space should there be between your chest and the steering wheel?
10 inches. An airbag opens faster than you can blink; the ten inches is the difference between it catching you and hitting you. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.8: “There is at least 10 inches between your chest and the steering wheel to allow appropriate space for airbag deployment.”
Who must wear a safety belt in most passenger vehicles in Ohio?
The driver and every front-seat occupant. Belts and airbags are designed as one system, and the belt is the half that keeps you in position for the other. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.9: “Ohio's mandatory safety belt usage law requires drivers and front-seat occupants of most passenger vehicles to wear safety belts whenever they drive or ride in a motor vehicle on Ohio's roadways.”
You passed your vision screening wearing glasses. What does your license require?
That you wear your corrective lenses when driving. The restriction is part of the license, so driving without the lenses is driving outside it. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.10: “If you complete the vision screening with corrective lenses, your Driver License will indicate a vision restriction and you must always wear your corrective lenses when driving.”
What makes driving aggressive rather than merely careless?
The act is intentional and endangers other people or property. The word in the definition is intentionally, which is what separates it from a mistake. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.10: “Aggressive driving occurs when an individual intentionally commits an action that endangers other persons or property.”
Which of these counts as a distraction while driving?
An emotional conversation with a passenger. The third kind is the one drivers argue about, and it is the one on the list that leaves no evidence. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.10: “A distraction is anything that takes attention away from driving, whether it is physically taking your hands from the wheel, eyes away from the road, or mental activities that take your mind away from driving.”
May a driver under 18 take a hands-free call at a red light?
No, the ban covers hands-free use and stopped traffic too. The exemption that lets adults take a hands-free call does not exist for a driver under eighteen. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.11: “It is illegal to use any electronic device while driving, even hands-free, or while sitting at a traffic light or in a traffic jam.”
How do alcohol and drugs affect a driver's vision?
They blur it and reduce judgment of distance. Judging closing speed is most of what driving is, and it is the first thing to go. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.11: “Vision: May cause blurred vision; reduced ability to focus; and reduced ability to judge distance, speed, and the movement of other vehicles”
Fog has cut visibility well below the posted speed limit. What does the law require?
A speed that lets you stop within your sight. The posted number is a ceiling for good conditions, never a promise about the ones you are in. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.12: “Regardless of the posted speed limit, Ohio law prohibits a person from driving at a speed greater than what allows the driver to stop in the distance available.”
What does right-of-way describe?
Which road user has priority to proceed. The law says who must yield; it never says anyone may insist. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.13: “Right-of-way describes the priority of traffic flow, meaning a pedestrian or vehicle, has the right to proceed with precedence over others in a particular situation or place.”
Where must you wait at a red traffic light?
Behind the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection. Where you stop matters as much as that you stopped, because the crosswalk belongs to somebody. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.14: “A red traffic light means stop before entering the intersection. You must wait behind the stop line, crosswalk, or intersection until the traffic light turns green.”
What do regulatory signs do?
Give notice of a traffic law or regulation that applies there. A regulatory sign is the law standing at the roadside, which is why ignoring one is an offense in itself. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.14: “Regulatory Signs regulate the movement of traffic. These signs give notice to travelers of traffic laws or regulations”
What do signs of this kind tell a driver?
Diamond shaped, yellow with black symbols. Yellow and diamond together mean the road is about to do something; the symbol says what. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.16: “Warning Signs tell a driver of possible danger that might be ahead. The signs are usually yellow with black lettering or symbols and are diamond shaped.”
What is this sign warning you about?
A railroad crossing is ahead. Round and yellow is reserved for the railroad, so the shape alone tells you before you read it. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.18: “Railroad crossing”
What does this sign ask of a driver?
Reduce speed and watch for workers. Orange is the only color on the road that means people are standing in it. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.18: “Work Zone Signs : These signs generally have a distinctive orange background.”
A flagger in a work zone directs you to stop. What must you do?
Follow their instructions, which you are required to obey. The flagger outranks the signs and the markings, because only they can see the whole site. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.18: “In Work Zones, traffic may be controlled by a person with a sign or flag directing traffic. You must follow their instructions.”
What colors are guide signs?
Green, brown, or blue. They are the only signs on the road that are purely informative, which is why they never use red or orange. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.18: “Guide Signs' shapes may be square or rectangular, and colors may be green, brown, or blue.”
What does the shape and color of a route number sign tell you?
What kind of roadway it is. You can tell what kind of road you are joining before you can read its number. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.19: “Route Number Signs: The shape and color of these signs indicate the type of roadway — interstate, U.S., state, city, county, or local road.”
What does a white line on the roadway separate?
Traffic traveling in the same direction. Color answers one question only: are those cars going your way. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.20: “WHITE LINES: Separates traffic traveling in the same direction.”
A pedestrian is stepping into a crosswalk ahead of you. What must you do?
Yield the right of way to them. The stop line is set back so the crosswalk stays empty for the person using it. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.20: “You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians entering or in a crosswalk. If there is a stop line before the crosswalk, the stop line must be obeyed.”
Where must a driver stop at a stop sign?
Behind the stop line or crosswalk, before the intersection. Stopping past the line takes the crosswalk away from whoever was about to use it. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.22: “Behind the stop line or crosswalk at any stop sign or red traffic signal before entering an intersection.”
Why check behind the vehicle before getting in to back up?
Children and small objects cannot be seen. The check happens outside the car because the view from inside is the problem. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.23: “Check behind your vehicle before you get in. Children and small objects cannot be seen from the driver's seat.”
In what order does the manual say to search at an intersection?
Left, then right, then left again. Left, right, left again, because the traffic nearest you comes from the left and gets a second look. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.23: “At all intersections, reduce your speed and search for: Traffic control devices; Oncoming and cross traffic, including motorcycles and bicycles - look left, right, then left again; Pedestrians; Roadway conditions; and Areas of limited visibility.”
What must happen before a right turn on red?
A complete stop, and crossing traffic and pedestrians clear. It is a turn that begins from a stop, which is why rolling it is the common failure. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.25: “You may turn right at a red traffic signal, unless a sign specifically prohibits it.”
Who has the right of way at a roundabout?
The traffic already circulating inside it. One rule does most of the work: whoever is already going round keeps going round. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.25: “Vehicles travel counterclockwise around a raised center island, with entering traffic yielding the right-of-way to circulating traffic.”
When may you drive left of the center of the roadway?
While passing a vehicle going your way. Each exception is brief. The last one still means you yield. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.26: “Drive on the right half of the roadway except when: Overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction.”
How do you check a blind spot before changing lanes?
Turn your head and look over your shoulder. The blind spot is defined by what the mirrors miss, so only your head can check it. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.26: “Check your mirrors and "blind spots" or areas around your vehicle that cannot be seen while using the rear-view or side-view mirrors, by turning your head and looking over your shoulder in the direction you plan to move.”
What is the acceleration lane for?
Reaching the speed of traffic before merging. The acceleration lane exists so you can arrive at their speed rather than make them adjust to yours. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.26: “Signal and use the acceleration lane to reach the speed of other vehicles to merge with the traffic flow.”
When is it safe to return to your lane after passing?
When both its headlights show in your mirror. It is a measurement rather than a guess, and it is made in the mirror you already have. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.27: “Continue to pass until both headlights of the passed vehicle are visible in the rear-view mirror.”
How far from a railroad crossing must you stop for an approaching train?
No closer than fifteen feet, no farther than fifty. Closer than fifteen feet is inside the train's overhang; further than fifty and you cannot see the track. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.28: “Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the crossing when a train is approaching.”
A school bus has stopped with red lights flashing on a two-lane road. Who must stop?
Traffic from both directions, ten feet away. Fewer than four lanes means children may cross the road, so both directions stop. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.29: “If the bus is stopped on a street or road with fewer than four lanes, all traffic approaching the bus from either direction must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus and remain stopped until the bus begins to move or the bus driver signals motorists to proceed.”
How close to the curb must a vehicle be parked?
12 inches. Twelve inches is the distance at which the car stops being an obstruction in the lane. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.29: “Vehicles must be parked facing the direction of traffic on that side of the street, parallel to and not more than 12 inches from the right curb.”
Who commits an offense when an uninsured vehicle is driven?
Both the driver and the owner. The offense reaches the owner as well as the driver, so lending the car lends the liability. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.31: “In Ohio, it is illegal to drive any motor vehicle without insurance, and it is illegal for a vehicle owner to allow anyone else to drive his or her motor vehicle without insurance.”
What is the blood alcohol limit for a driver of any age in Ohio?
0.08 percent. It is the number most people know, and it is the highest of the three Ohio uses. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.32: “it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of: .08% or higher at any age”
Which substances can impair driving under Ohio law?
Any substance that impairs driving. The definition is about the effect rather than the substance, which is why a prescription is no defense. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.33: “Besides alcohol, many other drugs may affect your ability to drive safely. In fact, any substance that when taken into the human body can impair the ability of the person to operate a vehicle safely.”
How many points within two years bring a license suspension?
Twelve or more points. Twelve is the ceiling; six is where the letter arrives telling you the ceiling exists. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.33: “If a driver accumulates 12 or more points within a two-year period, the BMV will impose a 12-point suspension of the Driver License.”
Who must ride in a child safety seat in Ohio?
A child under four, or under forty pounds. The rule uses age or weight, so a small five-year-old is still in the seat. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.34: “Infants and children who are either or both under age 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds must be properly restrained in a child safety seat while being transported in a motor vehicle.”
Where should your hands be when an officer approaches your vehicle?
On the steering wheel, in the officer's view. Everything on the list is about being predictable to somebody approaching a stranger's car. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.35: “Lower the window and remain in the vehicle unless told otherwise by the officer. Stay calm and keep your safety belt fastened. Keep hands on the steering wheel in view of the officer.”
Besides sunset to sunrise, when must headlights be on?
When objects cannot be seen clearly one thousand feet ahead. A thousand feet is the threshold, and it is a long way further than most drivers guess. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.35: “At any other time when natural light conditions do not make it possible to clearly see objects 1,000 feet ahead.”
Which headlights should you use in fog?
Low beams, which do not reflect back. High beams light up the fog itself and hand the glare straight back to you. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.36: “Use low beam headlights (not high beam lights) and keep scanning the area for any potential hazards.”
Must you slow down in a work zone with no workers present?
Yes, the narrow lanes and rough surface are hazards themselves. The lane is narrower whether or not anyone is standing in it. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.36: “Always reduce your speed in a Work Zone, even if there are no workers. The narrower lanes and rough pavement can create a hazardous condition.”
How far ahead should a driver be looking?
Twenty to thirty seconds ahead of the vehicle. Twenty seconds ahead is where problems are still avoidable rather than merely visible. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.37: “Ideally, try to look at what is occurring 20 to 30 seconds in front of your car.”
About how far does braking take at 50 mph on dry pavement?
About one hundred and fifty-eight feet. That figure is braking alone, and perception and reaction happen before any of it starts. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.38: “Braking Distance - The time and distance it takes for your brakes to slow and stop a vehicle. At 50 mph on dry pavement with good brakes, it can take about 158 feet to stop.”
What minimum following distance does the manual give?
Four seconds behind the vehicle ahead. Seconds work at any speed, which is why the four-second count is the one worth learning. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.38: “Always try to keep a minimum following distance of one vehicle length for every 10 miles per hour of travel, or four seconds between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.”
Why avoid driving alongside another vehicle for long?
You may be in their blind spot. Alongside is the one position from which you cannot move sideways. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.39: “Avoid driving next to other vehicles for long periods of time. You may be in the driver's blind spot, and it reduces the space you may need to avoid a crash.”
When does the manual say to use your horn?
When a pedestrian moves into your lane. It is a way of saying I am here, and it stops working when it is used to say anything else. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.39: “Tap your horn lightly to communicate to others when: Pedestrians or bicyclists appear to be moving into your lane of travel.”
You see an unresponsive child alone in a locked car. What should you do?
Call 911 and get the child out of the vehicle. Ohio is among the states with a Good Samaritan law protecting whoever does it. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.40: “If the child is in distress or unresponsive, take action to remove the child from the vehicle. Break a window if necessary.”
A pedestrian crosses away from a crosswalk. What must you do?
Yield to them. The duty does not depend on the pedestrian being in the right. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.41: “Pedestrians don't always obey traffic signals or walk in marked crosswalks, so as a driver, you must yield to pedestrians.”
How much of a lane is a motorcyclist entitled to?
A full lane width. Sharing the lane takes away the room they steer with. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.41: “Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width; space is needed for the motorcyclist to react to other traffic.”
How much space must you leave when passing a bicycle?
At least three feet. Three feet is roughly the width of a rider's wobble on a bad surface. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.42: “Maintain a safety zone of at least three feet between a motor vehicle and a bicycle.”
A truck ahead swings left before turning right. What should you do?
Stay back; do not move up between the truck and the curb. The gap that opens beside a turning truck is the gap the trailer is about to fill. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.42: “Trucks or buses may make a wide right turn from the left lane to clear the corner of a curb or other obstruction.”
A police car is stopped on the shoulder ahead. What does the law require?
Change lanes away from it if safe, otherwise slow down. Move over if you can, slow down if you cannot, and the second is not optional either. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.44: “When approaching an authorized vehicle stopped on the roadside, proceed with caution. Slow down and yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not next to that of the vehicle if safety and traffic conditions permit.”
What does an orange and red triangle on the rear of a vehicle mean?
It is traveling under twenty-five miles per hour. The emblem is a speed, not a warning: it tells you how fast the closing is happening. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.44: “A fluorescent or reflective orange and red triangle displayed on the rear of vehicles drawn by animals, farm equipment, or construction equipment means the vehicle is traveling less than 25 mph.”
What causes a skid?
Traveling too fast for the conditions. All three causes are about asking for more grip than the road has left. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.45: “Skids are caused when you are traveling too fast for conditions, when you stop too suddenly, or when the tires can no longer grip the roadway. When you begin to skid, release pressure from the brake or accelerator and turn the wheel into the skid.”
Your brakes fail while driving. What should you do first?
Apply the parking brake slowly to avoid locking the wheels. Slowly is the operative word; pulling it hard trades a brake failure for a skid. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.46: “Use the parking brake - pull on the parking brake handle in the center console or push the parking brake foot pedal slowly so you will not lock the rear wheels and cause a skid.”
You damage a parked car and the owner is not there. What must you do?
Leave a note with your contact and insurance details. Leaving without doing it is the six-point offense, the heaviest the table carries. Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.47: “Do not leave the scene until you have exchanged contact and insurance information with those involved, which includes leaving a note if the damaged vehicle was not occupied.”
Where these come from
Every rule here is checked against Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, published by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-14.