Ohio license renewal for older drivers
A vision screening is required at every renewal. Drivers 65 and older receive a 4-year license and cannot choose the 8-year license or renew online. No age-based road or knowledge test.
Preparing for the renewal test
If you need to take a written or signs test to renew, it covers the same handbook as new drivers' tests. Our Ohio practice tests and road signs test are free to use, and the read-aloud button can help if small print is hard to read.
Rules that may have changed since you first got your license
Some of the rules in today's Ohio handbook are newer than many drivers' first test. Worth a look before renewal:
- Phones: Drivers 18+: may not use, hold or physically support a phone or other wireless device while driving (hands-free and single touch/swipe allowed; emergency calls and stopped-at-light exceptions). Penalties: 2 points/up to $150, 3 points/up to $250, 4 points/up to $500 and possible 90-day suspension; doubled in work zones. Under 18 and all TIPIC holders: no use of any electronic device, even hands-free (navigation and emergency calls excepted); primary offense with 60-day suspension and $150 fine, then one year and $300.
- Move over: When approaching a stopped police, emergency, road service (tow, snowplow), waste collection, highway maintenance or public utility vehicle with warning lights, change to a lane not adjacent to it if safe; otherwise slow down and proceed with caution.
- School buses: On roads with fewer than four lanes, traffic in both directions must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of a stopped school bus with red lights and stay stopped until the bus moves or the driver signals. On roads with four or more lanes, only traffic going the same direction as the bus must stop. Amber lights mean prepare to stop.
- Alcohol: the limit for adult drivers is 0.08%.
Vision standard
Binocular vision: 20/40 or better (both eyes together) for a license without vision restrictions; poorer than 20/40 but not worse than 20/70 allows daylight-only driving; worse than 20/70 is denied. Monocular vision (one eye 20/200 or better): 20/30 for no restriction; poorer than 20/30 but not worse than 20/60 daylight only; worse than 20/60 denied. Visual field: 70 degrees on both sides of center for an unrestricted license; at least 70 degrees on one side and 45 on the other qualifies with a mirror restriction. If you need glasses or contacts to meet the standard, you get a corrective-lens restriction.
Source: Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Ohio Department of Public Safety), checked 2026-10-27.