On this page
- What “temps” really means
- The journey at a glance: three places, three jobs
- What to bring for temps (checklist)
- Step by step: from temps to license
- Adults getting a first license
- Fees
- Hours & location
- What causes return trips
- Questions people ask at the counter
- Helpful next pages
- Before you come in
- Where this information comes from
Starting the path to a first license? This page walks you through the Ohio temporary permit and new driver license process from the Akron side, where to get your temps, what to bring, and where the road test fits in. The Akron BMV, Ohio Deputy Registrar Agency 7731, operated by the Northeast Ohio Automobile Dealers Association at 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway, is where Akron and Summit County families issue temps and pick up that first driver license.
One orientation point up front, because it confuses nearly everyone: in Ohio your driver license and temporary permit are handled by the BMV (a deputy registrar, like us). The driving skills test (the road test) is given at a state driver exam station, not at a deputy registrar. We issue the license after you pass. Knowing that split keeps you from making a wasted trip.
What “temps” really means
The document most people call “temps” is officially the Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC). It is a learning permit: it lets a new driver practice behind the wheel under supervision and serves as a photo ID. You apply for it at a deputy registrar after passing a knowledge test and a vision screening.
A few foundational rules from the Ohio BMV shape the whole journey:
- You can apply for a TIPIC starting at 15 years and 6 months of age.
- New drivers under 18 follow Ohio’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program, extra training, a holding period, and probationary restrictions.
- The knowledge test is 40 questions on traffic laws and signs; you need 75% to pass.
- The skills (road) test is administered at a state driver exam station, confirm whether you can test online-adjacent or must schedule in person on bmv.ohio.gov.
The journey at a glance: three places, three jobs
| Step | Where it happens | What you walk away with |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test + vision screening → temps | Test through the official state path, then permit issuance at Akron BMV | Your TIPIC |
| Driver training (classroom + behind-the-wheel) | Licensed driving school | Completion certificates |
| Skills (road) test | State driver exam station | A pass/fail result, not a card |
| License issuance | Deputy registrar / Akron BMV | Your driver license |
The takeaway: the exam station decides whether you passed; the Akron BMV puts the card in your hand.
What to bring for temps (checklist)
Bring originals or certified copies, photocopies and laminated documents are not accepted for identity verification.
- Proof of full legal name and date of birth (certified U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport)
- Proof of your Social Security number (Social Security card, W-2, or 1099)
- Two proofs of Ohio residency from different sources (utility bill, bank statement, etc.)
- Proof of legal presence in the U.S.
- Proof of any legal name change, if your name differs across documents
- If under 18: a parent or legal guardian present to sign, with their own valid ID
- Payment for the permit fee
If the new driver wants their eventual license to be REAL ID-compliant, the document set is the same one described on our REAL ID page. See the full breakdown on what to bring to the BMV.
Step by step: from temps to license
Step 1, Pass the knowledge test and get temps
Study the Ohio Driver Manual (free on bmv.ohio.gov) before you start. Take the 40-question knowledge test through the official state online or testing-location path, then bring your passing result and identity documents to the Akron BMV for vision screening and TIPIC issuance. See our knowledge test page.
Step 2, Complete driver training (under 18)
Ohio requires applicants under 18 to complete 24 hours of classroom instruction (in-person or approved online) and 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training with a licensed instructor. Keep the completion certificates; you will need them at issuance.
Step 3, Practice during the holding period (under 18)
- Hold the TIPIC at least 6 months.
- Log 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night.
- A parent or guardian signs a statement attesting to those hours, so track them honestly.
Step 4, Pass the skills test at a state exam station
The maneuverability (“cones”) exercise and the road test are administered at a state driver exam station, not at the Akron BMV. Schedule through the state’s driver exam system. You leave with a pass/fail result.
Step 5, Get the license issued at the Akron BMV
Bring the passing skills-test result, the TIPIC, driver-ed certificates (under 18), full identity documents, and a parent to sign if under 18. The clerk verifies everything, takes the photo, collects the fee, and issues the license. You decide REAL ID or standard at this step.
Adults getting a first license
If you are 18 or older and have never been licensed, you still begin with a TIPIC and the knowledge and vision tests, but the strict teen holding period and the formal training-hour mandates are eased. The core path is identical: temps → skills test at an exam station → issuance at the deputy registrar.
Fees
The figures below come from the Ohio BMV fee schedule (last updated 9/30/2025) and include the deputy registrar service fee. Confirm current fees on bmv.ohio.gov, they change.
| Transaction | 4-year | 8-year |
|---|---|---|
| First operator license (age 21+) | $27.50 | $54.00 |
| First operator license, age 20 | $23.75 | N/A |
| First operator license, age 19 | $25.00 | N/A |
| First operator license, age 18 | $26.25 | N/A |
| First operator license, age 17 | $27.50 | N/A |
| First operator license, age 16 | $28.75 | N/A |
| Temporary permit (TIPIC) | $26.50 | N/A |
| State ID card (new) | $13.00 | $25.00 |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
A REAL ID-compliant card costs the same as a standard card, there is no surcharge.
Hours & location
Akron BMV, Ohio Deputy Registrar Agency 7731 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway, Akron, OH 44311
- Phone: (330) 434-3134
- Weekday hours: Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM
- Saturday: 8 AM-1 PM
For directions, parking, and a map, see hours, location & directions.
What causes return trips
- Going to the exam station expecting a card. The exam station gives a pass/fail; the Akron BMV issues the card.
- Arriving for temps without a parent (under 18). A parent or guardian must be present to sign.
- Bringing only one proof of Ohio address. A compliant first license needs two, from different sources.
- Under-logging practice hours. You need 50 hours (10 at night) and a signed attestation.
- Skipping the driver-ed certificates. Under-18 issuance requires proof of completed training.
- Photocopies of identity documents. Bring originals or certified copies.
Questions people ask at the counter
At what age can my teen get temps in Ohio? A new driver can apply for a TIPIC at 15 years and 6 months of age, after passing the knowledge test and a vision screening.
Does the Akron BMV give the road test? No. The driving skills test (cones + road test) is administered at a state driver exam station. The Akron BMV issues the license after you pass. See our driving skills test routing page.
How many questions are on the Ohio knowledge test? Forty multiple-choice questions on traffic laws and signs; you need 75% correct to pass. Study the Ohio Driver Manual first.
How long must my teen hold temps before the road test? Drivers under 18 must hold the TIPIC for at least 6 months and log 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night) before the skills test.
Do I have to bring a parent? Yes, if the applicant is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign at both temps and issuance, and must show their own valid ID.
Can I get a REAL ID as my first license? Yes. At issuance you choose REAL ID or standard. A first license requires full identity documents regardless, so meeting the REAL ID document set is straightforward, see our REAL ID page.
Helpful next pages
Before you come in
Ready for temps, or to pick up that first license? Get in Line Online to hold your spot, or walk in during business hours. Bring the right documents the first time and the visit goes quickly.
Where this information comes from
- Ohio BMV, Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-gdl.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Acceptable Documents: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Ohio’s REAL ID: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-real-id.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Documents & Fees (updated 9/30/2025): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Driver License & ID Cards hub: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-gdl.aspx