Section 4507.13 | Contents and characteristics of driver's license.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) The registrar of motor vehicles shall issue a driver's license to every person licensed as an operator of motor vehicles other than commercial motor vehicles. No person licensed as a commercial motor vehicle driver under Chapter 4506. of the Revised Code need procure a driver's license, but no person shall drive any commercial motor vehicle unless licensed as a commercial motor vehicle driver.

(2) Every driver's license shall display all of the following information:

(a) The distinguishing number assigned to the licensee;

(b) The licensee's name and date of birth;

(c) The licensee's residence address and county of residence;

(d) A photograph of the licensee;

(e) A brief description of the licensee for the purpose of identification;

(f) A facsimile of the signature of the licensee as it appears on the application for the license;

(g) A notation, in a manner prescribed by the registrar, indicating any condition described in division (D)(3) of section 4507.08 of the Revised Code to which the licensee is subject;

(h) If the licensee has executed a durable power of attorney for health care or a declaration governing the use or continuation, or the withholding or withdrawal, of life-sustaining treatment and has specified that the licensee wishes the license to indicate that the licensee has executed either type of instrument, any symbol chosen by the registrar to indicate that the licensee has executed either type of instrument;

(i) If the licensee has specified that the licensee wishes the license to indicate that the licensee is a veteran, active duty, or reservist of the armed forces of the United States and has presented a copy of the licensee's DD-214 form or an equivalent document, any symbol chosen by the registrar to indicate that the licensee is a veteran, active duty, or reservist of the armed forces of the United States;

(j) If the licensee is a noncitizen of the United States, a notation designating that the licensee is a noncitizen;

(k) Any additional information that the registrar requires by rule.

(3) No license shall display the licensee's social security number unless the licensee specifically requests that the licensee's social security number be displayed on the license. If federal law requires the licensee's social security number to be displayed on the license, the social security number shall be displayed on the license notwithstanding this section.

(4) The driver's license for licensees under twenty-one years of age shall have characteristics prescribed by the registrar distinguishing it from that issued to a licensee who is twenty-one years of age or older, except that a driver's license issued to a person who applies no more than thirty days before the applicant's twenty-first birthday shall have the characteristics of a license issued to a person who is twenty-one years of age or older.

(5) The limited term license issued to a temporary resident shall contain the word "limited term" and shall have any additional characteristics prescribed by the registrar distinguishing it from a license issued to a resident.

(6) Every enhanced driver's license shall have any additional characteristics established by the rules adopted under section 4507.021 of the Revised Code.

(7) Every driver's or commercial driver's license displaying a motorcycle operator's endorsement and every restricted license to operate a motor vehicle also shall display the designation "novice," if the endorsement or license is issued to a person who is eighteen years of age or older and previously has not been licensed to operate a motorcycle by this state or another jurisdiction recognized by this state. The "novice" designation shall be effective for one year after the date of issuance of the motorcycle operator's endorsement or license.

(8) Each license issued under this section shall be of such material and so designed as to prevent its reproduction or alteration without ready detection.

(B) Except in regard to a driver's license issued to a person who applies no more than thirty days before the applicant's twenty-first birthday, neither the registrar nor any deputy registrar shall issue a driver's license to anyone under twenty-one years of age that does not have the characteristics prescribed by the registrar distinguishing it from the driver's license issued to persons who are twenty-one years of age or older.

(C) The registrar shall ensure that driver's licenses issued in accordance with the federal "Real ID Act," 49 U.S.C. 30301, et seq., comply with the regulations specified in 6 C.F.R. part 37.

(D) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

Last updated October 6, 2023 at 11:17 AM

Available Versions of this Section

• July 1, 2009 – House Bill 2 - 128th General Assembly
• July 3, 2019 – Amended by House Bill 62 - 133rd General Assembly
• April 7, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 458 - 134th General Assembly
• June 30, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 23 - 135th General Assembly
• October 3, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly