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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 4507.07 (2026)

Application of minor for license or permit - signature of adult - liability

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
April 7, 2005
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 80 - 125th General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall not grant the application of any minor under eighteen years of age for a probationary license, a restricted license, or a temporary instruction permit, unless the application is signed by one of the minor's parents, the minor's guardian, another person having custody of the applicant, or, if there is no parent or guardian, a responsible person who is willing to assume the obligation imposed under this section.

At the time a minor under eighteen years of age submits an application for a license or permit at a driver's license examining station, the adult who signs the application shall present identification establishing that the adult is the individual whose signature appears on the application. The registrar shall prescribe, by rule, the types of identification that are suitable for the purposes of this paragraph. If the adult who signs the application does not provide identification as required by this paragraph, the application shall not be accepted.

When a minor under eighteen years of age applies for a probationary license, a restricted license, or a temporary instruction permit, the registrar shall give the adult who signs the application notice of the potential liability that may be imputed to the adult pursuant to division (B) of this section and notice of how the adult may prevent any liability from being imputed to the adult pursuant to that division.

(B) Any negligence, or willful or wanton misconduct, that is committed by a minor under eighteen years of age when driving a motor vehicle upon a highway shall be imputed to the person who has signed the application of the minor for a probationary license, restricted license, or temporary instruction permit, which person shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for any damages caused by the negligence or the willful or wanton misconduct. This joint and several liability is not subject to section 2307.22 or 2315.36 of the Revised Code with respect to a tort claim that otherwise is subject to that section.

There shall be no imputed liability imposed under this division if a minor under eighteen years of age has proof of financial responsibility with respect to the operation of a motor vehicle owned by the minor or, if the minor is not the owner of a motor vehicle, with respect to the minor's operation of any motor vehicle, in the form and in the amounts required under Chapter 4509. of the Revised Code.

(C) Any person who has signed the application of a minor under eighteen years of age for a license or permit subsequently may surrender to the registrar the license or temporary instruction permit of the minor and request that the license or permit be canceled. The registrar then shall cancel the license or temporary instruction permit, and the person who signed the application of the minor shall be relieved from the liability imposed by division (B) of this section.

(D) Any minor under eighteen years of age whose probationary license, restricted license, or temporary instruction permit is surrendered to the registrar by the person who signed the application for the license or permit and whose license or temporary instruction permit subsequently is canceled by the registrar may obtain a new license or temporary instruction permit without having to undergo the examinations otherwise required by sections 4507.11 and 4507.12 of the Revised Code and without having to tender the fee for that license or temporary instruction permit, if the minor is able to produce another parent, guardian, other person having custody of the minor, or other adult, and that adult is willing to assume the liability imposed under division (B) of this section. That adult shall comply with the procedures contained in division (A) of this section.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 23 cases, 1954–2020 · leading case: White v. Westfall, 919 N.E.2d 227 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
White v. Westfall, 919 N.E.2d 227 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 10× “09, as Stephen’s parent, and to R.C. 4507.07, because appellant signed an application for Stephen’s probationary driver’s license.”
Thompson v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 815 (1988). · cites it 2× “Code § 39-06-08 (1987) Ohio Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4507.07 (Supp. 1987) Okla.”
Wayt v. DHSC, L.L.C. (Slip Opinion), 2018 Ohio 4822 (Ohio 2018). “80, R.C. 4507.07(B) provides that any person who signs an application for a driver's license for a minor is jointly and severally liable for " negligence or wanton or willful misconduct " committed by that minor *98 while the minor is driving.”
Evans v. Graham, 594 N.E.2d 71 (Ohio Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 8× “09 (liability of parent for acts of minor), R.C. 4507.07 (liability of signator of minor’s driver’s license) and negligent supervision of a minor.”
Hartough v. Brint, 140 N.E.2d 34 (Ohio Ct. App. 1955). · cites it 8× “Determination of this appeal involves the sole question of the proper interpretation of Section 4507.07, Revised Code, which provides as follows: “The registrar of motor vehicles shall not grant the application of any minor under eighteen for an operator’s or chauffeur’s license…”
Trogdon v. Beltran, 2016 Ohio 5285 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “70, division (B) of section 4507.07, section 4399.02, or another section of the Revised Code that expressly establishes joint and several tort liability for specified persons, joint and several tort liability shall be determined as follows: (1) In a tort action in which the…”
Buckeye Union Ins. v. Stiffler, 610 N.E.2d 1038 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 4× “Tracy was a minor when she obtained her driver’s license and her father, Ralph Mooney, cosigned the license in compliance with R.C. 4507.07. Tracy was still a minor at the time of the accident.”
McCants v. Chenault, 130 N.E.2d 382 (Ohio Ct. App. 1954). · cites it 4× “Plaintiff joined in the application for a driver’s license for his minor son, so that Section 4507.07, Revised Code, applies to him.”
Fillhart v. W. Reserve Mut. Ins., 684 N.E.2d 1301 (Ohio Ct. App. 1996). “Furthermore, appellants alleged that, pursuant to R.C. 4507.07, Brad’s liability was imputed to his father since David was the cosigner for the probationary driver’s license.”
Levin v. Bourne, 192 N.E.2d 114 (Ohio Ct. App. 1963). · cites it 10× “Bourne, being based upon the conditions set out in Section 4507.07, Revised Code. An answer was filed by Francis Bourne denying that he signed his son’s application for an operator’s license; and, in addition, as a second defense, setting forth that, if any action did exist, it…”
State v. Wilson, 657 N.E.2d 518 (Ohio Ct. App. 1995). “Wilson appeals from his conviction for driving while under suspension, in violation of R.C. 4507.07. Wilson argues that his conviction was in error because his operator’s license had not been suspended according to law.”
Relf v. Woolwine, 469 N.E.2d 896 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 12× “Plaintiff then pursued this action against Mark Woolwine’s father, William Woolwine, pursuant to R.C. 4507.07, since Mark Woolwine was only seventeen years old at the time and his father had signed for his operator’s license.”
Show all 23 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4507.07(A) — 1 case
Intercommunity Just. & Peace Ctr. v. Registrar, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehs. (S.D. Ohio 2020).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4507.07(B) — 6 cases
White v. Westfall, 919 N.E.2d 227 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009). “09, as Stephen’s parent, and to R.C. 4507.07, because appellant signed an application for Stephen’s probationary driver’s license.”
Wayt v. DHSC, L.L.C. (Slip Opinion), 2018 Ohio 4822 (Ohio 2018). “80, R.C. 4507.07(B) provides that any person who signs an application for a driver's license for a minor is jointly and severally liable for " negligence or wanton or willful misconduct " committed by that minor *98 while the minor is driving.”
Evans v. Graham, 594 N.E.2d 71 (Ohio Ct. App. 1991). “09 (liability of parent for acts of minor), R.C. 4507.07 (liability of signator of minor’s driver’s license) and negligent supervision of a minor.”
Buckeye Union Ins. v. Stiffler, 610 N.E.2d 1038 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992). “Tracy was a minor when she obtained her driver’s license and her father, Ralph Mooney, cosigned the license in compliance with R.C. 4507.07. Tracy was still a minor at the time of the accident.”
Relf v. Woolwine, 469 N.E.2d 896 (Ohio Ct. App. 1983). “Plaintiff then pursued this action against Mark Woolwine’s father, William Woolwine, pursuant to R.C. 4507.07, since Mark Woolwine was only seventeen years old at the time and his father had signed for his operator’s license.”
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