As the Greater Cincinnati area continues to clear this week’s snow, we’re asking the age-old question again: Is it legal to drive a vehicle with snow in Ohio or Cincinnati?
Here’s what we know.
Here’s what Ohio law says about driving in snow
While Cincinnati does not have any ordinances prohibiting driving with snow on top of your car or trunk, the Cincinnati Police Department issued a winter driving advisory on Dec. 2, recommending clearing snow from the roof of your car.
According to the law firm Amourgis & Associates, Ohio law also does not specifically require that snow be removed from the roof of a vehicle. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can drive around in snow.
Under state law, it’s illegal to operate a car “while endangering any person,” meaning if snow or ice falls from your car and causes another driver to crash or be injured, that may be defined as an “unsafe condition” under the law. In this case, you may face minor misdemeanor charges.
Additionally, it is illegal in Ohio to drive with license plates, license plate stickers, headlights, and (seemingly obvious to most people) windows that are blocked, obstructed, or covered with snow or any other material.
Failure to clear snow from critical areas of your vehicle may result in fines of up to $150.
How much snow has it snowed in Cincinnati so far?
A pedestrian clears snow from West Price Hill Road on December 2, 2025.
Cincinnati experienced its first snowfall of the 2025-26 season on Nov. 10, with 2.1 inches of snowfall, setting a record for the day, according to the National Weather Service.
December’s first snowfall surpassed Cincinnati’s record set on December 2. The last record to this date was 2.2 inches in 1929. According to the snowfall report compiled by the National Weather Service, the new record is 4.2 inches.
Cincinnati Weather Forecast
Ready or not, more snow is expected to fall in Cincinnati Wednesday night. Check out the weather forecast from the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio.
More snow is expected to fall in Greater Cincinnati this week.
Wednesday night: There may be snow, mainly after 4 a.m. as clouds increase, with a low of about 25 degrees. Breezy and variable. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation is likely to be less than half an inch.
Thursday: Snow, mainly before 7 a.m., with highs near 30 degrees. North wind around 6 mph. The probability of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation is likely to be less than half an inch.
Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a temperature of around 13 degrees. The wind was calm.
Friday: There is a small chance of snow before 1 p.m., a small chance of rain or snow between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., a small chance of rain after 4 p.m., partly sunny, and the maximum temperature is close to 34 degrees. Breeze, changeable. The probability of precipitation is 20%.
Friday night: Cloudy weather, with the lowest temperature around 21°C.
Contributors: Shahid Meighan and Gillian Stawiszynski.
This article originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer: Is it legal to drive with snow on the roof of your car in Ohio?
