Teens in Aliso Viejo take the same 30-hour online driver education course as everywhere in California, then the permit test at a DMV office. The nearest DMV field office is the San Clemente office at 2727 Via Cascadita, San Clemente, about 9.3 miles in a straight line from Aliso Viejo's public high schools.
Where do Aliso Viejo teens take the permit and drive tests?
These offices are closed on weekends and open at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays. Book an appointment on the DMV appointments page (opens in a new tab), and arrive well before 4:30 p.m.: knowledge tests are not given after that. What to bring is on our permit visit checklist.
| Office | Address | Hours | Phone | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Clemente DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2727 Via Cascadita, San Clemente 92672 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 9.3 mi |
| Costa Mesa DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 650 W 19th Street, Costa Mesa 92627 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 13 mi |
| Santa Ana DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1330 E First Street, Santa Ana 92701 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 15 mi |
Public high schools in Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo has 1 active public high school inside city limits or with a Aliso Viejo mailing address (1 traditional) in 1 district, with 2,534 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. Most teens reach 15½, the earliest permit age, in 9th or 10th grade (Education Code 48000 (opens in a new tab) sets the school entry age). Finish the online course before then: the permit application needs the DL 400C.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliso Niguel High (opens in a new tab) | Capistrano Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,534 | San Clemente (9.3 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside Aliso Viejo city limits or with a Aliso Viejo mailing address (DMV list checked 2026-10-04). The list is alphabetical; we do not rank schools. Confirm a license on the DMV lookup (opens in a new tab) before you pay.
| Driving school | DMV license | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach City Driving Schools LLC | E0201 | 8 Beacon Way, Aliso Viejo | (949) 836-4146 |
Learning to drive in Aliso Viejo: repaved parkways and new bike lane stripes
Aliso Viejo repaved Aliso Creek Road between Enterprise and SR-73 (project alerts (opens in a new tab)). The same job added bike lane stripes as far as Aliso Viejo Parkway. Other projects repaved Glenwood Drive, Enterprise, Pacific Park and Alicia, putting thousands of old tires to use in the new pavement. Fresh bike lanes beside busy traffic mean riders travel close to cars. Before you change lanes or turn right, check the bike lane over your shoulder and signal early.
The city's Engineering Division looks after streets, traffic signals, signs and street lights (Engineering (opens in a new tab)). Its traffic program studies local problems with traffic surveys and recommends fixes to the City Manager and City Council. Staff also coordinate with OCTA, Caltrans and the County of Orange on work that crosses city lines. Residents can report concerns about how the streets work. If a signal seems slow to change, wait it out, and never treat a long red as a reason to go.
The path to a license in Aliso Viejo
- Finish the online driver education course (30 hours, $49.95 with Traffic Tutors) and wait for the mailed DL 400C.
- At 15½, apply for the permit at the San Clemente DMV office or any other, with the DL 400C and a parent's signature.
- Book the first behind-the-wheel lesson; the instructor validates the permit.
- Practice 50 hours with a licensed driver 25 or older, 10 at night, while finishing the 6 training hours.
- After 6 months with the permit and at 16 or older, take the drive test. Dates: age date tool.
Nearest other city guides: Laguna Niguel (2.3 mi) and Laguna Hills (2.4 mi). Every county is listed on drivers ed by county.
Quick answers
Sources
- California DMV field office list (fetched 2026-10-05) (opens in a new tab)
- California Department of Education: public schools directory, 2025-26 (fetched 2026-10-05) (opens in a new tab)
- California Department of Finance: E-1 population estimates, January 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- California DMV: Teen drivers (opens in a new tab)
- California DMV Occupational License Lookup: driving schools (checked 2026-10-04) (opens in a new tab)
- California Education Code section 48000: kindergarten admission age (opens in a new tab)
- California Department of Education School Directory: district offices (checked 2026-10-04) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Aliso Viejo: Project Alerts (opens in a new tab)
- City of Aliso Viejo: Engineering (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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