Teens in Bell 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 Bell Gardens office at 6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens, about 2.4 miles in a straight line from Bell's public high schools.
Where do Bell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Gardens DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens 90201 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 2.4 mi |
| Montebello DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 424 N Wilcox Avenue, Montebello 90640 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.0 mi |
| Los Angeles DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3615 S Hope Street, Los Angeles 90007 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.9 mi |
Public high schools in Bell
Bell has 1 active public high school inside city limits or with a Bell mailing address (1 traditional) in 1 district, with 2,022 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Senior High (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,022 | Bell Gardens (2.4 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside Bell city limits or with a Bell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Driving School | E4731 | 5077 E Gage Ave Suite B, Bell | (323) 771-2489 |
Learning to drive in Bell: a river, a freeway and late-night street rules
Bell has two parts, joined by the Long Beach Freeway and the Los Angeles River, says the city's General Plan page (opens in a new tab). Most homes and the main shopping streets sit in the Central City. That area runs from Randolph Street in the north to Florence Avenue in the south. North of it, east of the river and freeway, the Cheli area is mostly factories and warehouses. Near those buildings, expect large trucks that swing wide to turn. Keep clear of a truck's blind spots, and never pull up beside one on its right side.
Parking on Bell's streets is banned from 2 to 5 a.m., says the police parking enforcement page (opens in a new tab). Home streets get swept once a week in that same window. Crews sweep Florence, Gage and Atlantic avenues six nights a week, between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. (public works services (opens in a new tab)). On a late drive, give a sweeper plenty of room. Before you park for the night, read the posted signs.
The path to a license in Bell
- 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 Bell Gardens 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: South Gate (2.1 mi) and Bell Gardens (2.1 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 Bell: General Plan (opens in a new tab)
- Bell Police Department: Parking Enforcement (opens in a new tab)
- City of Bell: Public Works Services & Information (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
See something wrong or out of date? Report a mistake on this page. We read every report and fix confirmed mistakes.