Teens in Brentwood 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 Pittsburg office at 1399 Buchanan Road, Pittsburg, 8.4 to 12 miles in a straight line from Brentwood's public high schools.
Where do Brentwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburg DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1399 Buchanan Road, Pittsburg 94565 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 10 mi |
| Tracy DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2785 Auto Plaza Drive, Tracy 95304 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 17 mi |
| Concord DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2070 Diamond Boulevard, Concord 94520 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 19 mi |
Public high schools in Brentwood
Brentwood has 4 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Brentwood mailing address (2 traditional, 1 alternative, 1 continuation) in 1 district, with 5,719 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. Under California's kindergarten age rule (age 5 by September 1, Education Code 48000 (opens in a new tab)), most students reach 15½, the earliest permit age, between the spring of 9th grade and the spring of 10th grade. The permit application needs the DL 400C, so finish the online course before then.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty High | Liberty Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,799 | Pittsburg (11 mi) |
| Heritage High | Liberty Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,629 | Pittsburg (8.4 mi) |
| Independence High | Liberty Union High (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 147 | Pittsburg (10 mi) |
| La Paloma High (Continuation) | Liberty Union High (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 144 | Pittsburg (12 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside Brentwood city limits or with a Brentwood 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diablo Driving School | E3872 | 938 Yardley Place, Brentwood | (925) 513-0559 |
Learning to drive in Brentwood: Highway 4 night closures and how speed limits are set
State Route 4 runs through Brentwood as a freeway, and crews have been repaving it at night. In July 2026, Caltrans fully closed eastbound SR 4 (opens in a new tab) overnight between Laurel Road and Sand Creek Road. Traffic was detoured onto local roads between those two exits. Lane closures also stretched west toward Hillcrest Avenue. The closures ran from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. If you drive late, look up closures before heading out, and follow each detour sign instead of guessing a shortcut.
Southeast of the freeway, SR 4 follows Marsh Creek Road. Caltrans paved the stretch from Vasco Road to Byron Highway (opens in a new tab) in spring 2026, closing it at night to everyone but locals. On city streets, Brentwood sets speed limits (opens in a new tab) by measuring the speed of 100 cars in each direction. The limit is the nearest 5 mph step to the speed that 85% of drivers do not exceed. A posted limit is the most you may drive, so slow down further in rain, fog or heavy traffic.
The path to a license in Brentwood
- 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 Pittsburg 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: Antioch (6.1 mi) and Pittsburg (11 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)
- Caltrans District 4: Overnight Full Closures of Eastbound SR 4 Between Laurel Road and Sand Creek Road, Brentwood (July 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 4: Overnight Full Closures of SR 4 (Marsh Creek Road) Between Vasco Road and Byron Highway Extended (May 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Brentwood: Determining Speed Limits (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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