Teens in Calexico 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 El Centro office at 233 N Imperial Avenue, El Centro, 8.4 to 9.4 miles in a straight line from Calexico's public high schools.
Where do Calexico teens take the permit and drive tests?
The Blythe office is open only part of the week, so check the days before you go. None of California's 162 permit-testing DMV offices lists weekend hours, so plan a school-day visit. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 233 N Imperial Avenue, El Centro 92243 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.9 mi |
| Brawley DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 173 W Main St., Brawley 92227 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 21 mi |
| Blythe DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 430 S Broadway, Blythe 92225 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 83 mi |
Public high schools in Calexico
Calexico has 2 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Calexico mailing address (1 continuation, 1 traditional) in 1 district, with 2,785 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calexico High (opens in a new tab) | Calexico Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,703 | El Centro (9.4 mi) |
| Aurora High (Continuation) (opens in a new tab) | Calexico Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 82 | El Centro (8.4 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
The DMV license list (checked 2026-10-04) shows no driving school with an Active license at an address in Calexico. Schools in nearby cities often pick students up across the area; check each school's service area and license on the DMV lookup (opens in a new tab).
Learning to drive in Calexico: port of entry traffic and speed humps
Work at Calexico's pedestrian border crossing has closed a nearby street. Starting August 10, 2026, the city closed a block of 1st Street from Paulin Avenue to Rockwood Avenue (opens in a new tab). The closure allows sewer work at the Pedestrian West Land Port of Entry and was expected to last about four months. The city asked drivers and walkers to take care and allow extra travel time. Near the crossing, drive slowly, expect people between cars, and follow posted detours instead of a map app.
Calexico residents can ask the city for speed humps on their streets. The city's street system page (opens in a new tab) links to the request process. Under the speed hump policy (opens in a new tab), humps go only on residential streets, never on main roads or emergency routes. They are wider and gentler than the bumps in parking lots, so cars can cross them at a reasonable speed. The policy notes that some drivers detour to other streets to avoid them. Slow down before each hump, cross it straight, and stay alert on side streets.
The path to a license in Calexico
- 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 El Centro 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: El Centro (7.3 mi) and Brawley (21 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 Calexico: Traffic alert, 1st Street between Paulin Avenue and Rockwood Avenue (opens in a new tab)
- City of Calexico: Street System (opens in a new tab)
- City of Calexico: Policy and Procedure for Speed Hump Installation (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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