Teens in Campbell 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 Los Gatos office at 600 N Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos, about 2.6 miles in a straight line from Campbell's public high schools.
Where do Campbell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Gatos DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 600 N Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos 95030 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 2.6 mi |
| Santa Clara DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3665 Flora Vista Ave, Santa Clara 95051 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.5 mi |
| San Jose DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 111 W Alma Avenue, San Jose 95110 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.7 mi |
Public high schools in Campbell
Campbell has 1 active public high school inside city limits or with a Campbell mailing address (1 traditional) in 1 district, with 1,631 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmont High (opens in a new tab) | Campbell Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,631 | Los Gatos (2.6 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
4 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Campbell city limits or with a Campbell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward Driving School | E2003 | 155 East Campbell Suite 128, Campbell | (408) 796-8162 |
| Franks Driving School LLC | E2297 | 155 E Campbell Ave Ste 245, Campbell | (408) 317-8681 |
| Sams Driving School | E4328 | 155 E Campbell Ave Ste 118, Campbell | (408) 460-2076 |
| Zip Driving School | E2013 | 155 E Campbell Ave No 115, Campbell | (408) 664-8375 |
Learning to drive in Campbell: the Hamilton Avenue off-ramp and neighborhood traffic circles
In Campbell, southbound Highway 17 drops drivers onto Hamilton Avenue at an off-ramp. The city plans to widen that off-ramp (opens in a new tab) and add bike and walking upgrades along Hamilton. A design firm was hired in June 2026, and final design is due by December 2028. Campbell is also writing its first multimodal transportation plan (opens in a new tab), with a draft expected in fall 2026. For now the ramp stays as it is. Brake gently on the ramp itself, then look for people crossing Hamilton before you turn.
Side streets bring a different test. Through the city's traffic calming program (opens in a new tab), neighbors can request traffic circles, bulb-outs, speed humps and radar speed signs. It covers local and collector streets, while the big arterials are left out. A request can take six to twelve months from first inquiry to installation. A small traffic circle can surprise you on a quiet block. Slow down, yield to anyone already in the intersection, and keep the center island on your left as you go around.
The path to a license in Campbell
- 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 Los Gatos 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: Saratoga (1.7 mi) and Los Gatos (3.3 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 Campbell: Hamilton Avenue/Highway 17 Southbound Off-Ramp Widening Project (opens in a new tab)
- City of Campbell: Multimodal Transportation Plan (opens in a new tab)
- City of Campbell: Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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