Teens in Ceres 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 Modesto office at 124 Burney Street, Modesto, 3.5 to 4.8 miles in a straight line from Ceres's public high schools.
Where do Ceres 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 124 Burney Street, Modesto 95354 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 4.1 mi |
| Turlock DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 825 E Monte Vista Avenue, Turlock 95382 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 7.6 mi |
| Manteca DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 955 Davis Street, Manteca 95336 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 21 mi |
Public high schools in Ceres
Ceres has 6 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Ceres mailing address (3 traditional, 1 continuation, 1 alternative, 1 charter) in 1 district, with 4,302 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Valley High (opens in a new tab) | Ceres Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,335 | Modesto (4.4 mi) |
| Ceres High | Ceres Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,580 | Modesto (3.5 mi) |
| Argus High (Continuation) | Ceres Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 163 | Modesto (4.0 mi) |
| Whitmore Charter High (opens in a new tab) | Ceres Unified (opens in a new tab) | Charter | 98 | Modesto (4.8 mi) |
| Endeavor Alternative | Ceres Unified (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 91 | Modesto (4.0 mi) |
| Ceres Special Education | Ceres Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 35 | Modesto (3.9 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 Ceres. 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 Ceres: a roundabout, speed humps and steady repaving
Ceres uses Measure L, a voter-approved county sales tax, to change how traffic moves. The city's Measure L page (opens in a new tab) lists a finished roundabout where El Camino, Pine and Park meet. It also lists signal synchronization work and a citywide speed study. Staff are pursuing speed humps, extra signs and speed feedback signs in neighborhoods. Slow down for each hump, and use a speed feedback sign as a cue to check your speedometer.
Ceres plans road work for 134 centerline miles of pavement, according to its Pavement Management Program (opens in a new tab). Under Measure L, the city completes two paving projects each year. Treatments range from crack seal and slurry seal to full asphalt repairs and grind-and-overlay work. Staff have been reviewing 5th Street, Whitmore Avenue, Crows Landing Road and Moffet Road. On a freshly sealed street, obey closure signs and stay off it until crews reopen it.
The path to a license in Ceres
- 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 Modesto 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: Modesto (6.0 mi) and Turlock (7.8 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 Ceres: Measure L (opens in a new tab)
- City of Ceres: Pavement Management 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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