Teens in Chico 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 Chico office at 107 Parmac Rd #1, Chico, 0.7 to 1.8 miles in a straight line from Chico's public high schools.
Where do Chico teens take the permit and drive tests?
The Willows 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 107 Parmac Rd #1, Chico 95926 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 0.3 mi |
| Oroville DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 775 Mitchell Avenue, Oroville 95965 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 23 mi |
| Willows DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 815 N Humboldt Avenue, Willows 95988 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 25 mi |
Public high schools in Chico
Chico has 5 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Chico mailing address (2 traditional, 1 alternative, 1 continuation, 1 charter) in 1 district, with 4,170 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 4,170 high-school students for each DMV office in the city. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Valley High | Chico Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,960 | Chico (1.8 mi) |
| Chico High | Chico Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,786 | Chico (1.2 mi) |
| Inspire School of Arts and Sciences (opens in a new tab) | Chico Unified (opens in a new tab) | Charter | 299 | Chico (1.3 mi) |
| Fair View High (Continuation) | Chico Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 100 | Chico (0.7 mi) |
| Academy for Change | Chico Unified (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 25 | Chico (0.7 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Chico city limits or with a Chico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Top Driver School | E4745 | 2064 Talbert Dr Ste 301, Chico | (530) 514-3737 |
| Stallion School of Driving LLC | E0271 | 30 Landing Circle Suite 102, Chico | (424) 375-4444 |
Learning to drive in Chico: bikes, campus paths and SR 32
Chico State's transportation page (opens in a new tab) says walking is often the easiest way to get around campus. Bikes, skateboards and scooters belong on designated campus paths, where the limit is 5 mph. One riding route runs east to west near Big Chico Creek, and Warner Street serves north-south travel. The City of Chico also publishes a bike map (opens in a new tab) for riding across town. On streets near campus, check your mirror and blind spot before every right turn, because a bike may be right beside you.
State Route 32 is the state highway that crosses town. Caltrans describes a rehabilitation project (opens in a new tab) in and near Chico from Muir Avenue to Route 99. It cites major pavement distress and sidewalk gaps, and it adds signals and lighting at intersections. Because the corridor ends at Route 99, one route can take a learner from city blocks to a freeway. Drive SR 32 in daylight first, then add the Route 99 merge once your lane changes feel steady.
The path to a license in Chico
- 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 Chico 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: Sacramento (84 mi) and San Jose (168 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)
- Chico State: Getting to and Around Campus (opens in a new tab)
- City of Chico: Bike Trails (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans: State Route 32 Pavement Rehabilitation (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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