Teens in Colton 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 San Bernardino office at 1310 N Waterman Avenue, San Bernardino, about 4.9 miles in a straight line from Colton's public high schools.
Where do Colton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1310 N Waterman Avenue, San Bernardino 92404 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 4.9 mi |
| Redlands DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1659 W Lugonia Avenue, Redlands 92374 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 7.1 mi |
| Fontana DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 8026 Hemlock Ave, Fontana 92336 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.5 mi |
Public high schools in Colton
Colton has 1 active public high school inside city limits or with a Colton mailing address (1 traditional) in 1 district, with 1,692 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colton High | Colton Joint Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,692 | San Bernardino (4.9 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 Colton. 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 Colton: rebuilding the I-10 and Mount Vernon Avenue interchange
The I-10 interchange at Mount Vernon Avenue in Colton is being rebuilt. Work started in April 2026 and runs through fall 2028, according to the city's traffic advisory (opens in a new tab). It includes a road realignment, a bridge replacement, ramp changes and retaining walls. Lanes close on Mount Vernon Avenue and Valley Boulevard, and lower work zone speed limits are enforced. Read each work zone sign and slow to the posted speed. Watch for crews near the barriers.
Much of the freeway work happens after dark. For the week of October 5, 2026, the city listed nighttime lane closures (opens in a new tab) on I-10 in both directions. They ran from about 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Daytime shoring and paving went on behind K-rail barriers, including on the eastbound off-ramp. At night, expect lanes to merge with little warning. Slow down when you see arrow boards, and follow the detour signs exactly.
The path to a license in Colton
- 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 San Bernardino 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: Rialto (3.5 mi) and San Bernardino (4.5 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 Colton: Traffic Advisory Notice, I-10 Mt. Vernon Ave Interchange Project (Mar. 27, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Colton: Traffic Delays, I-10/Mt. Vernon Avenue Improvements, Week of October 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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