Teens in Davis 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 Davis office at 505 Pole Line Road, Davis, 0.5 to 1.4 miles in a straight line from Davis's public high schools.
Where do Davis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 505 Pole Line Road, Davis 95616 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 0.9 mi |
| Woodland DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1224 E. Gibson Road, Woodland 95776 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.1 mi |
| Sacramento DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 4700 Broadway, Sacramento 95820 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 16 mi |
Public high schools in Davis
Davis has 3 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Davis mailing address (1 charter, 1 traditional, 1 continuation) in 1 district, with 2,376 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 2,376 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Senior High (opens in a new tab) | Davis Joint Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,758 | Davis (1.4 mi) |
| Da Vinci Charter Academy (opens in a new tab) | Davis Joint Unified (opens in a new tab) | Charter | 561 | Davis (0.5 mi) |
| Martin Luther King High (opens in a new tab) | Davis Joint Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 57 | Davis (1.1 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
3 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Davis city limits or with a Davis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davis Academy D/S DBA Pacific DR Academy DBA A Better/Safer D/S | E3501 | 260 Russel Bl Ste D7, Davis | (530) 759-0464 |
| Ning Jing Driving School | E0303 | 204 F St Ste D3, Davis | (650) 512-9999 |
| North Valley Driving School | E0090 | 2659 Portage Bay E Ste 14, Davis | (530) 979-1713 |
Learning to drive in Davis: bicycles first and the Richards Boulevard cloverleaf
Davis plans its streets around bicycles. Its Beyond Platinum Bicycle Action Plan (opens in a new tab), adopted in 2014, makes biking the main focus. Walking and transit are part of the plan too. The city also runs a Safe Routes to School program. Expect riders, from young students to commuters, on many streets. Check your mirrors and blind spots before every turn, and give each cyclist at least three feet when you pass.
The trickiest spot is the Richards Boulevard interchange on Interstate 80. The city's project page (opens in a new tab) says about 400 cyclists and 200 pedestrians cross it each day. North of the freeway it is a cloverleaf with uncontrolled ramps, so cars move fast. The worst weave is on northbound Richards at the westbound off-ramp. The city plans a tight diamond layout and a separate path for bikes and walkers. Until then, slow down on the ramps and look for riders before you merge.
The path to a license in Davis
- 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 Davis 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: Woodland (8.4 mi) and West Sacramento (11 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 Davis: Transportation Program (Beyond Platinum Bicycle Action Plan) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Davis: Richards Boulevard/I-80 Interchange Improvements (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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