Teens in Delano 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 Delano office at 631 Jefferson Street, Delano, 0.9 to 1.4 miles in a straight line from Delano's public high schools.
Where do Delano teens take the permit and drive tests?
The Shafter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delano DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 631 Jefferson Street, Delano 93215 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 0.7 mi |
| Shafter DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 548 Walker Street, Shafter 93263 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 19 mi |
| Porterville DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 329 E Olive Avenue, Porterville 93257 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 24 mi |
Public high schools in Delano
Delano has 4 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Delano mailing address (3 traditional, 1 continuation) in 1 district, with 3,940 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 3,940 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert F. Kennedy High (opens in a new tab) | Delano Joint Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,406 | Delano (1.4 mi) |
| Cesar E. Chavez High | Delano Joint Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,284 | Delano (1.3 mi) |
| Delano High (opens in a new tab) | Delano Joint Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,183 | Delano (0.9 mi) |
| Valley High | Delano Joint Union High (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 67 | Delano (1.4 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 Delano. 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 Delano: a truck-worn SR 155 and a wider SR 99
Heavy trucks and storms have worn down State Route 155 in Delano. Caltrans plans to rehabilitate about 1.3 miles (opens in a new tab) from Fremont Street to just west of Browning Road. The work adds sidewalks, curb ramps and an unbroken bike lane each way. Caltrans listed construction to start in summer 2026 and end in winter 2027-2028. New bike lanes put cyclists right beside your car. Before a right turn, look in your mirror and over your right shoulder, and enter a bike lane only to turn.
Between Delano and Pixley, State Route 99 is a four-lane divided highway. Caltrans is adding a third lane each way (opens in a new tab) in the median, with completion listed for July 2027. The page notes that trucks make up about 22 percent of daily traffic in this valley corridor. Near big rigs, keep out of the zones where the driver cannot see you, and pass without lingering. Leave extra room when you merge ahead of one, since trucks need more distance to stop.
The path to a license in Delano
- 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 Delano 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: Porterville (24 mi) and Tulare (31 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)
- Caltrans District 6: Delano 3R Rehabilitation Project (SR 155) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 6: State Route 99 Delano to Pixley 6-Lane With 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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