Teens in Desert Hot Springs 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 Palm Springs office at 950 N Farrell Drive, Palm Springs, about 8.8 miles in a straight line from Desert Hot Springs's public high schools.
Where do Desert Hot Springs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Springs DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 950 N Farrell Drive, Palm Springs 92262 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.8 mi |
| Palm Desert DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 74-740 Technology Drive, Palm Desert 92211 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 16 mi |
| Indio DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 44480 Jackson St, Indio 92201 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 24 mi |
Public high schools in Desert Hot Springs
Desert Hot Springs has 1 active public high school inside city limits or with a Desert Hot Springs mailing address (1 traditional) in 1 district, with 1,650 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Hot Springs High (opens in a new tab) | Palm Springs Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,650 | Palm Springs (8.8 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 Desert Hot Springs. 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 Desert Hot Springs: storm-damaged roads and sudden closures
Heavy storms can wreck roads in Desert Hot Springs. After Hurricane Hilary in August 2023, the city said sections of three roads were destroyed (opens in a new tab). They were Dillon Road, Little Morongo Road and North Indian Canyon Drive between Mission Lakes Boulevard and Pierson Boulevard. The city enforced the closures and told drivers not to cross. Days later, it reopened Indian Canyon Drive (opens in a new tab) from Mission Lakes Boulevard to Highway 62. Never drive around a road-closed barrier, because the pavement past it may be gone.
Closures here can come with little warning. In September 2023, Little Morongo Road closed (opens in a new tab) between Mission Lakes Boulevard and Pierson Boulevard because of flooding. On March 3, 2025, an active fire closed part of Dillon Road (opens in a new tab), from Palm Drive to Little Morongo Road. Detours were in place, and drivers were told to avoid the area. Check city alerts before you drive, and follow detours and emergency crews' directions calmly.
The path to a license in Desert Hot Springs
- 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 Palm Springs 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: Palm Springs (10 mi) and Cathedral City (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 Desert Hot Springs: Several sections of city roadways to remain closed due to storm damage (opens in a new tab)
- City of Desert Hot Springs: Road condition update, Indian Canyon Drive (opens in a new tab)
- City of Desert Hot Springs: Road closure notification, Little Morongo (opens in a new tab)
- City of Desert Hot Springs: Temporary road closure, March 3, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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