Teens in East Palo Alto 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 Redwood City office at 300 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City, 5.3 to 5.7 miles in a straight line from East Palo Alto's public high schools.
Where do East Palo Alto 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood City DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 300 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City 94063 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.5 mi |
| Fremont DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 4287 Central Avenue, Fremont 94536 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 9.2 mi |
| Santa Clara DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3665 Flora Vista Ave, Santa Clara 95051 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 11 mi |
Public high schools in East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto has 3 active public high schools inside city limits or with a East Palo Alto mailing address (3 charter) in 2 districts, with 505 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.
| District | High schools | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Sequoia Union High (opens in a new tab) | 2 | 423 |
| San Mateo County Office of Education (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 82 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Palo Alto Academy (opens in a new tab) | Sequoia Union High | Charter | 245 | Redwood City (5.7 mi) |
| KIPP Esperanza High | Sequoia Union High | Charter | 178 | Redwood City (5.6 mi) |
| Oxford Day Academy (opens in a new tab) | San Mateo County Office of Education | Charter | 82 | Redwood City (5.3 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 East Palo Alto. 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 East Palo Alto: the University Avenue interchange and Pulgas mini-roundabouts
University Avenue meets US 101 in East Palo Alto, and the interchange has been under reconstruction. The city's interchange project (opens in a new tab) covers a walking bridge over the freeway, a wider southbound off-ramp and a rebuilt northbound off-ramp. It also changes signals and two University Avenue intersections. In July 2025, Caltrans closed the ramps at night (opens in a new tab) for permanent striping and electrical work. Ramp lanes may still feel new, so read the pavement arrows before you choose a lane.
On Pulgas Avenue, two school-area intersections now have small roundabouts. The city first tried temporary traffic circles (opens in a new tab) at Runnymede Street and Beech Street in October 2022. Work on the permanent mini-roundabouts (opens in a new tab) was finished in spring 2026. Drivers entering must yield to anyone already circling, and signal when entering and leaving. Slow down on the approach, and watch for students on foot and on bikes near the schools.
The path to a license in East Palo Alto
- 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 Redwood City 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: Menlo Park (2.5 mi) and Palo Alto (3.3 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 East Palo Alto: US 101 / University Avenue Interchange Improvements (City Project ST-14) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 4: Ramp Closures on U.S. 101 at University Avenue in East Palo Alto (July 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- City of East Palo Alto: Temporary Traffic Circles (opens in a new tab)
- City of East Palo Alto: Pulgas Avenue Mini-Roundabouts (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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