Teens in Eureka 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 Eureka office at 2500 6th St, Eureka, 0.4 to 7.6 miles in a straight line from Eureka's public high schools.
Where do Eureka teens take the permit and drive tests?
The Garberville office and the Weaverville office are 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2500 6th St, Eureka 95501 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 2.4 mi |
| Garberville DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1180 Evergreen Rd, Redway 95560 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 49 mi |
| Weaverville DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1511 Main Street, Weaverville 96093 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 65 mi |
Public high schools in Eureka
Eureka has 5 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Eureka mailing address (2 alternative, 2 traditional, 1 continuation) in 3 districts, with 1,441 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 1,441 high-school students for each DMV office in the city. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eureka City Schools (opens in a new tab) | 2 | 1,208 |
| Fortuna Union High (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 151 |
| Humboldt County Office of Education (opens in a new tab) | 2 | 82 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Senior High | Eureka City Schools | Traditional | 1,159 | Eureka (1.2 mi) |
| Zoe Barnum High (opens in a new tab) | Eureka City Schools | Continuation | 49 | Eureka (2.2 mi) |
| Academy of the Redwoods (opens in a new tab) | Fortuna Union High | Alternative | 151 | Eureka (7.6 mi) |
| Eureka Community (opens in a new tab) | Humboldt County Office of Education | Traditional | 74 | Eureka (0.4 mi) |
| Humboldt County Office of Education Juvenile Hall Court (opens in a new tab) | Humboldt County Office of Education | Alternative | 8 | Eureka (1.0 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Eureka city limits or with a Eureka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Driving/Traffic School | E3686 | 1307 Union St, Eureka | (707) 442-1355 |
| Humboldt Driving School | E2063 | 2936 J St, Eureka | (707) 442-4083 |
Learning to drive in Eureka: South Broadway bikeways and the Eureka Slough bridges
In Eureka, US 101 runs through town as Broadway. Caltrans plans separated bikeways on South Broadway (opens in a new tab), with curbs or posts between riders and cars. They would run from the Papa & Barkley signal to the Bayshore Mall entrance, with new crossings at Hilfiker Lane. The project page listed spring 2025 for the start of construction. At the north end of town, Caltrans plans to replace the Eureka Slough Bridges (opens in a new tab), with work estimated to begin in 2029. Before a right turn on Broadway, check your mirror for a rider beside you.
Off the highway, Eureka is adding quiet bike routes. After finishing the C Street bike boulevard, the city picked G Street (opens in a new tab) between 7th and Henderson streets as the next one. A design survey for it stayed open until April 30, 2026. The city's HEADS UP campaign (opens in a new tab) also asks drivers to drop distractions and expect people in crosswalks. When you come up behind a cyclist here, stay patient and pass only when you can leave at least three feet.
The path to a license in Eureka
- 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 Eureka 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: Redding (95 mi) and Chico (141 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 1: South Broadway Complete Streets (Eureka) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 1: Eureka Slough Bridges Project (opens in a new tab)
- City of Eureka: G Street Bike Boulevard (opens in a new tab)
- City of Eureka: Pedestrian Safety Campaign (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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