Teens in Gardena 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 Torrance office at 1785 W 220th Street, Torrance, 2.9 to 4.5 miles in a straight line from Gardena's public high schools.
Where do Gardena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1785 W 220th Street, Torrance 90501 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 3.0 mi |
| Hawthorne DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3700 W El Segundo Boulevard, Hawthorne 90250 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 3.5 mi |
| Compton DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2111 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton 90221 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.5 mi |
Public high schools in Gardena
Gardena has 4 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Gardena mailing address (2 charter, 1 traditional, 1 continuation) in 2 districts, with 1,870 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. 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.
| District | High schools | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | 3 | 1,424 |
| Los Angeles County Office of Education (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 446 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardena Senior High (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified | Traditional | 1,270 | Torrance (2.9 mi) |
| New Millennium Secondary (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified | Charter | 96 | Torrance (2.9 mi) |
| Moneta Continuation (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified | Continuation | 58 | Torrance (2.9 mi) |
| Environmental Charter High - Gardena (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles County Office of Education | Charter | 446 | Hawthorne (2.6 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 Gardena. 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 Gardena: railroad crossings and city signals
Gardena has railroad crossings owned by Union Pacific Railroad, which keeps up their signs, signals and pavement (Gardena railroad crossings (opens in a new tab)). Problems at a crossing go to the railroad at 1-800-767-3884. The driver's handbook (opens in a new tab) says that if you stall on the tracks with a train coming, get out at once. Then run away from the tracks at an angle toward the train, and call 911. Better still, never start across until there is room for your whole car on the far side.
Gardena's Public Works Department maintains every traffic signal and lighted sign in the city (Traffic Signals & Signs (opens in a new tab)). That includes the detectors that sense waiting cars. It also keeps pavement markings clear. Road work across the area is listed on the South Bay Cities Traffic Alert System. A signal can still fail during a storm or power outage. The handbook (opens in a new tab) says to treat a dark signal like stop signs in all directions, then go when it is safe.
The path to a license in Gardena
- 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 Torrance 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: Torrance (3.1 mi) and Carson (3.7 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 Gardena: Railroad Crossing (opens in a new tab)
- City of Gardena: Traffic Signals & Signs (opens in a new tab)
- California Driver's Handbook: Safe Driving (disabled vehicles on railroad tracks) (opens in a new tab)
- California Driver's Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (traffic light not working) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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