Teens in Huntington Beach 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 Westminster office at 13700 Hoover Street, Westminster, 2.8 to 8.0 miles in a straight line from Huntington Beach's public high schools.
Where do Huntington Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 13700 Hoover Street, Westminster 92683 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 4.9 mi |
| Costa Mesa DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 650 W 19th Street, Costa Mesa 92627 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.5 mi |
| Santa Ana DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1330 E First Street, Santa Ana 92701 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 9.3 mi |
Public high schools in Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach has 4 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Huntington Beach mailing address (4 traditional) in 1 district, with 7,562 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.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Beach High (opens in a new tab) | Huntington Beach Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,510 | Costa Mesa (5.0 mi) |
| Edison High (opens in a new tab) | Huntington Beach Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,098 | Costa Mesa (2.5 mi) |
| Marina High (opens in a new tab) | Huntington Beach Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,912 | Westminster (2.8 mi) |
| Ocean View High (opens in a new tab) | Huntington Beach Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,042 | Westminster (3.5 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Huntington Beach city limits or with a Huntington Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ab Teen Driving Academy | E2085 | 7372 Prince Dr Ste 207, Huntington Beach | (714) 379-6711 |
| Drive Quest - Driving School | E4067 | 18582 Beach Bl 233, Huntington Beach | (714) 968-4339 |
Learning to drive in Huntington Beach: Beach Boulevard and e-bikes
Two main Huntington Beach roads are state highways: Beach Boulevard is SR 39, and Pacific Coast Highway is SR 1. The city says Caltrans maintains their signals, signs and pavement (opens in a new tab) instead of the city. In June 2025, the state approved $9 million to repave Beach Boulevard (opens in a new tab) with rubberized asphalt in Huntington Beach and Westminster. That work will also upgrade crosswalks, curb ramps and lighting. A separate $2.1 million job will fix a sinkhole near Ellis Avenue. Expect lane closures, and slow down through any work zone.
E-bikes are a big part of traffic in Huntington Beach. The city reports that e-bike crashes rose (opens in a new tab) from 72 in 2022 to 147 in 2024. Its police department now runs a free student e-bike course that parents attend too. Many young riders go fast, and some ride without helmets. Give e-bikes extra space, since they can reach you sooner than you expect. Look over your shoulder before every right turn and before opening a car door.
The path to a license in Huntington Beach
- 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 Westminster 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: Costa Mesa (5.4 mi) and Garden Grove (6.4 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 Huntington Beach: Public Works Maintenance Operations (SR-39 and SR-1) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans: Nearly $5 Billion Invested (June 2025 CTC allocations: I-10 in Ontario and Fontana, SR-39 in Huntington Beach) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Huntington Beach: Police-Led Student E-Bike Safety Program (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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