Imperial County has 2 DMV field offices and 20 active public high schools serving 12,439 students. Teens anywhere in the county can take California's 30-hour online driver education course, then the permit test at any DMV office.
DMV offices in Imperial County
Imperial County averages about 6,220 high-school students per DMV office. Both offices here are open five weekdays. No DMV office in Imperial County lists weekend hours. Book on the DMV appointments page (opens in a new tab); what to bring is on our permit visit checklist.
| Office | Address | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brawley DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 173 W Main St., Brawley 92227 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
| El Centro DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 233 N Imperial Avenue, El Centro 92243 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
Cities in Imperial County: nearest DMV and high schools
Each incorporated city with its 2026 population, the number of public high schools inside it or with its mailing address, and the nearest DMV office to them. Families in unincorporated Imperial County use the office nearest home.
| City | Population (2026) | High schools | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro | 45,716 | 7 | El Centro (1.6 mi) |
| Calexico | 39,881 | 2 | El Centro (8.9 mi) |
| Brawley | 28,810 | 3 | Brawley (0.6 mi) |
| Imperial | 22,984 | 2 | El Centro (3.8 mi) |
| Calipatria | 6,002 | 1 | Brawley (10 mi) |
| Holtville | 5,610 | 2 | El Centro (11 mi) |
| Westmorland | 2,059 | 0 | No high school address in city |
Licensed driving schools in Imperial County
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address in Imperial County (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Driving School of Imperial County | E4394 | 1950 Wake Ave St, El Centro | (760) 353-4270 |
| Elite Driving School - School | E2163 | 560 N 8th St Ste F, Brawley | (323) 841-5032 |
Driving in Imperial County: extreme heat and state highway plans
Heat shapes summer driving in Imperial County. The National Weather Service office in Phoenix (opens in a new tab) reports weather for El Centro and Imperial. Its heat page rates each day on a 0 to 4 HeatRisk color scale. When Major or Extreme levels are forecast, it issues Extreme Heat Watches or Warnings. The same page advises people who spend time outside to drink 1 to 2 liters of water per hour. Schedule summer lessons for early morning, keep water in the car, and never leave a child or pet in a parked vehicle.
On State Route 86 (opens in a new tab), Caltrans plans to repave 47.7 lane miles of southbound lanes and add a bike lane. Construction is listed for October 2030 to February 2032. On State Route 98 (opens in a new tab), work set for January 2029 to March 2030 includes new pavement, flashing beacons and signal upgrades. Northwest of Niland, a natural geyser active since 1953 has been creeping toward SR 111. In 2019, Caltrans built a backup detour road (opens in a new tab) around it. At rural signals, a flashing red light means a full stop, and a flashing yellow means go ahead with care.
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)
- National Weather Service Phoenix: NWS Phoenix Heat Page (El Centro, Imperial) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 11: SR-86 Southbound Pavement Rehabilitation Project (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 11: SR-98 Pavement Rehabilitation Project (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 11: SR-111 Niland Geyser Mitigation Project (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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