Teens in Laguna Hills 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 San Clemente office at 2727 Via Cascadita, San Clemente, about 11 miles in a straight line from Laguna Hills's public high schools.
Where do Laguna Hills 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Clemente DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2727 Via Cascadita, San Clemente 92672 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 11 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 | 13 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 | 13 mi |
Public high schools in Laguna Hills
Laguna Hills has 1 active public high school inside city limits or with a Laguna Hills mailing address (1 traditional) in 1 district, with 1,241 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.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laguna Hills High | Saddleback Valley Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,241 | San Clemente (11 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Laguna Hills city limits or with a Laguna Hills 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC Driving School | E0297 | 23011 Moulton Pkwy Suite E4A, Laguna Hills | (949) 770-6637 |
| The Way Driving School | E2158 | 25255 Cabot Rd Ste 208, Laguna Hills | (949) 458-2594 |
Learning to drive in Laguna Hills: a planned road diet on Paseo de Valencia
Laguna Hills plans a road diet on Paseo de Valencia and Cabot Road (Mobility Element update (opens in a new tab)). Lanes would give way to Class IV bikeways. Part of Paseo de Valencia would go from six lanes to two, with a median. The project adds a parking and drop-off zone in front of Valencia Elementary School. The schedule lists construction from May 2027 to November 2027. Once lanes narrow, expect slower traffic and watch for children near the school.
The city is also preparing signal upgrades on Avenida de la Carlota and Alicia Parkway (capital projects (opens in a new tab)). Plans call for radar detection, fiber optic lines, cameras and emergency vehicle pre-emption. At Mandeville and Moulton Parkway, a refuge lane is being designed so drivers can turn left out of Mandeville more safely. It lets you cross one direction, pause, then merge with the other. Use it one half at a time, and never stop across a travel lane.
The path to a license in Laguna Hills
- 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 San Clemente 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: Mission Viejo (2.1 mi) and Aliso Viejo (2.4 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 Laguna Hills: Mobility Element Update (opens in a new tab)
- City of Laguna Hills: Capital Improvement Projects (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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