Teens in Lawndale 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 Hawthorne office at 3700 W El Segundo Boulevard, Hawthorne, 1.2 to 2.6 miles in a straight line from Lawndale's public high schools.
Where do Lawndale teens take the permit and drive tests?
The DMV lists the Inglewood office as closed every day of the week (checked 2026-10-05), so it is not in this table. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2.0 mi |
| 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 | 5.2 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 | 8.3 mi |
Public high schools in Lawndale
Lawndale has 6 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Lawndale mailing address (2 charter, 2 traditional, 1 alternative, 1 continuation) in 3 districts, with 4,494 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.
| District | High schools | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Centinela Valley Union High (opens in a new tab) | 4 | 3,531 |
| Lawndale Elementary (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 517 |
| Los Angeles County Office of Education (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 446 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leuzinger High (opens in a new tab) | Centinela Valley Union High | Traditional | 2,014 | Hawthorne (1.2 mi) |
| Lawndale High (opens in a new tab) | Centinela Valley Union High | Traditional | 1,207 | Hawthorne (2.0 mi) |
| R. K. Lloyde High (opens in a new tab) | Centinela Valley Union High | Continuation | 227 | Hawthorne (2.0 mi) |
| Centinela Valley Independent Study (opens in a new tab) | Centinela Valley Union High | Alternative | 83 | Hawthorne (2.2 mi) |
| Environmental Charter High - Lawndale (opens in a new tab) | Lawndale Elementary | Charter | 517 | Hawthorne (2.6 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 Lawndale. 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 Lawndale: Hawthorne Boulevard and work on Redondo Beach Boulevard
Hawthorne Boulevard is Lawndale's main business street. Every property on it or next to it falls under the city's Hawthorne Boulevard Specific Plan (opens in a new tab). The plan sets commercial zones for shops and offices along the street. In 2025, the city added housing overlay zones to that plan area, so new homes may rise there too. With businesses come driveways, so watch for cars pulling out or slowing to turn in. Keep a long gap ahead, and check your mirrors before you change lanes.
Lawndale's city projects page (opens in a new tab) lists street work in progress. One project improves Redondo Beach Boulevard between Artesia Boulevard and Prairie Avenue. A signal timing program on Rosecrans Avenue, from Ocean Gate Avenue to Vermont Avenue, is also listed. Residents can raise traffic worries with the city's Traffic Committee (opens in a new tab). It meets on the third Thursday of each month and looks at stop signs, speed limits and signals. In a work zone, slow down and follow the cones and flaggers.
The path to a license in Lawndale
- 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 Hawthorne 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: Hawthorne (1.4 mi) and Manhattan Beach (2.2 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 Lawndale: Hawthorne Boulevard Specific Plan (opens in a new tab)
- City of Lawndale: City Projects (opens in a new tab)
- City of Lawndale: Traffic Services (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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