Teens in Lodi 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 Lodi office at 1222 Pixley Parkway, Lodi, 1.8 to 2.4 miles in a straight line from Lodi's public high schools.
Where do Lodi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lodi DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1222 Pixley Parkway, Lodi 95240 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 1.9 mi |
| Stockton DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 55 South Lincoln Street, Stockton 95203 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 12 mi |
| Manteca DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 955 Davis Street, Manteca 95336 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 23 mi |
Public high schools in Lodi
Lodi has 3 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Lodi mailing address (2 traditional, 1 continuation) in 1 district, with 4,095 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 4,095 high-school students for each DMV office in the city. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokay High | Lodi Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,054 | Lodi (1.8 mi) |
| Lodi High | Lodi Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,952 | Lodi (2.4 mi) |
| Liberty High | Lodi Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 89 | Lodi (1.8 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside Lodi city limits or with a Lodi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy Pass Driving School | E0913 | 400 E Kettleman Ln Suite 20J, Lodi | (209) 990-1100 |
Learning to drive in Lodi: a one-way stretch of Cherokee Lane and new Kettleman Lane markings
Caltrans describes a confusing stretch of Cherokee Lane in Lodi on its Turner Road on-ramp page (opens in a new tab). Between East Turner Road and Pioneer Drive, the page says, the road is one way, southbound only. Drivers heading north have to take a longer route, and some cut through a neighborhood near Lawrence Elementary School. The City of Lodi project to change this listed completion for fall 2024. Road layouts change, so read every one-way sign before you turn. If you miss your street, take the next legal turn and loop back.
State Route 12 is Kettleman Lane through Lodi. In spring 2024, Caltrans scheduled new markings (opens in a new tab) on the stretch from Westgate Drive to Cherokee Lane. Crews were to repaint lane lines, turn arrows, bike stripes and crosswalks, mostly at night, from late April into June 2024. Fresh paint shows which lanes turn and where bikes ride. Choose your lane by reading the arrows well before the intersection, and check the bike lane before any right turn.
The path to a license in Lodi
- 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 Lodi 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: Stockton (10 mi) and Elk Grove (21 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)
- Caltrans District 10: Southbound State Route 99 Turner Road On-ramp (Lodi) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 10 News: Traffic Safety Improvement Project on SR 12 / Kettleman Lane in Lodi (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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