Teens in Los Altos 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 Santa Clara office at 3665 Flora Vista Ave, Santa Clara, about 6.8 miles in a straight line from Los Altos's public high schools.
Where do Los Altos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3665 Flora Vista Ave, Santa Clara 95051 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.8 mi |
| Redwood City DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 300 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City 94063 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 9.9 mi |
| Los Gatos DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 600 N Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos 95030 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 13 mi |
Public high schools in Los Altos
Los Altos has 1 active public high school inside city limits or with a Los Altos mailing address (1 traditional) in 1 district, with 2,203 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Altos High | Mountain View-Los Altos Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,203 | Santa Clara (6.8 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 Los Altos. 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 Los Altos: Homestead Road school routes and the I-280 exit weave
Homestead Road links four local governments, Los Altos among them, and three schools. VTA's Homestead Safe Routes to School project (opens in a new tab) covers 1.5 miles of it, from Foothill Expressway to Stelling Road. A 2019 study found 21 crashes there from 2015 to 2019, and schoolchildren were involved in more than half. Plans call for separated bike lanes, wider sidewalks and a new signal at Fallen Leaf Drive. VTA's timeline runs from summer 2024 to winter 2028. Before each right turn on Homestead, look over your shoulder for students riding beside you.
On northbound I-280, the Foothill Expressway exit sits on the line between Los Altos and Cupertino. Cars leaving for Foothill cross paths with cars heading for the State Route 85 connector. VTA's ramp project (opens in a new tab) set out to widen that exit from one lane to two. Its timeline showed work from April to November 2020. It also called for a concrete barrier, fresh striping and new signs. Pick your lane early, signal well before the split, and match the speed of the cars around you.
The path to a license in Los Altos
- 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 Santa Clara 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: Mountain View (3.0 mi) and Palo Alto (3.0 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)
- VTA: Homestead Safe Routes to School (Homestead Road, Foothill Expressway to Stelling Road) (opens in a new tab)
- VTA: I-280/Foothill Expressway Ramp Improvements (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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