Teens in Los Banos 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 Los Banos office at 814 West L Street, Los Banos, 0.4 to 2.7 miles in a straight line from Los Banos's public high schools.
Where do Los Banos teens take the permit and drive tests?
The Los Banos office is open only part of the week, so check the days before you go. None of California's 162 permit-testing DMV offices lists weekend hours, so plan a school-day visit. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Banos DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 814 West L Street, Los Banos 93635 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 1.0 mi |
| Merced DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1313 W 12th Street, Merced 95340 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 25 mi |
| Turlock DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 825 E Monte Vista Avenue, Turlock 95382 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 32 mi |
Public high schools in Los Banos
Los Banos has 5 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Los Banos mailing address (3 traditional, 1 alternative, 1 continuation) in 2 districts, with 3,611 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 3,611 high-school students for each DMV office in the city. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Los Banos Unified (opens in a new tab) | 4 | 3,522 |
| Merced County Office of Education (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 89 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacheco High (opens in a new tab) | Los Banos Unified | Traditional | 1,721 | Los Banos (2.7 mi) |
| Los Banos High | Los Banos Unified | Traditional | 1,568 | Los Banos (1.4 mi) |
| Crossroads Alternative Education Center | Los Banos Unified | Alternative | 153 | Los Banos (0.4 mi) |
| San Luis High (Continuation) | Los Banos Unified | Continuation | 80 | Los Banos (1.2 mi) |
| Valley Los Banos Community (opens in a new tab) | Merced County Office of Education | Traditional | 89 | Los Banos (0.6 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 Los Banos. 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 Banos: rebuilding State Routes 152 and 165
Caltrans plans to rebuild State Route 152 in and near Los Banos. The SR 152 pavement project (opens in a new tab) stretches from just west of Badger Flat Road to just east of San Luis Street. It would widen the road for a turn lane and improve the traffic signal at I Street. Sidewalks, signs, drainage and guardrails get upgrades too. The schedule lists project completion for winter or spring 2028. When lanes shift in a work zone, follow the cones and new stripes, not the old faded lines.
Caltrans says drivers who fail to yield have caused repeated broadside crashes at Willmott Road and State Route 165. Caltrans is weighing a traffic signal or a single-lane roundabout (opens in a new tab) there, with completion targeted for summer 2029. A separate SR 165 project (opens in a new tab) would add sidewalks, crosswalks and buffered bike lanes in and near Los Banos. When you cross or enter a highway from a stop sign, wait until both directions are clear.
The path to a license in Los Banos
- 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 Los Banos 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: Atwater (25 mi) and Merced (26 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: Los Banos State Route 152 Pavement Anchor (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 10: State Route 165 Willmott Road Intersection Control Project (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 10: Merced State Route 165 Pavement Anchor Project (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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