Merced County has 2 DMV field offices and 26 active public high schools serving 18,098 students. Teens anywhere in the county can take California's 30-hour online driver education course, then the permit test at any DMV office.
DMV offices in Merced County
Merced County averages about 9,049 high-school students per DMV office. The Los Banos office is open only part of the week. No DMV office in Merced County lists weekend hours. Book on the DMV appointments page (opens in a new tab); what to bring is on our permit visit checklist.
| Office | Address | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
Cities in Merced County: nearest DMV and high schools
Each incorporated city with its 2026 population, the number of public high schools inside it or with its mailing address, and the nearest DMV office to them. Families in unincorporated Merced County use the office nearest home.
| City | Population (2026) | High schools | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced | 99,435 | 9 | Merced (0.9 mi) |
| Los Banos | 49,255 | 5 | Los Banos (1.0 mi) |
| Atwater | 31,806 | 2 | Merced (6.6 mi) |
| Livingston | 14,402 | 1 | Turlock (12 mi) |
| Gustine | 5,955 | 2 | Los Banos (16 mi) |
| Dos Palos | 5,685 | 1 | Los Banos (14 mi) |
Licensed driving schools in Merced County
5 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address in Merced County (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abcs of Driving School | E4043 | 5650 Mulberry Avenue, Atwater | (209) 356-0722 |
| All American Driving School | E2130 | 5520 Mulberry Ave, Atwater | (209) 777-8854 |
| G E T Behind the Wheel Driving School | E3408 | 8167 Shoreen St, Hilmar | (209) 668-9100 |
| Lamb Driving School LLC | E0704 | 1535 W 22nd St, Merced | (408) 230-7652 |
| Sams Safe Driving School | E4576 | 2827 Tulare Ct, Livingston | (209) 664-9919 |
Driving in Merced County: rural crossroads, canals and a wider SR 59
Rural highway crossroads are a key risk in Merced County. At SR 152 and Volta Road, west of Los Banos, Caltrans found more broadside crashes than average. Its Volta Road project (opens in a new tab) picked a roundabout as the fix. Completion is targeted for fall or winter 2029. At SR 140 and SR 165, an all-way stop causes long delays, and Caltrans plans a signal or roundabout (SR 140/165 project (opens in a new tab)). At any rural stop, stop fully, look left, right, then left again, and wait for a safe gap.
Canals cross State Route 140. Caltrans' SR 140 safety project (opens in a new tab) aims to move fixed objects, such as culvert headwalls, away from the road edge. On SR 59 from 16th Street to the Black Rascal Canal Bridge, the two-lane road has crash rates above similar highways. Caltrans plans four lanes there, targeting spring 2028 (SR 59 widening (opens in a new tab)). If a wheel drops off the pavement, hold the wheel firmly and ease off the gas. Steer back only after you slow down.
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)
- Caltrans District 10: State Route 152 Volta Avenue Intersection Control Project (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 10: State Route 140/165 Mobility Improvements (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 10: Merced 140 Roadside Safety Improvements Project (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 10: State Route 59 4-Lane Widening (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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