Mono County has no DMV office that takes permit applications; the nearest is the Bishop office in Inyo County, about 53 miles away. It has 5 active public high schools serving 408 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 Mono County
No DMV office in Mono County takes permit applications, so families drive to one of the offices below. Book on the DMV appointments page (opens in a new tab); what to bring is on our permit visit checklist.
| Office | Address | Hours | Phone | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1115 West Line Street, Bishop 93514 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 53 mi |
| Mariposa DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 5264 Highway 49-North, Mariposa 95338 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 55 mi |
| Sonora DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 885 Morning Star Drive, Sonora 95370 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 69 mi |
Cities in Mono 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 Mono County use the office nearest home.
| City | Population (2026) | High schools | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Lakes | 7,035 | 3 | Bishop (36 mi) |
Licensed driving schools in Mono County
The DMV license list (checked 2026-10-04) shows no driving school with an Active license at an address in Mono County. 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).
Driving in Mono County: US 395 towns, deer and Tioga Pass
In Mono County, U.S. 395 doubles as Main Street in towns such as Bridgeport (Bridgeport project (opens in a new tab)). In Lee Vining, Caltrans plans to rebuild about 2.5 miles of the highway. Part of it through town will shrink from five lanes to three. The Lee Vining project (opens in a new tab) adds bike lanes, wider sidewalks and parallel parking, with construction listed to begin in April 2027. When 395 enters a town, drop to the posted speed right away. Watch for people crossing, cars pulling out of parking spaces, and cyclists.
Deer are the other big hazard. South of Mammoth Lakes, Caltrans counts an average of 57 animal crashes a year in one study area. Deer made up 96% of animals hit in Mono County from 2015 to 2020 (wildlife crossing project (opens in a new tab)). In winter, Tioga Pass on SR 120 and the June Lake Loop on SR 158 close. The closure table (opens in a new tab) shows Tioga shut from December 19, 2025 to April 15, 2026. At dawn and dusk, slow down, scan both shoulders, and brake firmly in your lane instead of swerving.
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 9: Lee Vining Pavement Rehabilitation Project (US 395) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 9: Mammoth Lakes Wildlife Crossing Project (US 395 / SR 203) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 9: Bridgeport Rehab Project (US 395) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans: Winter Driving Tips (Tioga Pass and June Lake Loop closure dates) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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