Teens in Montebello 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 Montebello office at 424 N Wilcox Avenue, Montebello, 0.3 to 1.8 miles in a straight line from Montebello's public high schools.
Where do Montebello 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montebello DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 424 N Wilcox Avenue, Montebello 90640 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 0.5 mi |
| Bell Gardens DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens 90201 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 3.2 mi |
| Lincoln Park DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3529 N Mission Road, Los Angeles 90031 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.8 mi |
Public high schools in Montebello
Montebello has 5 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Montebello mailing address (3 traditional, 1 alternative, 1 continuation) in 1 district, with 4,328 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 4,328 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schurr High (opens in a new tab) | Montebello Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,049 | Montebello (0.6 mi) |
| Montebello High (opens in a new tab) | Montebello Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,770 | Montebello (0.3 mi) |
| Applied Technology Center (opens in a new tab) | Montebello Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 288 | Montebello (1.1 mi) |
| Vail High (Continuation) (opens in a new tab) | Montebello Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 204 | Montebello (1.8 mi) |
| Montebello Community Day (opens in a new tab) | Montebello Unified (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 17 | Montebello (1.1 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 Montebello. 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 Montebello: streets moving under the rail tracks
Through the Alameda Corridor East project, some of Montebello's busiest streets are being moved below the Union Pacific tracks (transit page (opens in a new tab)). While crews work, Montebello Bus Lines has rerouted its Line 20 around the construction. When the work is done, drivers on those streets will pass under the trains instead of crossing them. Until then, expect detours and shifting lanes near the tracks. Follow the detour signs and keep a steady, slow speed through the work zone.
Montebello Bus Lines is the third largest city bus system in Los Angeles County. Its 66 buses serve Montebello and a dozen nearby communities. Its LINK shuttle meets each train at the Montebello Metrolink Station. The city's Street Division (opens in a new tab) maintains 125 miles of roadways, along with street striping and signs. Buses stop often on those roads. When a bus signals to pull out from a stop, slow down and let it in if you safely can.
The path to a license in Montebello
- 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 Montebello 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: Monterey Park (2.5 mi) and Pico Rivera (2.8 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)
- City of Montebello: Transit (Montebello Bus Lines and Alameda Corridor East work) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Montebello: Public Works, Streets (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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