Monterey County has 3 DMV field offices and 32 active public high schools serving 22,119 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 Monterey County
Monterey County averages about 7,373 high-school students per DMV office. The King City office is open only part of the week. No DMV office in Monterey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| King City DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 101 E San Antonio Dr, King City 93930 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
| Salinas DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 260 E Laurel Drive, Salinas 93906 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
| Seaside DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1180 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, Seaside 93955 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
Cities in Monterey 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 Monterey County use the office nearest home.
| City | Population (2026) | High schools | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas | 159,866 | 13 | Salinas (0.7 mi) |
| Seaside | 31,681 | 3 | Seaside (1.8 mi) |
| Monterey | 27,504 | 1 | Seaside (2.7 mi) |
| Soledad | 27,065 | 3 | King City (18 mi) |
| Marina | 23,322 | 2 | Seaside (6.3 mi) |
| Greenfield | 20,918 | 1 | King City (8.8 mi) |
| Pacific Grove | 14,894 | 2 | Seaside (4.1 mi) |
| King City | 14,369 | 3 | King City (1.0 mi) |
| Gonzales | 8,398 | 1 | Salinas (17 mi) |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | 3,102 | 0 | No high school address in city |
| Del Rey Oaks | 1,539 | 0 | No high school address in city |
| Sand City | 381 | 0 | No high school address in city |
Licensed driving schools in Monterey County
4 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address in Monterey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 831 Driving School Inc | E2120 | 14 Maple St Suite C, Salinas | (831) 757-2028 |
| American Driving Academy | E0764 | 362 Pacific St Ste 2, Monterey | (831) 655-4304 |
| Drive Carmel | E2117 | 1340 Munras Ave Ste #330, Monterey | (831) 625-3994 |
| PC Driving School | E4567 | 11 W Laurel Dr 235, Salinas | (831) 424-5349 |
Driving in Monterey County: Big Sur slides and SR 68 traffic
Along the Big Sur coast, landslides are the main hazard on Highway 1. Caltrans cites a state report naming the Cow Cliffs to Rain Rocks stretch as the coast's most slide-prone section. Regent's Slide (opens in a new tab) began about 450 feet above the road and closed 6.8 miles of Highway 1 in February 2024. Caltrans now lists the highway as open through Big Sur. At Rocky Creek (opens in a new tab), a 2024 slip-out undermined the southbound lane, and an automatic signal ran one-way traffic during repairs. Check Caltrans QuickMap before any Big Sur drive, keep right on curves, and use turnouts to let faster cars go by.
On a nine-mile stretch of State Route 68, between Josselyn Canyon Road and San Benancio Road, the problem is stop-and-go traffic. Caltrans reports that rear-end crashes are the most common type (opens in a new tab) there, and some segments crash more often than similar roads statewide. Wildlife crossing the highway adds to the risk. Caltrans chose to turn nine intersections into roundabouts and add five wildlife culverts, with construction scheduled for March 2028 to November 2030. Until then, use at least a three-second following gap. Watch brake lights two or three cars ahead, so you are never forced into a sudden stop.
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 5: Regent's Slide Removal Emergency Project (Highway 1, Big Sur) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 5: Rocky Creek Slip Out Emergency Project (Highway 1) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 5: Scenic Route 68 Corridor Improvements Project (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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