Teens in Monterey Park 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, about 2.1 miles in a straight line from the middle of Monterey Park.
Where do Monterey Park 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 | 2.1 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 | 4.3 mi |
| El Monte DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 4000 Arden Drive, El Monte 91731 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.4 mi |
Public high schools near Monterey Park
No active public high school is inside Monterey Park city limits or has a Monterey Park mailing address in the California Department of Education directory (2025-26). The 3 nearest traditional public high schools are below, by straight-line distance from the middle of Monterey Park. Which school a student attends depends on the school district's attendance boundaries, so check with the district. 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 | City | District | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schurr High (opens in a new tab) | Montebello | Montebello Unified (opens in a new tab) | 2,049 | 1.6 mi |
| Mark Keppel High (opens in a new tab) | Alhambra | Alhambra Unified (opens in a new tab) | 2,181 | 1.7 mi |
| James A. Garfield Senior High (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles | Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | 2,212 | 2.2 mi |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside Monterey Park city limits or with a Monterey Park mailing address (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Driving School | E4163 | 111 W. Pomona Blvd, Monterey Park | (323) 728-2108 |
Learning to drive in Monterey Park: countdown signals and clear corners
Many Monterey Park intersections have pedestrian signals (opens in a new tab), and the city has added countdown timers at some of them. The steady WALK phase is usually 4 to 7 seconds long, then the hand flashes while people finish crossing. Someone who stepped off the curb late may still be in the street when your light turns green. Before you roll, look left, then right, then left once more. Yield to anyone still in the crosswalk, even on a green.
The city's traffic projects (opens in a new tab) include adaptive signals on Atlantic, Garfield and Garvey, plus cameras that help engineers adjust timing. Monterey Park also explains California's daylighting law (opens in a new tab), AB 413. It bans stopping, standing or parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk. The clear space lets drivers and walkers see each other sooner. Never park in that zone, and use the open view to check for people at the corner.
The path to a license in Monterey Park
- 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: Montebello (2.5 mi) and Alhambra (2.6 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 Monterey Park: Pedestrian Signals (opens in a new tab)
- City of Monterey Park: Traffic Projects (opens in a new tab)
- City of Monterey Park: Daylighting Law (AB 413) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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