Teens in Monterey 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 Seaside office at 1180 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, Seaside, about 2.7 miles in a straight line from Monterey's public high schools.
Where do Monterey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2.7 mi |
| 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 | 16 mi |
| Watsonville DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 90 Alta Vista Avenue, Watsonville 95076 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 24 mi |
Public high schools in Monterey
Monterey has 1 active public high school inside city limits or with a Monterey mailing address (1 traditional) in 1 district, with 1,413 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. Most teens reach 15½, the earliest permit age, in 9th or 10th grade (Education Code 48000 (opens in a new tab) sets the school entry age). Finish the online course before then: the permit application needs the DL 400C.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey High | Monterey Peninsula Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,413 | Seaside (2.7 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Monterey city limits or with a Monterey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Learning to drive in Monterey: North Fremont's median bike lane and Car Week crowds
North Fremont is one of Monterey's main commercial streets, and it has an unusual layout. The city says its North Fremont project (opens in a new tab) put California's first protected Class IV bike lane in a median. The rebuild also shortened walking crossings and added signals that adjust to traffic as it happens. The community celebrated the finished work in September 2019. Riders there travel near the center of the road. Before a left turn, check the median side as well as the curb.
Car Week puts extra strain on Monterey streets. Before Car Week 2025, which ran from August 8 to 17, police asked drivers (opens in a new tab) to follow traffic laws. Past years had brought more speeding, equipment and truck route violations. Street conditions have improved, too. A city news release (opens in a new tab) credits local sales tax money for lifting the pavement score from 54 to 79. During big events, leave extra space, expect people crossing anywhere, and keep your phone out of reach.
The path to a license in Monterey
- 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 Seaside 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: Seaside (4.2 mi) and Salinas (16 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: North Fremont Bike and Pedestrian Project (opens in a new tab)
- City of Monterey: Monterey Car Week 2025 Traffic Enforcement (opens in a new tab)
- City of Monterey: Street Repair Extension Measure Assigned Ballot Letter (August 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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