Teens in National City 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 Chula Vista office at 30 N Glover Avenue, Chula Vista, 0.7 to 2.6 miles in a straight line from National City's public high schools.
Where do National City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chula Vista DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 30 N Glover Avenue, Chula Vista 91910 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 1.5 mi |
| San Diego DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3960 Normal Street, San Diego 92103 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.3 mi |
| San Ysidro DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 6111 Business Center Court, San Diego 92154 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.8 mi |
Public high schools in National City
National City has 2 active public high schools inside city limits or with a National City mailing address (1 charter, 1 traditional) in 2 districts, with 5,099 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. 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.
| District | High schools | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Borrego Springs Unified (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 2,929 |
| Sweetwater Union High (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 2,170 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Workforce Innovation High (opens in a new tab) | Borrego Springs Unified | Charter | 2,929 | Chula Vista (2.6 mi) |
| Sweetwater High (opens in a new tab) | Sweetwater Union High | Traditional | 2,170 | Chula Vista (0.7 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 National City. 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 National City: I-5 repaving and the 20-foot crosswalk rule
In National City, Interstate 5 is under repair. The I-5 Asset Management Project (opens in a new tab) is repaving the freeway, shoulders and ramps in National City, Chula Vista and San Diego. Work began in April 2025 and should finish in winter 2027, with some temporary freeway closures and detours. Nearby, the Harbor Drive 2.0 plan (opens in a new tab) proposes truck-only lanes on Harbor Drive as far as Mile of Cars Way. Around trucks, leave extra space and stay out of their blind spots.
National City also reminds drivers about the state's daylighting law (opens in a new tab). Since January 1, 2025, you may not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk on the approach side, marked or unmarked. Near a curb extension, the limit is 15 feet. You can get a ticket even without red paint or signs. When you park, check your distance from the crosswalk. As you drive, scan each corner for walkers.
The path to a license in National City
- 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 Chula Vista 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: Chula Vista (5.5 mi) and La Mesa (7.9 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)
- Caltrans District 11: I-5 Asset Management Project (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 11: Harbor Drive 2.0 / Vesta Bridge Port Access Improvements (opens in a new tab)
- City of National City: California 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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