Nevada County has 2 DMV field offices and 11 active public high schools serving 3,816 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 Nevada County
Nevada County averages about 1,908 high-school students per DMV office. The Grass Valley office is open only part of the week. No DMV office in Nevada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass Valley DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 890 Sutton Way, Grass Valley 95945 | Mon, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
| Truckee DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 11357 Donner Pass Road Suite I, Truckee 96162 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
Cities in Nevada 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 Nevada County use the office nearest home.
| City | Population (2026) | High schools | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truckee | 16,891 | 3 | Truckee (0.6 mi) |
| Grass Valley | 13,238 | 7 | Grass Valley (2.5 mi) |
| Nevada City | 3,325 | 1 | Grass Valley (2.5 mi) |
Licensed driving schools in Nevada County
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address in Nevada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Driving School | E0326 | 202 Providence Mine Rd Ste B, Nevada City | (530) 863-6910 |
| Better Way Driving School | E0156 | 12101 Viking Way, Truckee | (530) 550-8080 |
Driving in Nevada County: Interstate 80 grades and the Route 49 corridor
Interstate 80 crosses the Sierra in Nevada County on long, steady grades. Near Soda Springs, Caltrans says heavy trucks, tire chains and studded tires have badly rutted the pavement. The Soda Springs project (opens in a new tab) adds an eastbound truck climbing lane and is scheduled to finish in July 2027. Near the State Route 20 junction, a bridge rebuild has a 55 mph work-zone limit (opens in a new tab) and should be done by winter 2027. Caltrans has warned that delays across the whole I-80 Sierra corridor (opens in a new tab) can reach two hours. Check QuickMap before you go, let slow trucks use the climbing lane, and obey work-zone limits.
Near Grass Valley, State Route 49 is a two-lane highway with shoulders from zero to 8 feet wide. Caltrans began the Route 49 corridor project (opens in a new tab) in early 2026 and schedules completion for December 2028. It adds 10-foot shoulders, turn lanes and a slow-moving truck lane, and removes a southbound merge point south of McKnight Way. Until it is done, expect lane shifts and fresh striping. When your lane ends, signal early and slide smoothly into a gap.
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 3: I-80 Soda Springs Pavement Rehabilitation Project (I-80) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 3: Delays Anticipated Along Interstate 80 Near Yuba Gap (I-80) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 3: Interstate 80 Construction Update for Sierra Corridor (I-80) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 3: State Route 49 Corridor Improvement Project (SR 49) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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