Teens in Newport Beach 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 Costa Mesa office at 650 W 19th Street, Costa Mesa, 1.6 to 2.9 miles in a straight line from Newport Beach's public high schools.
Where do Newport Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Mesa DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 650 W 19th Street, Costa Mesa 92627 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 2.1 mi |
| Santa Ana DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1330 E First Street, Santa Ana 92701 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.5 mi |
| Westminster DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 13700 Hoover Street, Westminster 92683 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 11 mi |
Public high schools in Newport Beach
Newport Beach has 2 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Newport Beach mailing address (2 traditional) in 1 district, with 4,161 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.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corona del Mar High (opens in a new tab) | Newport-Mesa Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,117 | Costa Mesa (2.9 mi) |
| Newport Harbor High (opens in a new tab) | Newport-Mesa Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,044 | Costa Mesa (1.6 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Newport Beach city limits or with a Newport Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport Driving School | E3573 | 3400 Irvine Ave Ste 119, Newport Beach | (949) 975-8425 |
| Persis Driving School | E2159 | 1101 Dove St Ste 255, Newport Beach | (949) 450-0006 |
Learning to drive in Newport Beach: e-bike rules and PCH night work
E-bikes are everywhere in Newport Beach, and since January 2026 a city law sets clear rules for riders (E-Bike Safety (opens in a new tab)). Riders must obey signs and signals, and those under 18 must wear a helmet. Riding against traffic or at night without lights is banned. Police safety talks reached more than 7,500 people from 2021 to 2023. Expect riders to appear fast on your right, and check over your right shoulder before you turn.
Pacific Coast Highway also brings night construction. In 2024, Caltrans scheduled PCH repaving (opens in a new tab) between Jamboree Road and the city's northern edge at the Santa Ana River. Work was set for August 12 through mid-October, on weeknights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Electronic message signs warned drivers about closures. When you meet night work on PCH, lower your speed, follow the cones and leave room for crews.
The path to a license in Newport Beach
- 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 Costa Mesa 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: Costa Mesa (2.8 mi) and Fountain Valley (6.7 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 Newport Beach: E-Bike Safety (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 12: Overnight Construction on Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1) in Newport Beach (Aug. 2024) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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