Teens in Norwalk 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 Whittier office at 9338 S Painter Avenue, Whittier, 3.1 to 4.2 miles in a straight line from Norwalk's public high schools.
Where do Norwalk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whittier DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 9338 S Painter Avenue, Whittier 90605 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 3.5 mi |
| Bellflower DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 9520 Artesia Blvd, Bellflower 90706 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 4.1 mi |
| Bell Gardens DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens 90201 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.1 mi |
Public high schools in Norwalk
Norwalk has 2 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Norwalk mailing address (2 traditional) in 1 district, with 2,781 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwalk High (opens in a new tab) | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,962 | Bellflower (3.3 mi) |
| John H. Glenn High (opens in a new tab) | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 819 | Whittier (3.1 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 Norwalk. 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 Norwalk: three freeways and a busy 105 off-ramp
Three freeways cross Norwalk: Interstate 5, Interstate 105 and Interstate 605. The mayor has called out safety at the eastbound 105 off-ramp (opens in a new tab) and the intersection at its end. The city notes that Caltrans owns that ramp and the CHP handles enforcement and crash reports there. Norwalk is coordinating more patrols with the CHP and the sheriff's department. An off-ramp ends at city traffic, so slow down early on the ramp and be ready to stop at the bottom.
Interstate 605 is getting new pavement too. Caltrans' Super 605 project (opens in a new tab) is rehabilitating 96 lane miles from Katella Avenue to Telegraph Road, with completion anticipated in early 2028. Ten 55-hour weekend closures sped up paving between September 2024 and April 2025. Norwalk's public safety department also won a state grant for bicycle and pedestrian safety (opens in a new tab) that runs through September 2026. Before a right turn, look over your shoulder for a bike rider coming up beside you.
The path to a license in Norwalk
- 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 Whittier 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: Downey (3.7 mi) and Long Beach (8.8 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 Norwalk: Mayor Perez Addresses 105 Freeway Off-Ramp Safety (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 7: Super 605 Freeway Enhancements Project (I-605) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Norwalk: OTS Grant for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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