Teens in Novato 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 Novato office at 936 7th Street A, Novato, 0.6 to 1.9 miles in a straight line from Novato's public high schools.
Where do Novato 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novato DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 936 7th Street A, Novato 94947 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 0.5 mi |
| Petaluma DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 715 - J Southpoint Boulevard, Petaluma 94954 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 11 mi |
| Corte Madera DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 75 Tamal Vista Boulevard, Corte Madera 94925 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 12 mi |
Public high schools in Novato
Novato has 3 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Novato mailing address (2 traditional, 1 continuation) in 1 district, with 2,472 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 2,472 high-school students for each DMV office in the city. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marin High (opens in a new tab) | Novato Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,237 | Novato (1.9 mi) |
| Novato High (opens in a new tab) | Novato Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,172 | Novato (1.2 mi) |
| Marin Oaks High (opens in a new tab) | Novato Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 63 | Novato (0.6 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside Novato city limits or with a Novato 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nile Driving School | E2055 | 7075 Redwood Blvd Ste N, Novato | (415) 897-7002 |
Learning to drive in Novato: State Route 37 bridge work and Novato Boulevard
State Route 37 links Novato with Vallejo, and work is starting on its bridges. At the Marin-Sonoma line, Caltrans began rehabilitating the Petaluma River Bridge (opens in a new tab) in October 2026. Nightly westbound lane closures were set for October 12 to 16, and the project should take about two years. Separate jobs to rebuild the Novato Creek and Tolay Creek bridges are tentatively set for 2027. The state has also funded flood resilience (opens in a new tab) along the route. When a lane drops on a bridge, merge early and leave a long gap ahead.
In town, Novato Boulevard is about to change. The city says construction was set to begin in summer 2026 (opens in a new tab). First, PG&E is moving overhead lines underground and taking down old poles. One contractor will handle water, sewer and road work at the same time. The agencies estimate that work will take 18 to 24 months, with delays like those during the utility job. Allow extra time on Novato Boulevard, and watch for flaggers and narrowed lanes near crews.
The path to a license in Novato
- 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 Novato 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: San Rafael (7.7 mi) and Petaluma (9.4 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 4: Nightly Lane Reductions Begin on Westbound SR-37 Petaluma River Bridge (October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans: SR37 Corridor Projects (opens in a new tab)
- City of Novato: Novato Boulevard Improvements (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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