Teens in Pasadena 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 Pasadena office at 49 S Rosemead Boulevard, Pasadena, 0.5 to 5.4 miles in a straight line from Pasadena's public high schools.
Where do Pasadena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 49 S Rosemead Boulevard, Pasadena 91107 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 1.7 mi |
| El Monte DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 4000 Arden Drive, El Monte 91731 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.1 mi |
| Lincoln Park DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3529 N Mission Road, Los Angeles 90031 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.4 mi |
Public high schools in Pasadena
Pasadena has 5 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Pasadena mailing address (2 traditional, 2 charter, 1 continuation) in 2 districts, with 6,164 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 6,164 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.
| District | High schools | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Duarte Unified (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 3,355 |
| Pasadena Unified (opens in a new tab) | 4 | 2,809 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Options For Youth - Duarte, Inc (opens in a new tab) | Duarte Unified | Charter | 3,355 | Pasadena (0.6 mi) |
| John Muir High (opens in a new tab) | Pasadena Unified | Traditional | 1,282 | Pasadena (5.4 mi) |
| Pasadena High (opens in a new tab) | Pasadena Unified | Traditional | 1,197 | Pasadena (1.5 mi) |
| Learning Works (opens in a new tab) | Pasadena Unified | Charter | 238 | Pasadena (1.1 mi) |
| Rose City High (Continuation) (opens in a new tab) | Pasadena Unified | Continuation | 92 | Pasadena (0.5 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
6 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Pasadena city limits or with a Pasadena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Driving School | E2152 | 40 N Altadena Dr Ste 200L, Pasadena | (626) 328-8705 |
| Get Drivers Ed | E0595 | 301 N Lake Avenue Office 65 Suite 600, Pasadena | (877) 779-3336 |
| Pasadena Driving School the Best DBA El Monte Driving Scho | E4511 | 862 E Villa Street, Pasadena | (626) 440-1669 |
| Traffic Safety Institute | E0333 | 133 N Altadena Dr Suite 215, Pasadena | (626) 283-5403 |
| Viva Driving School Inc | E4463 | 2811 E Foothill Blvd, Pasadena | (818) 669-4448 |
| World Driving School | E3516 | 40 N Altadena Drive #102 T, Pasadena | (626) 683-3819 |
Learning to drive in Pasadena: the SR 710 stub and safety corridors
On Pasadena's west side, the city is reshaping streets around the northern stub of SR 710. Its plan for the stub area (opens in a new tab) includes $75 million for Pasadena and St. John avenues, from Walnut Street to Columbia Street. The design keeps the travel lanes, adds features to slow drivers, and steers through traffic toward Fair Oaks Avenue and Arroyo Parkway. Construction is anticipated to start in 2028. On streets designed for slower speeds, keep a steady pace and watch for people at the new crosswalks.
In October 2025, the city adopted a Focused Local Roadway Safety Action Plan (opens in a new tab). It names safety corridors for more speed limit cuts and sets a goal of zero roadway deaths by 2035. Pasadena also explains the state daylighting law (opens in a new tab), in effect since January 1, 2025. It bans parking or stopping within 20 feet of the approach side of any crosswalk, with or without a red curb. When you park near a corner, leave that space open, and when you drive, watch corners for people stepping out.
The path to a license in Pasadena
- 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 Pasadena 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: El Monte (7.2 mi) and Glendale (8.6 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 Pasadena: A New Vision for the SR 710's Northern Stub (opens in a new tab)
- City of Pasadena DOT: Traffic Engineering Safety (opens in a new tab)
- City of Pasadena DOT: 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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