Teens in Redding 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 Redding office at 2135 Civic Center Drive, Redding, 0.4 to 4.9 miles in a straight line from Redding's public high schools.
Where do Redding teens take the permit and drive tests?
The Red Bluff office and The Weaverville office are open only part of the week, so check the days before you go. None of California's 162 permit-testing DMV offices lists weekend hours, so plan a school-day visit. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2135 Civic Center Drive, Redding 96001 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 0.1 mi |
| Red Bluff DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 675 Monroe Street, Red Bluff 96080 | Mon, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 29 mi |
| Weaverville DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1511 Main Street, Weaverville 96093 | Tue, Thu 8 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 31 mi |
Public high schools in Redding
Redding has 8 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Redding mailing address (3 traditional, 2 charter, 2 alternative, 1 continuation) in 3 districts, with 3,230 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 3,230 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shasta Union High (opens in a new tab) | 5 | 2,947 |
| Trinity County Office of Education (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 156 |
| Shasta County Office of Education (opens in a new tab) | 2 | 127 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shasta High (opens in a new tab) | Shasta Union High | Traditional | 1,267 | Redding (1.8 mi) |
| Enterprise High (opens in a new tab) | Shasta Union High | Traditional | 1,123 | Redding (2.0 mi) |
| Shasta Charter Academy (opens in a new tab) | Shasta Union High | Charter | 280 | Redding (0.4 mi) |
| Pioneer Continuation High (opens in a new tab) | Shasta Union High | Continuation | 202 | Redding (1.9 mi) |
| Shasta Collegiate Academy (opens in a new tab) | Shasta Union High | Alternative | 75 | Redding (1.5 mi) |
| California Heritage Youthbuild Academy II (opens in a new tab) | Trinity County Office of Education | Charter | 156 | Redding (4.9 mi) |
| Shasta County Independent Study (opens in a new tab) | Shasta County Office of Education | Traditional | 100 | Redding (3.8 mi) |
| Tri Mountain Academy (opens in a new tab) | Shasta County Office of Education | Alternative | 27 | Redding (1.9 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
3 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Redding city limits or with a Redding 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Plus Safety LLC | E4533 | 2765 Bechelli Lane, Redding | (530) 222-1210 |
| Moras Driving School | E2044 | 810 Lake Blvd Unit F, Redding | (530) 365-7712 |
| Redding Driving School | E4416 | 3264 Bechelli Ln, Redding | (530) 221-3959 |
Learning to drive in Redding: state highways downtown and wrong-way ramp signs
In downtown Redding, three state highways double as city streets: State Routes 273, 44 and 299. Caltrans plans a downtown Redding project (opens in a new tab) to restore pavement, upgrade curb ramps and crosswalks, improve bike lanes and update signals. Parking will be changed to meet current safety standards. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2029. Downtown, watch for parked cars pulling out and riders in bike lanes, and keep to the posted speed.
Interstate 5 carries fast traffic past the city. Caltrans' Shasta 5 Wrong Way Ramps project (opens in a new tab) upgrades signs and pavement markings at every I-5 exit ramp in Shasta County. It covers the freeway from the Tehama County line to the Siskiyou County line. About 60 working days were planned for 2026, all with traffic control. Never enter a ramp marked with red Do Not Enter or Wrong Way signs. If you see them facing you, stop and turn around safely.
The path to a license in Redding
- 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 Redding 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: Chico (64 mi) and Yuba City (107 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 2: Downtown Redding CAPM Project on Various Routes (SR 273, 44, 299) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 2: Shasta 5 Wrong Way Ramps Project on Interstate 5 (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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