Teens in San Gabriel 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 El Monte office at 4000 Arden Drive, El Monte, 2.7 to 4.0 miles in a straight line from San Gabriel's public high schools.
Where do San Gabriel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3.4 mi |
| 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 | 3.9 mi |
| Montebello DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 424 N Wilcox Avenue, Montebello 90640 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.3 mi |
Public high schools in San Gabriel
San Gabriel has 4 active public high schools inside city limits or with a San Gabriel mailing address (2 traditional, 1 continuation, 1 charter) in 2 districts, with 3,355 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. Most teens reach 15½, the earliest permit age, in 9th or 10th grade (Education Code 48000 (opens in a new tab) sets the school entry age). Finish the online course before then: the permit application needs the DL 400C.
| District | High schools | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Alhambra Unified (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 1,726 |
| San Gabriel Unified (opens in a new tab) | 3 | 1,629 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Gabriel High (opens in a new tab) | Alhambra Unified | Traditional | 1,726 | El Monte (3.8 mi) |
| Gabrielino High (opens in a new tab) | San Gabriel Unified | Traditional | 1,368 | El Monte (2.7 mi) |
| Options for Youth San Gabriel (opens in a new tab) | San Gabriel Unified | Charter | 221 | Pasadena (3.7 mi) |
| Del Mar High (opens in a new tab) | San Gabriel Unified | Continuation | 40 | El Monte (3.4 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside San Gabriel city limits or with a San Gabriel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Driving School | E3071 | 1040 S San Gabriel Bl, San Gabriel | (626) 287-4877 |
Learning to drive in San Gabriel: a sunken railroad and strict speed enforcement
In San Gabriel, the railroad runs below street level in a trench (traffic and transportation page (opens in a new tab)). The San Gabriel Trench project put four streets on bridges over the tracks, including Mission Road and Del Mar Avenue. Work started in 2012 and was completed in 2018, so traffic on those streets now passes over the tracks. The city also wants its busy streets to serve walkers, cyclists and bus riders, not only cars. There are no crossing gates on these bridges, but keep your speed down and watch the corners for people.
After fatal crashes that killed pedestrians, San Gabriel police announced zero tolerance for speeders and distracted drivers (Traffic Bureau (opens in a new tab)). Officers use radar, speed trailers and message boards where residents report problems. The bureau also schedules DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols. Overnight parking on city streets is not allowed between 2 and 6 a.m. Keep to the limit, leave your phone alone, and know where you will park before a late drive.
The path to a license in San Gabriel
- 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 El Monte 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: Alhambra (1.0 mi) and Rosemead (1.9 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 San Gabriel: Traffic & Transportation Engineering (opens in a new tab)
- San Gabriel Police Department: Traffic Bureau (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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