San Luis Obispo County has 2 DMV field offices and 20 active public high schools serving 10,669 students. Teens anywhere in the county can take California's 30-hour online driver education course, then the permit test at any DMV office.
DMV offices in San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo County averages about 5,335 high-school students per DMV office. Both offices here are open five weekdays. No DMV office in San Luis Obispo County lists weekend hours. Book on the DMV appointments page (opens in a new tab); what to bring is on our permit visit checklist.
| Office | Address | Hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paso Robles DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 841 Park Street, Paso Robles 93446 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
| San Luis Obispo DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3190 S Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo 93401 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 |
Cities in San Luis Obispo County: nearest DMV and high schools
Each incorporated city with its 2026 population, the number of public high schools inside it or with its mailing address, and the nearest DMV office to them. Families in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County use the office nearest home.
| City | Population (2026) | High schools | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | 50,165 | 5 | San Luis Obispo (3.8 mi) |
| El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) | 31,525 | 3 | Paso Robles (1.2 mi) |
| Atascadero | 30,184 | 3 | Paso Robles (11 mi) |
| Arroyo Grande | 17,780 | 2 | San Luis Obispo (12 mi) |
| Grover Beach | 12,502 | 0 | No high school address in city |
| Morro Bay | 10,307 | 1 | San Luis Obispo (14 mi) |
| Pismo Beach | 7,773 | 0 | No high school address in city |
Licensed driving schools in San Luis Obispo County
9 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address in San Luis Obispo County (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordable Driving School | E2138 | 922 Mesa View Dr, Arroyo Grande | (805) 481-1215 |
| American Challenge Drivingschool | E2016 | 632 Laura Way, Paso Robles | (805) 237-2060 |
| Central Coast Driving school | E0922 | 227 S Halcyon Rd Ste 102, Arroyo Grande | (805) 868-8870 |
| Central Coast School of Driving | E4133 | 4251 S Higuera St Spc 800X, San Luis Obispo | (805) 782-9217 |
| Drive Pro Driving School | E4557 | 1542B Newport Ave, Grover Beach | (805) 474-0101 |
| Five O Driving School | E2112 | 158 Avenida De Diamante, Arroyo Grande | (805) 270-4331 |
| Precision Driving School South | E2119 | 130 Avis Street, Arroyo Grande | (805) 788-0900 |
| Surf's Up Driving School LLC | E0551 | 60 2nd Street, Templeton | (805) 434-1444 |
| Switching Lanes | E0355 | 111 El Dorado Ct, Paso Robles | (805) 400-3201 |
Driving in San Luis Obispo County: SR 46 passing and Pismo Beach traffic
East of Paso Robles, State Route 46 ranks among the few east-west connections between US 101 and Interstate 5. In 2017, about 17 percent of its traffic was trucks. On the remaining two-lane parts, Caltrans says limited passing chances (opens in a new tab) build long lines behind slow vehicles and tempt risky passes. The road is being widened in sections to a four-lane divided expressway. Caltrans expects the Antelope Grade section to start in 2026, but lists it as unfunded. On two-lane stretches, be patient, and pass only where the center line allows it and you can see far ahead.
Along the coast, southbound US 101 clogs in Shell Beach and Pismo Beach when many drivers leave San Luis Obispo at once. Caltrans says this happens during evening commutes, summer weekends and events (opens in a new tab) in the towns to the south. Its fix is a part-time lane on the left shoulder, stretching from San Luis Obispo Creek down to the Pismo Beach railroad overhead. The lane would open daily during heavy afternoon traffic and special events. Construction was scheduled to begin at the end of March 2026 and finish in fall 2028. Practice reading lane-use signs, and drive on a shoulder lane only when signs show it is open.
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)
- Caltrans District 5: State Route 46 Corridor Improvement Project (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 5: Five Cities Multimodal Transportation Network Enhancement Project (US 101, Pismo Beach) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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