Teens in Santa Clarita 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 Newhall office at 24427 Newhall Avenue, Newhall, 0.3 to 4.8 miles in a straight line from Santa Clarita's public high schools.
Where do Santa Clarita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newhall DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 24427 Newhall Avenue, Newhall 91321 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 2.4 mi |
| Simi Valley DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3855 D - Alamo Street, Simi Valley 93063 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 14 mi |
| Winnetka DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 20725 Sherman Way, Winnetka 91306 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 15 mi |
Public high schools in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita has 10 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Santa Clarita mailing address (6 traditional, 2 charter, 1 continuation, 1 alternative) in 1 district, with 11,524 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 11,524 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.
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Santa Clarita city limits or with a Santa Clarita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Valencia Driving School | E0325 | 28150 Avenue Crocker Ste 224, Santa Clarita | (310) 430-8606 |
| Genesis 1 Driving School | E4014 | 18926 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country | (661) 618-5734 |
Learning to drive in Santa Clarita: I-5 trucks and busy school streets
Interstate 5 is Santa Clarita's main freeway, and it carries a heavy share of trucks. Caltrans calls I-5 "the backbone of the state highway system." Its rebuild of 15.8 miles of I-5 (opens in a new tab) was scheduled from summer 2017 to summer 2019. During the work, split lanes between Calgrove Boulevard and SR 14 carried a 50 mph limit. Never cut in close in front of a big rig, and stay out of its blind spots beside the cab and trailer.
Around town, schools shape daily traffic. The city says it has over 50 schools (opens in a new tab). Near them, state law sets a 25 mph limit when children are outside or crossing. Its Heads Up safety page (opens in a new tab) reports that in 2024, drivers were at fault in 73% of local collisions involving pedestrians. It also says most fatal pedestrian crashes happen between 6 p.m. and midnight. Near schools and after dark, slow down, look between parked cars, and expect a child to step out.
The path to a license in Santa Clarita
- 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 Newhall 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: Simi Valley (16 mi) and Burbank (20 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 7: I-5 Roadway Rehabilitation Project in North Los Angeles County/Santa Clarita (I-5, SR-14) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Santa Clarita: Navigating School Traffic Safely (opens in a new tab)
- City of Santa Clarita: Heads Up! Sharing the Road (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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