Teens in South Gate 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 Bell Gardens office at 6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens, 2.6 to 4.6 miles in a straight line from South Gate's public high schools.
Where do South Gate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Gardens DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens 90201 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 3.5 mi |
| Compton DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 2111 South Santa Fe Avenue, Compton 90221 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 4.9 mi |
| Los Angeles DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3615 S Hope Street, Los Angeles 90007 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.5 mi |
Public high schools in South Gate
South Gate has 6 active public high schools inside city limits or with a South Gate mailing address (4 traditional, 2 continuation) in 1 district, with 4,540 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. 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.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South East High (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,894 | Bell Gardens (4.6 mi) |
| South Gate Senior High (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,619 | Bell Gardens (3.6 mi) |
| Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics at Legacy High School Complex (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 509 | Bell Gardens (2.6 mi) |
| Visual and Performing Arts at Legacy High School Complex (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 354 | Bell Gardens (2.6 mi) |
| Odyssey Continuation (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 104 | Bell Gardens (3.7 mi) |
| Simon Rodia Continuation (opens in a new tab) | Los Angeles Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 60 | Compton (4.6 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside South Gate city limits or with a South Gate 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesucristo Driving School | E4315 | 8330 Long Beach Blvd Ste 114, South Gate | (323) 566-1507 |
Learning to drive in South Gate: a rebuilt Firestone Boulevard and new medians
Firestone Boulevard, one of South Gate's busiest corridors, has been rebuilt in two phases. The second phase of The Boulevard Project (opens in a new tab) covered Firestone from Alameda Street to Annetta Avenue. Work wrapped up on June 7, 2024. It added two bus turnouts, five bus shelters, pedestrian lighting and signal changes at Calden Avenue. A turnout lets a bus pull out of your lane to load riders. When you pass one, watch for people walking out from behind the bus.
Long Beach Boulevard got its own street improvements (opens in a new tab), a $10.6 million project that began on September 11, 2023. The city planned to have it substantially done in July 2024. Crews added a safety island at Santa Ana Street and flashing beacons. New medians are edged with cobblestones that are not meant for walking. People on foot may pause on the island halfway across. If the car beside you stops at a crosswalk, stop too; someone may be crossing in front of it.
The path to a license in South Gate
- 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 Bell Gardens 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: Lynwood (2.1 mi) and Huntington Park (2.8 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 South Gate: The Boulevard Project Phase II (Firestone Boulevard) (opens in a new tab)
- City of South Gate: Long Beach Boulevard Street Improvements (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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