Teens in South San Francisco 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 Daly City office at 1500 Sullivan Avenue, Daly City, 2.3 to 3.8 miles in a straight line from South San Francisco's public high schools.
Where do South San Francisco 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daly City DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1500 Sullivan Avenue, Daly City 94015 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 3.3 mi |
| San Mateo DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 425 N Amphlett Boulevard, San Mateo 94401 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 7.9 mi |
| San Francisco DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1377 Fell Street, San Francisco 94117 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.3 mi |
Public high schools in South San Francisco
South San Francisco has 4 active public high schools inside city limits or with a South San Francisco mailing address (2 traditional, 1 continuation, 1 alternative) in 1 district, with 2,387 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 San Francisco High | South San Francisco Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,224 | Daly City (3.8 mi) |
| El Camino High | South San Francisco Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,051 | Daly City (2.3 mi) |
| Baden High (Continuation) | South San Francisco Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 111 | Daly City (3.4 mi) |
| Community Day | South San Francisco Unified (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 1 | Daly City (3.6 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside South San Francisco city limits or with a South San Francisco 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Stars Driving School | E3655 | 90 South Spruce Ave Suite C4, South San Francisco | (650) 692-9098 |
Learning to drive in South San Francisco: US 101 roadwork and fast e-bikes
In South San Francisco, US 101 is part of a long repair project. Caltrans started a multi-asset rehabilitation project (opens in a new tab) in March 2026 that runs from the city south to East Palo Alto. It covers paving, guardrails, drainage and traffic management equipment, with work planned through December 2027. For October 2026, Caltrans scheduled night lane and ramp closures (opens in a new tab) on weeknights, running 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Before a late drive, check for closed ramps, and know a second way to reach your exit.
On city streets, small electric vehicles are everywhere. The South San Francisco Police Department (opens in a new tab) reports more trouble with e-bikes, e-scooters and e-motorcycles, often ridden by young people without licenses. Class 3 e-bikes can reach 28 mph, so a rider may arrive sooner than you expect. Motorized scooters may not exceed 15 mph. Before you turn or open a car door, look for fast riders. Give them the same space you would give a car.
The path to a license in South San Francisco
- 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 Daly City 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: Daly City (3.0 mi) and San Mateo (9.5 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: US 101 Multi-Asset Rehabilitation & Roadside Safety Project (San Mateo County) (opens in a new tab)
- Caltrans District 4: Daytime and Overnight Lane & Ramp Closures on U.S. 101 (October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- City of South San Francisco Police: Electric Bikes, Scooters, and Motorcycles (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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