Teens in Temple City 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, 1.9 to 2.8 miles in a straight line from Temple City's public high schools.
Where do Temple City 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 | 2.2 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 | 2.6 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 | 7.2 mi |
Public high schools in Temple City
Temple City has 3 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Temple City mailing address (1 continuation, 1 alternative, 1 traditional) in 1 district, with 1,841 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.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temple City High | Temple City Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,803 | Pasadena (2.0 mi) |
| Dr. Doug Sears Learning Center | Temple City Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 26 | El Monte (1.9 mi) |
| Temple City Alternative (opens in a new tab) | Temple City Unified (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 12 | El Monte (1.9 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
The DMV license list (checked 2026-10-04) shows no driving school with an Active license at an address in Temple City. Schools in nearby cities often pick students up across the area; check each school's service area and license on the DMV lookup (opens in a new tab).
Learning to drive in Temple City: a protected bike lane on Rosemead Boulevard
In 2014, Temple City finished a Rosemead Boulevard project that included a Class II protected bike lane (bicycle safety (opens in a new tab)). The next year, it added a bike lane on El Monte Avenue and several miles of bike routes and bike boulevards. These projects carry out the Bicycle Master Plan the City Council adopted in 2011. Under state law, drivers must keep at least 3 feet away from any bicycle. When you pass a rider, give at least 3 feet, and hold back until the oncoming lane is clear.
Temple City owns its traffic signals, and the County of Los Angeles maintains them under a contract (signs and signals (opens in a new tab)). The city owns and maintains its stop signs, warning signs and street name signs itself. A new street name sign with the city logo is replacing missing and damaged ones. Over time, all street name signs are meant to become reflective signs that meet current standards, though no schedule is set. At night, older signs can be hard to read, so slow down early when you are looking for a turn.
The path to a license in Temple City
- 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: Arcadia (1.8 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 Temple City: Bicycle Safety (opens in a new tab)
- City of Temple City: Traffic Signs & Signals (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 6, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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