Teens in Torrance 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 Torrance office at 1785 W 220th Street, Torrance, 0.6 to 3.5 miles in a straight line from Torrance's public high schools.
Where do Torrance 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1785 W 220th Street, Torrance 90501 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 1.6 mi |
| Hawthorne DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 3700 W El Segundo Boulevard, Hawthorne 90250 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.7 mi |
| San Pedro DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1511 N Gaffey Street, San Pedro 90731 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 5.8 mi |
Public high schools in Torrance
Torrance has 6 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Torrance mailing address (4 traditional, 1 alternative, 1 continuation) in 1 district, with 7,342 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 7,342 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.
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance High | Torrance Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,939 | Torrance (0.6 mi) |
| North High | Torrance Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,847 | Torrance (2.9 mi) |
| West High | Torrance Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,747 | Torrance (3.5 mi) |
| South High | Torrance Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,707 | Torrance (3.2 mi) |
| Shery (Kurt T.) High (Continuation) | Torrance Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 91 | Torrance (0.8 mi) |
| Gene Drevno Community Day (opens in a new tab) | Torrance Unified (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 11 | Torrance (0.6 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
5 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Torrance city limits or with a Torrance 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avers Driving School | E4459 | 20100 Anza Ave, Torrance | (310) 538-8668 |
| Bobs Driving School | E2937 | 17310 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance | (310) 516-9153 |
| Fuji Driving School | E2205 | 2780 Sepuveda Blvd 107, Torrance | (310) 325-2646 |
| Norris Driving School | E3825 | 17310 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance | (310) 516-9821 |
| South Bay Driving School | E3609 | 3614 Pacific Coast Hwy Unit C, Torrance | (310) 791-1111 |
Learning to drive in Torrance: Pacific Coast Highway work and rail crossings
Pacific Coast Highway, State Route 1, runs through Torrance, and Caltrans is resurfacing it. The pavement project (opens in a new tab) covers about 22 miles in Torrance, Long Beach, Lomita and nearby cities. It also builds bike lanes, bus pads and sidewalks and adds fresh striping. The listed schedule runs from winter 2023/2024 through winter 2027/2028. Crews work at night, so evening drives may meet cones and closed lanes. Slow for the cone zone, merge early when a lane ends, and follow the temporary lines.
Freight trains also cross Torrance neighborhoods. The city lists nine at-grade crossings (opens in a new tab) on the BNSF line and nine on the Union Pacific line. Both lines pass through residential areas, near streets such as Torrance Boulevard and Western Avenue. Those crossings fall under federal rail rules, not city control. Never stop on the tracks. Wait until the far side has room for your whole car, and go only after the gates are fully up.
The path to a license in Torrance
- 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 Torrance 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: Inglewood (8.4 mi) and Long Beach (10 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: Pacific Coast Highway LA County Line to Torrance Pavement Rehabilitation (SR-1) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Torrance: Railway Concerns (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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