Teens in Upland 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 Rancho Cucamonga office at 8629 Hellman Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, 3.3 to 4.5 miles in a straight line from Upland's public high schools.
Where do Upland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Cucamonga DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 8629 Hellman Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga 91730 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 3.9 mi |
| Pomona DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1600 S Garey Avenue, Pomona 91766 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.1 mi |
| Fontana DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 8026 Hemlock Ave, Fontana 92336 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 11 mi |
Public high schools in Upland
Upland has 2 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Upland mailing address (1 continuation, 1 traditional) in 1 district, with 2,884 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upland High (opens in a new tab) | Upland Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,782 | Rancho Cucamonga (3.3 mi) |
| Hillside High (opens in a new tab) | Upland Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 102 | Rancho Cucamonga (4.5 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside Upland city limits or with a Upland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarahs Driving & Traffic School LLC | E0390 | 951 W Foothill Blvd, Upland | (909) 329-9957 |
Learning to drive in Upland: the Foothill Boulevard rebuild and calmer side streets
Foothill Boulevard is a major Upland street, and a big rebuild has been under way. The $13.2 million rehabilitation project (opens in a new tab) covers Foothill from Benson Avenue to Euclid Avenue. Work was scheduled from October 2025 through August 2026, with lane reductions, closures and detours. It brings new pavement, traffic signals, lighting and bike lane upgrades. When lanes shift, follow the temporary lines, not the old faded ones. Keep a steady speed and watch for workers near the curb.
The city is also designing a rebuild of 19th Street. A traffic consultant studied all-way stops and traffic calming (opens in a new tab) along it. The first community meeting took place on June 9, 2026. A 14th Street paving project has had two community meetings about proposed traffic measures. Calming changes can make a familiar street feel new. Come to a full stop at every stop sign, and look both ways twice before you go.
The path to a license in Upland
- 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 Rancho Cucamonga 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: Ontario (3.6 mi) and Pomona (5.9 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 Upland: Foothill Blvd. Improvement Project (Benson Ave. to Euclid Ave.) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Upland: Capital Improvement Projects (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
See something wrong or out of date? Report a mistake on this page. We read every report and fix confirmed mistakes.