Teens in Ventura 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 Ventura office at 4260 Market Street, Ventura, 0.9 to 2.3 miles in a straight line from Ventura's public high schools.
Where do Ventura 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ventura DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 4260 Market Street, Ventura 93003 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 1.3 mi |
| Oxnard DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 4050 Saviers Road, Oxnard 93033 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 8.5 mi |
| Santa Paula DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 250 W Harvard Boulevard A, Santa Paula 93060 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 10 mi |
Public high schools in Ventura
Ventura has 5 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Ventura mailing address (3 traditional, 1 alternative, 1 continuation) in 1 district, with 4,768 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 4,768 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ventura High | Ventura Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,927 | Ventura (2.3 mi) |
| Buena High | Ventura Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,487 | Ventura (1.8 mi) |
| Foothill Technology High | Ventura Unified (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 939 | Ventura (1.6 mi) |
| El Camino High | Ventura Unified (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 223 | Ventura (1.6 mi) |
| Pacific High | Ventura Unified (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 192 | Ventura (0.9 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Ventura city limits or with a Ventura 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar Driving School of Ventura | E3218 | 2674 E Main St Ste D, Ventura | (805) 653-6475 |
| Easy Street Driving School | E2202 | 2112 Eastman Ave Unit 109, Ventura | (805) 685-2436 |
Learning to drive in Ventura: beach exits off US 101 and strong wind
Ventura's state beaches are reached from US 101. State Parks says San Buenaventura State Beach (opens in a new tab), beside downtown, is easy to reach from the freeway. Its directions use exit 68 at Seaward Avenue. Bike trails link that beach with the Ventura Pier and downtown. At Emma Wood State Beach (opens in a new tab), west of town, railroad tracks and Highway 101 run alongside the campground. Near beach entrances, watch for cyclists and people carrying gear, and signal well before your exit.
Wind is another hazard to plan for. The National Weather Service mentions Santa Ana winds in its high wind safety tips (opens in a new tab), along with the risk of wildfire. It tells drivers caught in high wind to hold the wheel with both hands and slow down. It also warns that one strong gust can be enough to flip a trailer onto its side. On a windy day, give trucks, buses and towed trailers extra room, and never pass one slowly.
The path to a license in Ventura
- 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 Ventura 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: Oxnard (6.4 mi) and Thousand Oaks (22 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)
- California State Parks: San Buenaventura State Beach (opens in a new tab)
- California State Parks: Emma Wood State Beach (opens in a new tab)
- National Weather Service: During High Winds (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.