Teens in West Covina 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 West Covina office at 800 So Glendora Avenue, West Covina, 1.1 to 2.8 miles in a straight line from West Covina's public high schools.
Where do West Covina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Covina DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 800 So Glendora Avenue, West Covina 91790 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 1.2 mi |
| 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 | 7.7 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 | 9.4 mi |
Public high schools in West Covina
West Covina has 5 active public high schools inside city limits or with a West Covina mailing address (3 traditional, 1 continuation, 1 alternative) in 2 districts, with 4,447 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 4,447 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.
| District | High schools | Students |
|---|---|---|
| West Covina Unified (opens in a new tab) | 4 | 2,822 |
| Covina-Valley Unified (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 1,625 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Covina High | West Covina Unified | Traditional | 1,797 | West Covina (1.1 mi) |
| Edgewood High (opens in a new tab) | West Covina Unified | Traditional | 649 | West Covina (1.1 mi) |
| Mt. SAC Early College Academy at West Covina (opens in a new tab) | West Covina Unified | Alternative | 265 | West Covina (2.0 mi) |
| Coronado High (Continuation) | West Covina Unified | Continuation | 111 | West Covina (1.3 mi) |
| South Hills High | Covina-Valley Unified | Traditional | 1,625 | West Covina (2.8 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
One driving school holds an Active California DMV license at an address inside West Covina city limits or with a West Covina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Driving Academy | E0964 | 703 S Glendora Ave Ste 2, West Covina | (626) 219-2945 |
Learning to drive in West Covina: I-10 bridge work and left-turn arrows
Interstate 10 is the one state highway inside West Covina, and Caltrans has been preserving its bridges (opens in a new tab). One job sealed cracks on the Sunset Avenue undercrossing. For a September 2025 weekend, eastbound I-10 dropped to two lanes near Sunset Avenue, starting at West Covina Parkway. Caltrans said work would continue through fall 2026, with more 55-hour weekend closures. Where the freeway narrows, merge at the signs, take turns with other drivers, and keep a steady gap.
On city streets, West Covina sought state safety funds for signal upgrades at 10 intersections. The HSIP Cycle 10 project (opens in a new tab) calls for pedestrian countdown heads and protected left-turn arrows where left-turn lanes already exist. Six intersections, including Sunset Avenue at Merced Avenue, are listed for major work. The mayor's 2025 State of the City (opens in a new tab) also reported signal synchronization on Azusa Avenue. A green arrow lets you turn left, but a plain green light means you must yield to oncoming cars and walkers first.
The path to a license in West Covina
- 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 West Covina 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: El Monte (6.3 mi) and Pomona (8.9 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)
- Caltrans District 7: 55-Hour Weekend Closure on Eastbound I-10 in West Covina for Bridge Preservation (opens in a new tab)
- City of West Covina: Highway Safety Improvements Program (HSIP) Cycle 10 (opens in a new tab)
- City of West Covina: 2025 State of the City (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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