Teens in Westminster 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 Westminster office at 13700 Hoover Street, Westminster, 1.0 to 3.4 miles in a straight line from Westminster's public high schools.
Where do Westminster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 13700 Hoover Street, Westminster 92683 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 1.7 mi |
| Santa Ana DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 1330 E First Street, Santa Ana 92701 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 7.4 mi |
| Costa Mesa DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 650 W 19th Street, Costa Mesa 92627 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 7.6 mi |
Public high schools in Westminster
Westminster has 2 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Westminster mailing address (2 traditional) in 2 districts, with 4,425 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 4,425 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington Beach Union High (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 2,436 |
| Garden Grove Unified (opens in a new tab) | 1 | 1,989 |
| School | District | Type | Students | Nearest DMV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster High (opens in a new tab) | Huntington Beach Union High | Traditional | 2,436 | Westminster (1.0 mi) |
| La Quinta High (opens in a new tab) | Garden Grove Unified | Traditional | 1,989 | Westminster (3.4 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
3 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Westminster city limits or with a Westminster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolsa Driving School | E0421 | 9039 Bolsa Ave Ste 308, Westminster | (714) 892-8882 |
| H P Driving School | E4062 | 7032 Hazard Ave 4, Westminster | (714) 920-1961 |
| Tran Driving/Traffic School | E4695 | 9587 Bolsa Ave, Westminster | (714) 867-6666 |
Learning to drive in Westminster: safe routes to 21 schools
Westminster wants more students walking and biking to school. Its Safe Routes to School Plan (opens in a new tab) was adopted on May 22, 2024. Parents, school staff and community members gave input across all 21 public schools. The plan lists practical steps to make those trips safer and comes with a suggested routes booklet. The city also promotes Walk & Roll to School Day with local school districts. Near any school, slow down early and watch for kids at corners.
Westminster treats bikeways (opens in a new tab) as part of streets that serve everyone, from seniors to children. The city sees them as a basic change in how it plans and designs streets. More bike riders means more chances to meet one at a corner or beside you. When passing a cyclist, slow down and leave plenty of room. Before you turn across a bike lane, look over your shoulder for riders.
The path to a license in Westminster
- 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 Westminster 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: Garden Grove (2.7 mi) and Fountain Valley (2.8 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 Westminster: Safe Routes to School (SRTS) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Westminster: Bikeways (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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