Teens in Whittier 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 Whittier office at 9338 S Painter Avenue, Whittier, 0.1 to 2.6 miles in a straight line from Whittier's public high schools.
Where do Whittier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whittier DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 9338 S Painter Avenue, Whittier 90605 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 0.5 mi |
| Montebello DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 424 N Wilcox Avenue, Montebello 90640 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.3 mi |
| Bell Gardens DMV office (opens in a new tab) | 6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens 90201 | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 am–5 pm; Wed 9 am–5 pm | 1-800-777-0133 | 6.3 mi |
Public high schools in Whittier
Whittier has 6 active public high schools inside city limits or with a Whittier mailing address (4 traditional, 1 continuation, 1 alternative) in 1 district, with 7,764 students enrolled in the 2025-26 school year. That is about 7,764 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Serna High | Whittier Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,432 | Whittier (2.6 mi) |
| California High | Whittier Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 2,263 | Whittier (1.3 mi) |
| Whittier High | Whittier Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 1,556 | Whittier (1.9 mi) |
| Pioneer High | Whittier Union High (opens in a new tab) | Traditional | 945 | Whittier (2.4 mi) |
| Frontier High (Continuation) | Whittier Union High (opens in a new tab) | Continuation | 304 | Whittier (0.1 mi) |
| Sierra Vista High (Alternative) | Whittier Union High (opens in a new tab) | Alternative | 264 | Whittier (0.1 mi) |
Licensed driving schools for the 6 hours of training
2 driving schools hold an Active California DMV license at an address inside Whittier city limits or with a Whittier 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Camino Real Driving School - Driving School | E3545 | 15022 Mulberry Dr Unit J, Whittier | (213) 382-4806 |
| A Team Driving School | E3473 | 16165 Whittier Blvd, Whittier | (714) 821-6600 |
Learning to drive in Whittier: Lambert Road rail crossings and trail signals
Several intersections on Lambert Road sit right beside railroad tracks and the Greenway Trail. The city's traffic engineering page (opens in a new tab) says they use special controls. These include flashing "No Right Turn" signs and signals tied to the railroad. The city posts a guide for each one, from Lambert and 1st to Lambert and Santa Gertrudes. Read the guide for any crossing on your route before you drive it. When a "No Right Turn" sign lights up, wait, even if the street looks clear.
The Greenway Trail extension added a 2.8-mile paved path for walkers and cyclists (city news release (opens in a new tab)). It meets traffic at seven grade crossings, each with pre-signals for people on foot and on bikes. The city built them with Union Pacific Railroad and won a public works award for the project in December 2023. Trail users can reach these crossings at any hour. Stop behind the limit line on red, and keep your car off the rails while you wait.
The path to a license in Whittier
- 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 Whittier 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: Pico Rivera (3.4 mi) and Norwalk (4.0 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 Whittier: Traffic Engineering (Lambert Road railroad crossing intersection guides) (opens in a new tab)
- City of Whittier: Greenway Trail Wins BEST Award (Dec. 2023) (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.