Santa Paula has 2 DMV-licensed driving schools, in the Santa Clara River Valley east of Ventura. Neither publishes its services or prices online, so call each school directly. The city has its own DMV field office on West Harvard Boulevard, and the licensed schools in Camarillo and Ventura, about nine and eleven miles away, are listed below with distances. Ventura County has about 16 licensed schools in total. Teens aged 15½ to 17½ need the 30-hour drivers ed course and a learner’s permit before the first lesson.
Santa Paula driving schools at a glance
Compare Santa Paula driving schools
Looking wider? Every Ventura County price, compared in one table.
| School | Current license since | 6-hr price | Per hour | DMV test car | Pickup | Languages | Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1A LDS Choose the Right Driving ExperienceLic. E3377 | 199630 yrs | under 5 reviews | call | n/a | unknown | unknown | unknown | call |
| #2AT Driving School of Santa PaulaLic. E0776 | 2026first year | under 5 reviews | call | n/a | unknown | unknown | unknown | call |
Current license since = the date the California DMV issued the school's current occupational license (public record). A school that re-licensed under a new owner or business entity shows the newer date, so it is a license-record fact, not years in business. Prices and hours are as stated on each school's own website or listing and change without notice; confirm before booking. Per hour = stated package price divided by package hours.
A LDS Choose the Right Driving Experience
A LDS Choose the Right Driving Experience holds California DMV driving school license E3377, with its licensed address on Acacia Road in Santa Paula. No website, social page or listing written by the school could be found, so its services, prices and hours are not listed here; call the school to ask.
AT Driving School of Santa Paula
AT Driving School of Santa Paula received its California DMV driving school license in May 2026, with its licensed address on E Virginia Ter in Santa Paula. No website or listing written by the school could be found yet, so its services, prices and hours are not listed here; call the school to ask.
No schools match those filters.
License data from CA DMV public records; verify independently. Online-only providers licensed in Santa Paula are excluded here because they don't offer local in-person lessons. Spot something wrong? Report an issue with a listing.
More driving schools near Santa Paula
Santa Paula has two licensed schools, so most families also compare these DMV-licensed schools in neighboring cities, listed nearest first with straight-line distance from Santa Paula.
| School | City | Distance | Current license since | 6-hr price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level Up Driving AcademyLic. E0302 | Camarillo | 8.9 mi | 20242 yrs | 5.0★29 reviews | call |
| I Drive Driving SchoolLic. E4304 | Oxnard | 10.0 mi | 200718 yrs | 4.7★34 reviews | $465 |
| Easy Street Driving SchoolLic. E2202 | Ventura | 11 mi | 20206 yrs | 4.9★151 reviews | $498 |
| Dollar Driving School of VenturaLic. E3218 | Ventura | 12 mi | 199432 yrs | 4.8★91 reviews | $430 |
| Excel Driving SchoolLic. E2149 | Oxnard | 12 mi | 20197 yrs | 4.8★154 reviews | call |
| America Driving SchoolLic. E4573 | Oxnard | 14 mi | 201213 yrs | under 5 reviews | call |
Distances are straight-line from the Santa Paula listings; driving time varies. Each linked city page compares every licensed school there.
How a teen gets licensed in Santa Paula
- At 15 and a half, finish the DMV-approved 30-hour drivers ed course. Online it is $44.99 and self-paced; it earns the certificate the DMV needs for a permit.
- Book a permit appointment at the Santa Paula DMV or Ventura DMV office, bring the drivers ed certificate, proof of identity and residency, and pass the 46-question knowledge test.
- Hold the permit at least 6 months and log 50 hours of supervised practice, 10 of them at night.
- Complete 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel with a DMV-licensed school in or near Santa Paula (compare the listings above).
- Book the road test at the Santa Paula DMV or Ventura DMV office; several local schools rent a car for the test if the family car is not suitable.
Teen driver? Start here
Behind-the-wheel comes after drivers ed.
California teens 15½ to 17½ need the DMV-approved 30-hour course first. That is what earns the permit these lessons require.
How to choose a driving school in Santa Paula
- Confirm the school's DMV license is active (verify link on every listing) and note how long the current license has been held
- Ask whether the price includes the full 6 hours behind-the-wheel, and what a DMV test car costs on top
- Check pickup and drop-off from home or school, and how lessons are scheduled (2-hour blocks are typical)
- Compare Google ratings against review count; a 4.9 from 200 reviews says more than a 5.0 from 6
- Ask about instructor experience, dual-brake vehicles and lessons in your language if needed
- For teens: finish drivers ed first so the permit is in hand before the first lesson
Santa Paula driving school FAQ
- How many DMV-licensed driving schools are there in Santa Paula?
- 2. Every school listed here holds an active California DMV occupational license and teaches behind-the-wheel in person; Ventura County as a whole has about 16. Because Santa Paula has only two licensed schools, the page also lists the 6 nearest licensed schools in neighboring cities, with distances.
- How much do behind-the-wheel lessons cost in Santa Paula?
- No Santa Paula school publishes its behind-the-wheel price online, so call for a quote. Across Ventura County, schools that do publish a price charge $430 to $498 for the 6-hour package (median $473). A car for the DMV road test is usually a separate add-on. The 30-hour drivers ed course is a separate cost; online it is $44.99.
- Where do I take my driving test near Santa Paula?
- The nearest DMV field offices are Santa Paula DMV (250 W Harvard Boulevard, Suite A, Santa Paula 93060, about 0.3 miles from the center of Santa Paula) and Ventura DMV (4260 Market Street, Ventura 93003, about 11 miles from the center of Santa Paula). Knowledge and road tests are by appointment at dmv.ca.gov.
- Which Santa Paula driving school has held its DMV license the longest?
- A LDS Choose the Right Driving Experience, whose current DMV license dates from 1996. That is the date the DMV issued the license the school holds today; a school that re-licensed under a new owner shows the newer date, so treat it as a license-record fact rather than years in business.
- Do I need drivers ed before behind-the-wheel lessons in Santa Paula?
- Teens 15 and a half to 17 and a half do. California requires a DMV-approved 30-hour drivers ed course before the learner's permit, then 6 hours of professional behind-the-wheel instruction from a licensed school like the ones above, plus 50 hours of supervised practice. Adults 18 and over can book behind-the-wheel lessons directly. The online drivers ed course is $44.99.