CALearn to Drive California
California › Driving test routes › Bell Gardens DMV
California DMV

Bell Gardens DMVDriving Test Practice Routes

6801 South Garfield, Bell Gardens, CA 90201

Within two miles of Bell Gardens DMV there are 135 sets of traffic lights, 103 all-way stops and 34 railroad crossings. Garfield Avenue runs close to the office, up to 6 lanes wide in places and signed at 35 mph.

Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.

Bell Gardens road test practice routes

Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from Bell Gardens's real streets and harder than the last.

These are practice loops we planned. They aren't official DMV test routes. Drive with a licensed supervisor, and follow the signs and conditions on the day, which may differ from the map.

Map of the practice loops around Bell Gardens DMVABCDEFlorence AveFirestone BlvdEast Slauson AveGarfield AveEastern AveEast Gage AveOld River School RdSouth Eastern AveSouthern AveRandolph StJaboneria RdClara StLoveland StLubec StDMV
Practice loopLightsAll-way stopStop signACrash hotspot
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Stage 1: Quieter streets

The quietest streets near the office, around Agra St. This area is busy, so even this loop meets some traffic lights.

Length
3.1 mi
Approx. time
12 min
Turns
10
  • 4 sets of lights, with 2 left turns at them
  • 7 all-way stops
  • 6 stop signs
  • Multi-lane driving on Garfield Ave
  • 2.2 miles of residential streets
Open in Google Maps

Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.

Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.

Turn-by-turn directions (11 steps)
  1. Leave the DMV and head northeast on Garfield Avenue. 200 ft
  2. At the lights, turn left onto Loveland Street. 0.2 mi
  3. At the stop sign, turn left onto Darwell Avenue. 0.2 mi
  4. At the stop sign, turn right onto Lubec Street. 0.6 mi Straight through 3 all-way stops.
  5. At the stop sign, turn right onto Ajax Avenue. 0.3 mi Straight through 1 all-way stop.
  6. Turn right onto Agra Street. 0.7 mi Straight through 3 all-way stops.
  7. Turn right onto Darwell Avenue. 0.2 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
  8. At the stop sign, turn left onto Loveland Street. 0.1 mi
  9. At the stop sign, turn right onto Toler Avenue. 0.3 mi
  10. At the stop sign, turn left onto Florence Place. 0.1 mi
  11. At the lights, turn left onto Garfield Avenue and return to the DMV. 0.2 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.

Where the Bell Gardens DMV drive test can go

Every drive test starts and finishes at the office, so the closer a road is, the more likely you are to drive it. The shading shows how long each road takes to reach from the DMV.

East Slauson AveFlorence AveTelegraph RdSlauson AveGarfield AveEastern AveEast Gage AveSouth Eastern AveDMV
Under 2 min2 to 4 min4 to 6 min
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Within a 6-minute drive

  • 68sets of traffic lights
  • 55all-way stops
  • 11schools

Main roads in the area: Garfield Ave, Florence Ave, East Slauson Ave, Eastern Ave, East Gage Ave, Bandini Blvd, Jaboneria Rd and South Eastern Ave.

Drive times are our estimates from speed limits, with time added for lights and stops. They aren't DMV figures.

Leaving and returning to Bell Gardens DMV

The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on South Garfield.

12Florence AveGarfield AveFlorence PlJaboneria RdLoveland StFoster Bridge BlvdDMV
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
P

In the parking lot

The test sheet scores how you drive through the lot, so watch for people and cars, keep it slow, and take extra care reversing out of your space.

1

Northeast to Loveland St

200 ft along Garfield Ave to Loveland Street, where there are lights.

2

Southwest to Florence Pl

0.2 mi along Garfield Ave to Florence Place, where there are lights.

The roads around Bell Gardens DMV

What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.

135

Sets of traffic lights

Most are on Garfield Ave and Florence Ave.

103

All-way stops

Suva St has 8 of them.

20

Schools

The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.

3 mi

One-way streets

Check the arrows before every turn, and start from the correct side of the road.

34

Railroad crossings

Look both ways, never stop on the tracks, and wait if there isn't room on the other side.

2

Roundabouts

Give way to traffic already in the roundabout and signal as you leave.

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, downloaded 2026-10-07. Counts cover public roads within 2 miles of the office.

Where to practice each part of the California drive test

The DMV's drive test score sheet (form DL 32) marks you on parking lot driving, backing, intersections, turns, lane changes, and business and residential driving. Here's where to practice near Bell Gardens DMV.

  • Parking lot driving

    The DMV lot itself, at the start and end of every test
    Every loop
  • Stopping at all-way stops

    Loveland St, 4 in a row
    Stage 2
  • Lights you drive straight through

    Eastern Ave: 9 sets of lights in 1.2 mi
    Stage 3
  • Left turn at lights

    From Garfield Ave onto Loveland St
    Stage 2
  • Left turn without lights

    From Gotham St onto Bell Gardens Ave, giving way to oncoming traffic
    Stage 3
  • Right turn at lights

    From Eastern Ave onto Lubec St
    Stage 2
  • Lane changes

    East Gage Ave, a multi-lane road
    Stage 2
  • Residential streets

    Lubec St and the streets around it
    Stage 1
  • Freeway merging

    Only scored on supplemental (referral) tests. For practice, the nearest on-ramp is on Florence Ave
    Not on a loop

Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.

Which lane do I need near Bell Gardens DMV?

Lane layouts at the junctions with lights on our practice routes, as you'd see them approaching. Arrows show which way each lane can go.

Garfield Ave and Loveland St

On Stages 1 and 2.

Heading northeast on Garfield Ave
Left, straight, straight
Heading southwest on Garfield Ave
Left, straight, straight

Heading northeast, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.

Florence Pl and Garfield Ave

On Stages 1 and 2 and 3.

Heading east on Florence Pl
Left, straight, straight
Heading west on Florence Pl
Left, straight, straight

Heading east, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.

Eastern Ave and Loveland St

On Stage 2.

Heading south on Eastern Ave
Left, straight, straight
Heading north on Eastern Ave
Left, straight, straight

Heading south, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.

Eastern Ave and Lubec St

On Stage 2.

Heading south on Eastern Ave
Left, straight, straight, straight
Heading north on Eastern Ave
Left, straight, straight, right

Heading south, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.

Lane layouts from OpenStreetMap. Road markings can change, so always follow the arrows painted on the road.

What causes crashes on Bell Gardens's roads

Recorded causes of the 2,916 crashes on local roads within 2 miles of the office from 2021 to 2025, leaving out freeways. Unsafe turn or lane change and too fast for conditions top the list.

Unsafe turn or lane change
33%
Too fast for conditions
20%
Not yielding
14%
Running a red light
9%
Impaired driving
6%
Unsafe reversing or pulling out
5%
Following too closely
4%
Stop sign violation
2%

Share of the 2,669 crashes where a cause was recorded. Other causes made up the remaining 8%. About 34% of these crashes happened after dark. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.

Bell Gardens junctions worth practicing

The junctions within 2 miles of the office with the most crashes from 2021 to 2025. Each one is marked on the practice routes map.

A

Firestone Blvd and Garfield Ave

145 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.7 mi from the office. 70 people were hurt.

Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 11.

B

Florence Ave and Eastern Ave

65 crashes from 2021 to 2025

0.9 mi from the office. On Stage 3. 40 people were hurt.

Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 13.

C

Firestone Blvd and National Ave

58 crashes from 2021 to 2025

1.7 mi from the office. 48 people were hurt.

Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 3.

D

Firestone Blvd and Rayo Ave

54 crashes from 2021 to 2025

2.0 mi from the office. 37 people were hurt.

Many were sideswipes. Check your mirror and blind spot before changing lanes, and pick your lane early. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 3.

E

Garfield Ave and Southern Ave

42 crashes from 2021 to 2025

2.0 mi from the office. 23 people were hurt.

Many involved hitting a fixed object. Keep to the center of your lane and take the approach slowly.

Crashes located within about 100 feet of each junction. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.

Booked your Bell Gardens road test?

See routes from real Bell Gardens tests

Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 5 routes recorded from real tests at Bell Gardens DMV, with turn-by-turn voice directions on your phone.

QR code: get the Driving Test Routes app

On a computer?Scan with your phone's camera to get the app.

Your first week is free.

We earn a commission if you subscribe through these links.

Bell Gardens driving test questions

Where does the Bell Gardens DMV driving test go?

The DMV doesn't publish its test routes. Every test starts and finishes in the office parking lot, and the roads closest to the office are the ones you're most likely to drive, such as Garfield Ave, Florence Ave, East Slauson Ave. Routes recorded from real Bell Gardens tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.

Are these the real Bell Gardens test routes?

No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from Bell Gardens's street data to cover the skills on the test. They're for practice, not a copy of the DMV's routes.

What do you need to pass the California drive test?

The DMV's score sheet (form DL 32) says you pass with no more than 15 errors on the driving maneuvers and no critical driving errors. Before you set off, you also need no more than 3 errors on the parking brake, arm signals, wipers, defroster, emergency flashers and headlights.

What makes Bell Gardens's roads tricky for learners?

Within 2 miles of the office, there are 34 railroad crossings within 2 miles; Garfield Avenue is up to 6 lanes wide; there are 135 sets of traffic lights within 2 miles.

Which junctions near Bell Gardens DMV have the most crashes?

Firestone Blvd and Garfield Ave (145), Florence Ave and Eastern Ave (65), Firestone Blvd and National Ave (58), counting crashes from 2021 to 2025.

How do I book a drive test at Bell Gardens DMV?

Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing Bell Gardens as your office. Book on the DMV website.

Bell Gardens DMV office information

Address

6801 South Garfield
Bell Gardens, CA 90201

Phone: (800) 777-0133

Book a drive test

Opening hours

Monday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Friday8:00 am to 5:00 pm
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

Hours can change on holidays. Check the DMV's Bell Gardens page before you go.

Directions in Google Maps

Nearby offices

Services at Bell Gardens DMV

  • Behind-the-wheel drive tests
  • Written knowledge tests
  • Motorcycle driving tests
  • Driver's license and ID applications
  • Replacement documents
  • Vehicle registration and renewals
  • Title transfers
  • License plates
  • Disabled parking placards
  • Self-service kiosks
  • Driver and vehicle records