425 N Amphlett Boulevard, San Mateo, CA 94401
Within two miles of San Mateo DMV there are 80 sets of traffic lights, 68 all-way stops and 13 railroad crossings. About 7 miles of streets are one-way. East Poplar Avenue runs close to the office.
Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.
Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from San Mateo'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.
Mostly residential streets around North Claremont St and North Idaho St, with few traffic lights. Start here for your first few drives.
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.
Along Peninsula Ave and East Poplar Ave, with 14 sets of lights.
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.
Everything together over about 6 miles, including Airport Blvd and Rollins Rd.
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.
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.
Main roads in the area: J Hart Clinton Dr, Peninsula Ave, South Grant St, South Delaware St, North Amphlett Blvd, East 3rd Ave, South El Camino Real and Rollins Rd.
Drive times are our estimates from speed limits, with time added for lights and stops. They aren't DMV figures.
The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on N Amphlett Boulevard.
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.
0.5 mi along North Amphlett Blvd to South Amphlett Boulevard.
400 ft along North Amphlett Blvd to East Poplar Avenue.
What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.
Most are on South El Camino Real and East 3rd Ave.
Howard Ave has 7 of them.
The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.
Check the arrows before every turn, and start from the correct side of the road.
Look both ways, never stop on the tracks, and wait if there isn't room on the other side.
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.
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 San Mateo DMV.
Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.
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.
On Stages 1 and 2 and 3.
Heading northeast, use the left-turn lane for left turns and either straight-ahead lane to go through.
On Stages 2 and 3.
Heading southeast, the far-right lane is for turning right only.
On Stage 3.
Heading southwest, the far-right lane is for turning right only.
On Stage 3.
Heading southwest, 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.
Recorded causes of the 1,278 crashes on local roads within 2 miles of the office from 2021 to 2025, leaving out freeways. Unsafe turn or lane change and not yielding top the list.
Share of the 1,240 crashes where a cause was recorded. Other causes made up the remaining 10%. About 35% of these crashes happened after dark. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.
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.
20 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change.
20 crashes from 2021 to 2025
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 5.
15 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change.
15 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights.
13 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights.
Crashes located within about 100 feet of each junction. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.
Booked your San Mateo road test?
Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 10 routes recorded from real tests at San Mateo DMV, with turn-by-turn voice directions on your phone.
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.
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 J Hart Clinton Dr, Peninsula Ave, South Grant St. Routes recorded from real San Mateo tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.
No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from San Mateo's street data to cover the skills on the test. They're for practice, not a copy of the DMV's routes.
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.
Within 2 miles of the office, 7 miles of streets are one-way; there are 13 railroad crossings within 2 miles; there are 80 sets of traffic lights within 2 miles.
North El Camino Real and El Cerrito Ave (20), Burlingame Ave and Primrose Rd (20), East 3rd Ave and J Hart Clinton Dr (15), counting crashes from 2021 to 2025.
Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing San Mateo as your office. Book on the DMV website.
| Monday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours can change on holidays. Check the DMV's San Mateo page before you go.