2235 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Within two miles of Santa Monica DMV there are 251 sets of traffic lights, 321 all-way stops and 12 railroad crossings. About 14 miles of streets are one-way. The office is on Colorado Avenue, up to 6 lanes wide in places and signed at 30 mph.
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 Santa Monica'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.
The quietest streets near the office, around 19th St. This area is busy, so even this loop meets some traffic 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.
Along Olympic Blvd and Pico Blvd, with 17 sets of lights and 4 all-way stops.
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 5 miles, including Olympic Blvd and Colorado Ave.
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: Olympic Blvd, Pico Blvd, Colorado Ave, Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd, Broadway, 14th St and 17th St.
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 Colorado Avenue.
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.
400 ft along Colorado Ave to Cloverfield Boulevard, where there are lights.
0.2 mi along Colorado Ave to 20th Street, where there are lights.
What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.
Most are on Santa Monica Blvd and Wilshire Blvd.
Pearl St has 22 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 Santa Monica 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 Stage 2.
Heading northeast, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.
On Stage 2.
Heading southwest, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.
On Stage 2.
Heading northeast, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.
On Stage 2.
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.
Booked your Santa Monica road test?
Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 5 routes recorded from real tests at Santa Monica 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 Olympic Blvd, Pico Blvd, Colorado Ave. Routes recorded from real Santa Monica tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.
No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from Santa Monica'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, 14 miles of streets are one-way; there are 12 railroad crossings within 2 miles; Colorado Avenue is up to 6 lanes wide.
Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica page before you go.