The Bakersfield DMV at 3120 F St. is a full-service field office for driver’s licenses, ID cards, REAL ID, knowledge tests, behind-the-wheel and motorcycle tests, titles, registration and VIN verifications, with a self-service kiosk. It’s also the only commercial (CDL) skills test site in Kern County, and the nearest DMV for downtown Bakersfield and Oildale. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays (9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays).
Bakersfield DMV Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | Bakersfield DMV |
|---|---|
| Address | 3120 F St., Bakersfield, CA 93301 (get directions) |
| Hours | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Wednesday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed weekends |
| Live wait times | On the DMV page for this office, alongside Bakersfield Southwest, Shafter, Delano and Arvin |
| Appointments | Optional for most visits; required for behind-the-wheel, motorcycle and commercial skills tests |
| Walk-ins | Scan the QR code at the entrance or check in at the information desk |
| Self-service kiosk | Yes |
| Phone | No direct line; DMV customer service at 1-800-777-0133, Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (TTY 1-800-368-4327) |
Not Bakersfield Southwest or the Bakersfield IBC: the DMV lists this office simply as “Bakersfield.” Bakersfield Southwest, at 7000 Schirra Court about 6 miles south-southwest, is the city’s other field office; it has been closed for renovations since July 24 and reopens at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24. The Bakersfield IBC at 5800 District Blvd. serves auto dealerships, vehicle registration businesses and trucking companies and doesn’t offer regular field office services.
Is the F Street Office the Closest DMV to You?
Straight-line distances from City Hall or the center of each community:
- F Street is closest for downtown Bakersfield (about 1 mile from City Hall, with Bakersfield Southwest at 5) and Oildale (about 2).
- Bakersfield Southwest is closer for Cal State Bakersfield (about 3, with F Street at 5) and Rosedale (about 6, with F Street at 7).
- Arvin is closer for Lamont, about 5.5 miles away, with Bakersfield Southwest at 10 and F Street at 11.
CDL Skills Tests at Bakersfield
Bakersfield is among the 22 of the DMV’s 25 CDL test sites set to use the modernized skills test, and the DMV’s truck drivers page says the version you take depends on the site, so confirm it when you book. Before you book, the DMV’s CDL page requires a commercial learner’s permit held at least 14 days, any required entry-level driver training finished before the test date and, for an original Class A or B license, 15 hours of behind-the-wheel training certified on form DL 1236. Bring the vehicle for the class you want and a licensed CDL holder to ride with you.
If Bakersfield’s dates don’t work, the next closest CDL test sites are Lancaster, about 71 miles southeast, and Arleta, about 85 miles south-southeast. Our Fresno commercial drive test center page walks through test day under the modernized format.
Other Services and What Goes Elsewhere
- Licenses and tests: driver’s license, ID card and REAL ID applications, knowledge tests until 4:30 p.m., and behind-the-wheel and motorcycle tests by appointment.
- Vehicles: title transfers, new and out-of-state registrations, VIN verifications, plates and placards. A private-party purchase owes use tax at the rate for the address where you register it: as of October 2026, 8.25% in Bakersfield and in unincorporated Kern County, including Oildale, Rosedale and Lamont. Our guide to registering a car in California lists the documents and fees.
- Skip the line at a kiosk: registration renewals and driver and vehicle records can be done at the office’s self-serve kiosk, online, or at grocery store kiosks open every day: the Foods Co at 2505 Haley St. (6:00 a.m.–midnight) and the Superior Grocers at 1115 Union Ave. and 2100 White Lane (7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.). DMV business partners nearby also handle some registration work for their own fee, including AS Agency, 728 21st St., Suite 6, which is also open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturday.
- Elsewhere: mobile driver’s license help at Lancaster, about 71 miles southeast and the closest office on the DMV’s list of offices that help in person, and smog checks at licensed smog check stations.
Before You Go
Start any license or REAL ID application online and bring the original documents; the DMV’s REAL ID checklist lists what’s accepted, and our California DMV appointment guide covers booking, drive tests and what to bring. The office takes cash, checks, money orders, cards and digital wallets (with a 2.1% fee on cards and wallets) and closes on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), Thanksgiving (Nov. 26–27), Christmas (Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2027).
Other DMV Offices Near Bakersfield
- Bakersfield Southwest, 7000 Schirra Court, about 6 miles south-southwest: full service and a kiosk, but no motorcycle tests; closed until Nov. 24
- Arvin, 317 Campus Drive, about 16 miles southeast: full service and motorcycle tests, but no kiosk
- Shafter, 548 Walker St., about 16 miles west-northwest: Tuesdays and Thursdays only, with no kiosk
- Delano, 631 Jefferson St., about 29 miles north-northwest: full service and a kiosk, but no motorcycle tests
Our Bakersfield DMV offices page compares the city’s offices, and our California DMV offices list covers the rest of Kern County and the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This office at 3120 F St. is the one the DMV calls simply “Bakersfield.” Bakersfield Southwest is at 7000 Schirra Court, about 6 miles south-southwest. Both have kiosks, but only F Street gives motorcycle and CDL skills tests. The Bakersfield IBC on District Boulevard serves businesses, not regular customers.
The DMV doesn’t list a direct number for the office. Call DMV customer service at 1-800-777-0133, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; the TTY line is 1-800-368-4327.
Conclusion
The F Street office is the full-service DMV for downtown Bakersfield and Oildale, with a kiosk, motorcycle tests and Kern County’s only CDL skills tests. Check its live wait before you go, book ahead for any drive test, use the kiosk or a grocery store kiosk for renewals, and go to Lancaster for mobile license help.
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