The Coalinga DMV at 406 E. Elm Ave. is open to the public only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On those days it’s 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. It’s the nearest DMV for Coalinga, Huron, Avenal and Kettleman City; on the other weekdays, the closest open offices are in Paso Robles and Hanford, about 40 and 41 miles away.
Coalinga DMV Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | Coalinga DMV |
|---|---|
| Address | 406 E. Elm Ave., Coalinga, CA 93210 (get directions) |
| Hours | Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed Monday, Wednesday, Friday and weekends |
| Live wait times | On the DMV page for this office, alongside Paso Robles, Hanford and King City |
| Appointments | Optional for most visits; required for behind-the-wheel and motorcycle tests |
| Walk-ins | Scan the QR code at the entrance or check in at the information desk |
| Self-service kiosk | None here; the closest DMV office with one is Hanford, about 41 miles east-northeast |
| 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) |
Coalinga is one of 20 offices the DMV cut to two or three public days a week in July 2024. On the days it’s closed, staff work on transactions customers started online.
Is Coalinga the Closest DMV to You?
Straight-line distances from City Hall or the center of each city or community:
- Coalinga is closest for Coalinga itself (under a mile from City Hall), Huron (about 15 from City Hall), Avenal (about 16) and Kettleman City (about 24).
- Hanford is the nearest office open five days a week for Huron (about 27), Kettleman City (about 28) and Avenal (about 34), and it has a kiosk.
What Coalinga Handles 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 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- 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, 8.975% in Coalinga and Huron, 8.25% in Avenal, 7.975% in unincorporated Fresno County and 7.25% in unincorporated Kings County, including Kettleman City. Our guide to registering a car in California lists the documents and fees.
- Elsewhere: commercial skills tests at the Fresno Commercial Drive Test Center, about 50 miles northeast and the closest CDL test site; mobile driver’s license help at Clovis, about 60 miles northeast and the only Central California office on the DMV’s list of offices that help in person; and smog checks at licensed smog check stations.
No Kiosk at Coalinga: Where to Renew Instead
DMV counters don’t handle registration renewals or driver and vehicle records, so with no kiosk here, use DMV online services or renew by mail. The DMV lists no grocery store kiosks near Coalinga, but Hanford has one inside the DMV office and another in the Foods Co at 1850 W. Lacey Blvd. (6:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m. daily), and Paso Robles has one in the Albertsons at 189 Niblick Road (6:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. daily). Closer to home, Ritos GTS Insurance Center, a DMV business partner at 195 W. Elm St., handles some registration work for its own fee and is open 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, including the days the DMV office is closed.
Before You Go
With two open days a week, start any license or REAL ID application online and bring the original documents so one trip is enough; 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). It’s closed on Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 26); the other holidays through New Year’s fall on days it’s already closed.
Other DMV Offices Near Coalinga
- Paso Robles, 841 Park St., about 40 miles south-southwest: full service on weekdays, but no kiosk
- Hanford, 701 W. Hanford Armona Road, about 41 miles east-northeast: full service on weekdays, with a kiosk
- King City, 101 E. San Antonio Drive, about 43 miles west: Tuesdays and Thursdays only, with no kiosk
- Fresno (Olive Avenue), 655 W. Olive Ave., about 52 miles northeast: full service on weekdays, with a kiosk
Our Fresno DMV offices page compares the Fresno-area offices, and our California DMV offices list covers the rest of the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On the other weekdays, the nearest open offices are in Paso Robles and Hanford, about 40 and 41 miles away.
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
Coalinga’s DMV is a full-service office for Coalinga, Huron, Avenal and Kettleman City, open only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Start applications online so one visit covers it, book ahead for a drive test, renew online, by mail or through the local business partner since there’s no kiosk, and plan on Hanford or Paso Robles on other weekdays and the Fresno Commercial Drive Test Center for a CDL skills test.
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