The El Monte DMV at 4000 Arden Drive 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. It’s the nearest DMV for Rosemead, South El Monte and Temple City, and it’s open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays). The office has no self-service kiosk, but grocery store kiosks in El Monte, South El Monte and Temple City are open every day.
El Monte DMV Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | El Monte DMV |
|---|---|
| Address | 4000 Arden Drive, El Monte, CA 91731 (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 West Covina, Montebello, Pasadena and Van Nuys |
| 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 grocery store kiosks are listed below |
| 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) |
Is El Monte the Closest DMV to You?
Straight-line distances from the center of each nearby city:
- El Monte is closest for El Monte itself (about 1 mile), Rosemead (about 1.5), South El Monte (about 2) and Temple City (about 2, with Pasadena at 3).
- About the same as Pasadena: San Gabriel, about 3.5 miles from El Monte and 4 from Pasadena.
- Another office is closer for Arcadia (Pasadena, about 2.5 miles), Baldwin Park (West Covina, about 2.5) and Monterey Park (Montebello, about 3).
What El Monte 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.
- Vehicles: title transfers, new and out-of-state registrations, VIN verifications, plates and placards. A private-party purchase registered at an El Monte address owes use tax at the city’s 11.0% rate as of October 2026; our guide to registering a car in California lists the documents and fees.
- Elsewhere: commercial skills tests at the Gardena commercial drive test center, about 18 miles southwest, and mobile driver’s license help at Pasadena or West Covina, the closest offices on the DMV’s list of offices that help in person.
No Kiosk at El Monte: 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 one of these grocery store kiosks, all open every day:
- Superior Grocers, 10683 Valley Blvd., El Monte: 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
- Superior Grocers, 1858 N. Durfee Ave., South El Monte: 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
- Ralphs, 9470 Las Tunas Dr., Temple City: 6:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.
Pasadena, Montebello and West Covina, the three closest offices, each have a kiosk inside.
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 El Monte
- Pasadena, 49 S. Rosemead Blvd., about 5 miles north-northwest: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
- Montebello, 424 N. Wilcox Ave., about 6 miles southwest: full service, with a kiosk
- West Covina, 800 S. Glendora Ave., about 6.5 miles east-southeast: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
- Whittier, 9338 S. Painter Ave., about 9 miles south: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
- Lincoln Park, 3529 N. Mission Road, Los Angeles, about 9 miles west: full service, with a kiosk
The DMV’s page also lists the Los Angeles Metro Industry Business Center in Covina nearby, but it serves dealers and other vehicle-industry customers, not the public. Our California DMV offices list covers the rest of the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
None of the three cities has its own DMV office. The El Monte DMV is the closest for all of them, about 1.5 miles from central Rosemead and 2 miles from central Temple City and South El Monte. The Pasadena office is on Rosemead Boulevard, but it’s about 4.5 miles from central Rosemead.
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
El Monte is the full-service DMV for Rosemead, South El Monte and Temple City, but it has no kiosk, so renew online or at a grocery store kiosk such as the Superior Grocers on Valley Boulevard. Check the live wait before you go, book ahead for a drive test, and go to Pasadena or West Covina for mobile license help and to Gardena for a commercial skills test.
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