The Hawthorne DMV at 3700 W. El Segundo Blvd. 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 and in-person help with mobile driver’s licenses. It’s the nearest full-service DMV for Hawthorne, Lawndale, Lennox and Gardena, and the closest to Inglewood City Hall since the Inglewood office closed. It reopened on Aug. 26, 2026, after a temporary closure and is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays).
Hawthorne DMV Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | Hawthorne DMV |
|---|---|
| Address | 3700 W. El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250 (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 Torrance, Los Angeles and Compton |
| 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 | Yes |
| Mobile driver’s license help | Yes; Hawthorne is on the DMV’s list of offices that help in person |
| 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) |
If You Used the Inglewood DMV
The Inglewood office at 621 N. La Brea Ave. closed at noon on Feb. 11, 2025, after repeated repairs failed to fix ongoing water problems. The DMV says it’s starting the process to build a new facility but hasn’t given a reopening date, and it named four alternatives: Hawthorne, Culver City, the Los Angeles office on Hope Street and Torrance.
From the old La Brea Avenue site, Hawthorne and Culver City are both about 4 miles away. From Inglewood City Hall, Hawthorne is closer, at about 3.5 miles to Culver City’s 4.5, with Hope Street at about 6. For renewals, there’s a DMV kiosk at Superior Grocers, 11202 S. Crenshaw Blvd. in Inglewood (7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. daily). DMV pages still list Inglewood among nearby offices and wait times, but it’s closed.
Is Hawthorne the Closest DMV to You?
Straight-line distances from the center of each nearby city or community:
- Hawthorne is closest for Hawthorne itself (under a mile from city hall), Lennox, Del Aire, Alondra Park and Lawndale (about 1.5 to 2 miles), Gardena and Westmont (about 2.5), El Segundo (about 4.5), Manhattan Beach (about 5) and Hermosa Beach (about 5, with Torrance at 5.5).
- Another office is closer for Redondo Beach (Torrance, about 4.5 miles), Ladera Heights (Culver City, about 2.5) and Westchester (Culver City, about 3).
What Hawthorne 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 owes use tax at the rate for the address where you register it: as of October 2026, 11.0% in Hawthorne and Lawndale, 10.75% in Inglewood and 11.25% in Gardena. 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, including Ralphs at 11873 Hawthorne Blvd. (6:00 a.m.–midnight) and Superior Grocers at 12630 Hawthorne Blvd. (6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.).
- Elsewhere: commercial skills tests at the Gardena commercial drive test center, about 4.5 miles east-southeast, 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 Hawthorne
- Torrance, 1785 W. 220th St., about 6.5 miles south-southeast: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
- Culver City, 11400 W. Washington Blvd., about 7.5 miles northwest: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
- Compton, 2111 S. Santa Fe Ave., about 7.5 miles east-southeast: full service, with a kiosk
- Los Angeles, 3615 S. Hope St., about 8 miles north-northeast: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
- Santa Monica, 2235 Colorado Ave., about 11 miles northwest: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
Our California DMV offices list covers the rest of the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
None of the three cities has its own DMV office. Hawthorne is the closest for all of them, about 4.5 miles from central El Segundo and 5 miles from central Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. For Redondo Beach, the Torrance office is closer.
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
Hawthorne is the full-service DMV for Hawthorne, Lawndale, Lennox, Gardena and the beach cities, and the closest office to Inglewood City Hall while Inglewood stays closed. Check its live wait before you go, book ahead for a drive test, use a kiosk for renewals, and take commercial skills tests to Gardena.
Add Comment