The Ridgecrest DMV at 540A Perdew Ave. is open to the public three days a week: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. On those days it’s a full-service field office for driver’s licenses, ID cards, REAL ID, knowledge tests, behind-the-wheel drive tests, titles, registration and VIN verifications; it doesn’t give motorcycle tests and has no kiosk. It’s the nearest DMV for Ridgecrest, China Lake Acres, Inyokern, Trona and Randsburg, and the next closest office, Lake Isabella, opens on the two weekdays Ridgecrest is closed.
Ridgecrest DMV Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | Ridgecrest DMV |
|---|---|
| Address | 540A Perdew Ave., Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (get directions) |
| Hours | Monday and Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Wednesday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed Tuesday, Thursday and weekends |
| Live wait times | On the DMV page for this office |
| Appointments | Optional for most visits; required for behind-the-wheel tests |
| Motorcycle tests | Not given here; Lake Isabella gives them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Barstow and Lancaster on weekdays |
| Walk-ins | Scan the QR code at the entrance or check in at the information desk |
| Self-service kiosk | None here, and none nearby; the closest DMV office with one is Lancaster, about 74 miles south-southwest |
| 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 Ridgecrest the Closest DMV to You?
Straight-line distances from City Hall or the center of each community:
- Ridgecrest is closest for Ridgecrest itself (about 2 miles from City Hall), China Lake Acres (about 5), Inyokern (about 7.5), Trona (about 18.5), Randsburg (about 19.5, with Barstow at 49) and, in Inyo County, Olancha (about 47, with Lake Isabella at 53).
- Lancaster is closer for California City, about 34 miles away, with Ridgecrest at 40.
- On Tuesdays and Thursdays, when Ridgecrest is closed, Lake Isabella, about 45 miles west, is open. The nearest offices open five days a week are Barstow (about 64 miles southeast), Arvin (about 72) and Lancaster (about 74).
What Ridgecrest 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 tests by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- 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, 9.25% in Ridgecrest, 8.25% in unincorporated Kern County, including China Lake Acres, Inyokern and Randsburg, and 7.75% in unincorporated San Bernardino and Inyo counties, including Trona and Olancha. Our guide to registering a car in California lists the documents and fees.
- Elsewhere: commercial skills tests and mobile driver’s license help at Lancaster, about 74 miles south-southwest, which is both the closest CDL test site and the closest office on the DMV’s list of offices that help in person, and smog checks at licensed smog check stations.
No Kiosk at Ridgecrest: 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 kiosks near Ridgecrest, and the closest DMV office with one is Lancaster’s. Mos Lien Sale Services, a DMV business partner at 211 Sierra Vista St., handles some registration work for its own fee and is open 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, including the days the DMV office is closed.
Before You Go
With three 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 Veterans Day (Wednesday, Nov. 11), the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov. 27), Christmas (Friday, Dec. 25) and New Year’s Day (Friday, Jan. 1, 2027).
Other DMV Offices Near Ridgecrest
- Lake Isabella, 5520 Lake Isabella Road, about 45 miles west: Tuesdays and Thursdays only, with motorcycle tests but no kiosk
- Barstow, 528 E. Virginia Way, about 64 miles southeast: full service and motorcycle tests on weekdays, but no kiosk
- Arvin, 317 Campus Drive, about 72 miles west-southwest: full service and motorcycle tests on weekdays, but no kiosk
- Lancaster, 721 W. Avenue L6, about 74 miles south-southwest: full service on weekdays, with a kiosk, motorcycle and CDL skills tests and mobile license help
Our California DMV offices list covers the rest of Kern County and the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Lake Isabella office, about 45 miles west, is open instead.
No. The DMV doesn’t list motorcycle tests at Ridgecrest. The closest offices that give them are Lake Isabella, about 45 miles west, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Barstow, about 64 miles southeast, on weekdays.
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
Ridgecrest’s DMV serves Ridgecrest, China Lake Acres, Inyokern, Trona and Randsburg three days a week, without a kiosk or motorcycle tests. Start applications online so one visit covers it, book ahead for a drive test, renew online, by mail or through the local partner, and plan on Lake Isabella on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Lancaster for CDL skills tests and mobile license help.
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