The San Bernardino DMV at 1310 N. Waterman Ave. 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 the nearest DMV for San Bernardino, Colton, Rialto and Muscoy and for the mountain communities of Crestline and Lake Arrowhead, and it’s open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays).
San Bernardino DMV Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | San Bernardino DMV |
|---|---|
| Address | 1310 N. Waterman Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92404 (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 Redlands, Fontana, Riverside and Norco |
| 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 |
| 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 San Bernardino the Closest DMV to You?
Straight-line distances from City Hall or the center of each community:
- San Bernardino is closest for San Bernardino itself (about 1.5 miles from City Hall), Colton (about 4), Muscoy (about 4.5), Rialto (about 5.5 from City Hall, with Fontana at 6), Crestline (about 8) and Lake Arrowhead (about 10).
- About even: Highland is about 3.5 miles from Redlands and 4 from San Bernardino, Running Springs about 11 and 11.5, and Grand Terrace about 6.5 from both, with Riverside East at 7.
- Redlands is closer for Loma Linda (about 2.5 miles from City Hall, with San Bernardino at 5.5) and, in a straight line, Big Bear Lake (about 19.5, with San Bernardino at 21).
What San Bernardino 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, 8.75% in San Bernardino and Colton and 7.75% in Rialto, Highland, Grand Terrace and unincorporated areas such as Muscoy, Crestline and Lake Arrowhead. 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 4444 University Pkwy. (6:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.) and Superior Grocers at 1108 W. Second St. (7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.). DMV business partners also handle some registration work for their own fee, including Marsep Income Tax Services, 4210 N. Sierra Way, open 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Saturday.
- Elsewhere: mobile driver’s license help at Rancho Cucamonga, about 18.5 miles west and the closest office on the DMV’s list of offices that help in person; commercial skills tests at the Fontana commercial drive test center, about 11 miles west-southwest; 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 San Bernardino
- Redlands, 1659 W. Lugonia Ave., about 5.5 miles southeast: full service, but no kiosk
- Fontana, 8026 Hemlock Ave., about 11.5 miles west: full service, with a kiosk
- Riverside East, 6425 Sycamore Canyon Blvd., about 13 miles south: full service, with a kiosk
- Riverside, 6280 Brockton Ave., about 13.5 miles south-southwest: licensing, car tests and vehicle work, with a kiosk, but no motorcycle tests
The DMV’s page also lists the San Bernardino Industry Business Center, 473 E. Carnegie Drive, but it serves dealers and other vehicle-industry customers, not the public. Our California DMV offices list covers the rest of San Bernardino County and the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Neither city has its own DMV office. The San Bernardino DMV is the closest for both, about 5.5 miles from Rialto City Hall and 4 from central Colton, with Fontana next for Rialto at about 6.
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
San Bernardino is the full-service DMV for San Bernardino, Colton, Rialto and the mountain communities above them, with a kiosk and motorcycle tests. Check its live wait against Redlands’ and Fontana’s before you go, book ahead for a drive test, use a kiosk for renewals, and go to Rancho Cucamonga for mobile license help and Fontana for a commercial skills test.
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