The Shafter DMV at 548 Walker St. 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 has no kiosk. It’s the nearest DMV for Shafter, Wasco, Buttonwillow and Lost Hills; on the other weekdays, the closest open offices are Bakersfield’s F Street office, about 16 miles east-southeast, and Delano, about 18 miles north.
Shafter DMV Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | Shafter DMV |
|---|---|
| Address | 548 Walker St., Shafter, CA 93263 (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 Bakersfield, Delano, Bakersfield Southwest and Arvin |
| 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 is inside Bakersfield’s F Street office, about 16 miles east-southeast |
| 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 Shafter the Closest DMV to You?
Straight-line distances from City Hall or the center of each city or community:
- Shafter is closest for Shafter itself (under a mile from City Hall), Wasco (about 7 from City Hall, with Delano at 13), Buttonwillow (about 13, with Taft at 18) and Lost Hills (about 25, with Delano at 27).
- Bakersfield’s offices are closer for Rosedale: Bakersfield Southwest is about 6 miles away and F Street about 7, with Shafter at 11.
- On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, when Shafter is closed, the nearest open offices are Bakersfield’s F Street office (about 16 miles east-southeast) and Delano (about 18 north).
What Shafter 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, 7.25% in Shafter and 8.25% in Wasco and unincorporated Kern County, including Buttonwillow and Lost Hills. Our guide to registering a car in California lists the documents and fees.
- Elsewhere: commercial skills tests at Bakersfield’s F Street office, about 16 miles east-southeast and the closest CDL test site; mobile driver’s license help at Lancaster, about 87 miles southeast 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 Shafter: 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 Shafter; the closest are in Bakersfield, inside the F Street office and in grocery stores such as the Superior Grocers at 1115 Union Ave. (7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. daily). DMV business partners nearby also handle some registration work for their own fee and are open on days the office is closed, including Oliver Insurance Agency, 812 Walker St. (9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. weekdays and 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Saturday), and Ritos GTS Insurance Center, 937 E. 7th St., Suite A, in Wasco (10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Monday–Saturday).
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 Shafter
- Bakersfield (F Street), 3120 F St., about 16 miles east-southeast: full service, kiosk, motorcycle and CDL skills tests on weekdays
- Bakersfield Southwest, 7000 Schirra Court, about 17 miles southeast: full service and a kiosk on weekdays, but no motorcycle tests; closed until Nov. 24
- Delano, 631 Jefferson St., about 18 miles north: full service and a kiosk on weekdays, but no motorcycle tests
- Taft, 165 Center St., about 27 miles south-southwest: Tuesdays and Thursdays only, with no kiosk
Our Bakersfield DMV offices page compares the two Bakersfield offices, and our California DMV offices list covers the rest of Kern County and the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the nearest open offices are Bakersfield’s F Street office, about 16 miles east-southeast, and Delano, about 18 miles north.
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
Shafter’s DMV is a full-service office for Shafter, Wasco, Buttonwillow and Lost Hills, open only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Start applications online so one visit covers it, book ahead for a drive or motorcycle test, renew online, by mail or through a local partner since there’s no kiosk, and plan on Bakersfield or Delano on other weekdays and Bakersfield’s F Street office for a CDL skills test.
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