The Torrance DMV at 1785 W. 220th St. 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 about 2 miles east of Torrance City Hall and the nearest DMV for Torrance, Carson, Lomita, Redondo Beach and Palos Verdes Estates. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays (9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays).
Torrance DMV Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | Torrance DMV |
|---|---|
| Address | 1785 W. 220th St., Torrance, CA 90501 (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 San Pedro, Compton, Hawthorne and Long Beach |
| 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; Torrance 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) |
Is Torrance the Closest DMV to You?
Straight-line distances from the center of each nearby city or community:
- Torrance is closest for West Carson (about 1 mile), Carson (about 1.5), Torrance itself and Harbor Gateway (about 2 each), Lomita (about 2.5, with San Pedro just as close), Rolling Hills Estates (about 4), Redondo Beach (about 4.5) and Palos Verdes Estates (about 5).
- Another office is closer for Harbor City, Wilmington, central San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes (the San Pedro office, about 1.5 to 5.5 miles), though the San Pedro office is closed for renovation until it reopens at 9:00 a.m. on Nov. 18, 2026, and the DMV names Torrance as its nearest alternative. Gardena and Hermosa Beach are closer to Hawthorne, at about 2.5 and 5 miles.
What Torrance 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, 10.75% in Torrance, 11.0% in Carson and Lomita, and 10.25% in Redondo Beach, the Palos Verdes Peninsula cities and Los Angeles neighborhoods such as Harbor City. 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 5035 Pacific Coast Hwy. (6:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m.) and Vons at 4001 Inglewood Ave. in Redondo Beach (5:00 a.m.–midnight).
- Elsewhere: commercial skills tests at the Gardena commercial drive test center, about 5.5 miles north-northeast, 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 Torrance
- San Pedro, 1511 N. Gaffey St., about 5 miles south-southeast: full service, with a kiosk
- Hawthorne, 3700 W. El Segundo Blvd., about 6.5 miles north-northwest: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
- Compton, 2111 S. Santa Fe Ave., about 6.5 miles east-northeast: full service, with a kiosk
- Long Beach, 3700 E. Willow St., about 9.5 miles east: full service, kiosk and mobile license help
The DMV’s page still lists the Inglewood office nearby, but it has been closed since Feb. 11, 2025. Our California DMV offices list covers the rest of the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Torrance DMV is the closest for Redondo Beach, about 4.5 miles from its City Hall, and for Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Estates, about 4 and 5 miles from their centers. Rancho Palos Verdes is closer to the San Pedro office, about 5.5 miles from its City Hall.
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
Torrance is the full-service DMV for Torrance, Carson, Lomita, Redondo Beach and much of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, with a kiosk and mobile license help. Check its live wait against Hawthorne’s before you go, book ahead for a drive test, use a kiosk for renewals, and take commercial skills tests to Gardena, about 5.5 miles away.
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