What are San Diego DMV hours, and how do I get an appointment?
Most San Diego County DMV offices open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. on Wednesdays. Book at dmv.ca.gov. Clairemont closed Nov. 3, 2026 after a water leak; use Normal Street instead.
- Weekday hours
- 8–5
- Clairemont
- Closed
- Nearest instead
- Normal St.
- Weekends
- Closed
Wednesday opens 9 a.m.
Since Nov. 3, 2026
3960 Normal St., Hillcrest
Kiosks at stores still work
The short version
- The San Diego Clairemont office (4375 Derrick Dr.) closed Nov. 3, 2026 until further notice for water-leak repairs.
- The DMV's suggested alternatives: Normal Street (8 mi), Chula Vista (16 mi), Poway (17 mi) and El Cajon (18 mi).
- Field offices list 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
- Renewals, address changes and many registrations can be done online or at self-service kiosks in grocery stores.
- Appointments are booked at dmv.ca.gov; a 'Get in Line Now' option lets you join an office's queue remotely.
DMV offices in San Diego County
| Office | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego (Normal St.) | 3960 Normal St., Hillcrest | Closest to Clairemont; tight parking |
| Chula Vista | 30 N. Glover Ave. | Kiosk on site |
| Poway | 13461 Community Rd. | |
| El Cajon | 1450 Graves Ave. | |
| San Marcos | 590 Rancheros Dr. | Kiosk on site |
| Oceanside | 4005 Plaza Dr. | Kiosk on site |
| San Ysidro | South Bay | |
| San Diego Clairemont | 4375 Derrick Dr. | Temporarily closed (Nov. 2026) |
San Diego (Normal St.)
- Address
- 3960 Normal St., Hillcrest
- Notes
- Closest to Clairemont; tight parking
Chula Vista
- Address
- 30 N. Glover Ave.
- Notes
- Kiosk on site
Poway
- Address
- 13461 Community Rd.
El Cajon
- Address
- 1450 Graves Ave.
San Marcos
- Address
- 590 Rancheros Dr.
- Notes
- Kiosk on site
Oceanside
- Address
- 4005 Plaza Dr.
- Notes
- Kiosk on site
San Ysidro
- Address
- South Bay
San Diego Clairemont
- Address
- 4375 Derrick Dr.
- Notes
- Temporarily closed (Nov. 2026)
California DMV office pages and Nov. 3, 2026 release. Checked Nov. 8, 2026.
8 a.m.
Opens Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
9 a.m.
Opens Wednesday
Staff training hour
5 p.m.
Closes daily
Try these before you go in
The fastest ways to finish DMV business
- 01
Go online first
Registration renewal, many license renewals, address changes, replacement stickers and records requests are online at dmv.ca.gov. The DMV says some simple transactions are no longer done in offices at all.
- 02
Use a kiosk
Self-service DMV kiosks at offices and some Ralphs and Albertsons stores renew registration and print the sticker on the spot, including on weekends.
- 03
Book an appointment
Licenses, REAL ID, and behind-the-wheel tests need a visit. Book at dmv.ca.gov under Appointments; check other offices if your nearest is full.
- 04
Or join the line remotely
'Get in Line Now' on the DMV site holds your spot in an office queue so you can wait elsewhere.
Moving here? See getting a California license as a new resident and registering an out-of-state car. Flying soon? Check the REAL ID rules at SAN.
DMV offices
Pins shared with our new-resident license tip.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 8, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
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SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
California DMV · Nov. 3, 2026
Closure, reason, alternative offices and distances, online-first advice
- PrimaryOceanside Field Office
California DMV · 2026
8am–5pm weekdays, 9am Wednesday; kiosk; nearby offices
California DMV
Addresses, kiosk locations at Ralphs and Albertsons
California DMV
590 Rancheros Dr. address and kiosk