Before test day
The DMV gives behind-the-wheel tests by appointment only. Book yours on the Chico DMV page at dmv.ca.gov (107 Parmac Rd #1, Chico, CA 95926); appointment slots in Butte County often sit weeks out, so book the test before you plan the last lessons. If you are under 18, California also requires your permit to be held at least six months and your six hours of professional behind-the-wheel training to be done first — that is our 6-hour teen package.
What to bring
- Your instruction permit (and the accompanying licensed adult the permit requires).
- A car that is safe and legal for the test, with valid registration and proof of insurance. Lights, signals, horn, parking brake: the examiner checks them before you drive.
- With the exam package you skip the car worries: our dual-control SUV arrives inspected, insured and test-ready, and it is the same car you practiced in.
How test day runs with Stallion
Lesson 2 of the DMV exam package is booked on your appointment date. We pick you up early, warm up on the streets around the DMV, and the lesson ends at the office right before your test time, so you walk in calm, in a car you know. After the test, we drive you back.
If you don't pass
California allows three attempts on one application. Under 18, you must wait 14 days, not counting the test day, before retaking, and the DMV charges a retest fee (the current amount is on dmv.ca.gov). We go over the examiner's score sheet with you and build the retake lesson around exactly what was marked.
Testing in Oroville instead
The Oroville DMV (775 Mitchell Avenue, Oroville, CA 95965, details on dmv.ca.gov) sometimes has earlier appointments than Chico. The exam package works the same there — we meet you, warm up, and you test in our car.
Common questions
Where is the behind-the-wheel test in Chico?
At the Chico DMV field office, 107 Parmac Rd #1, Chico, CA 95926. Check current hours and book the appointment on dmv.ca.gov.
Can I take the test in your car?
Yes. With the DMV exam package, lesson 2 is on your test day: a warm-up lesson that ends at the DMV, and you test in the same dual-control SUV you practiced in, subject to DMV requirements on the day.
What happens if I fail the drive test?
California allows three attempts on one application. If you are under 18, you must wait 14 days, not counting the day of the failed test, before retaking it, and the DMV charges a retest fee (see dmv.ca.gov for the current amount).
Do I need an appointment?
Yes, behind-the-wheel tests are by appointment. Book it on dmv.ca.gov first; then book exam-package lesson 2 for the same day, so the warm-up ends right at your test time.
What does the examiner check before the drive?
A safe, legal vehicle with valid registration and proof of insurance, working lights and signals, and your permit. Our lesson car arrives test-ready.
Sources: Chico DMV field office and Oroville DMV field office (dmv.ca.gov), and the California Driver's Handbook, “The Testing Process”.