1Hours

Day	Hours
Monday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (opens one hour late)
Thursday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday	8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday	Closed

Hours per the official DMV office page. State holidays can change hours — confirm on dmv.ca.gov before you go.

2Services at this office

• Licensing Services (driver licenses, ID cards, REAL ID)
• Testing (knowledge/written tests — note: not offered after 4:30 PM statewide)
• Title Transfers
• Registration
• Plates, Permits, & Placards
• Replace Lost/Stolen/Damaged (plates, registration, title)
• Records
• Request miscellaneous original documents
• Self Service Terminals — this office has a self-serve kiosk (quick registration services, no appointment)

Finding it: the office sits on Burney St in downtown Modesto. On busy weekday mornings, give yourself a few extra minutes to park and find the entrance.

Drive tests: this office handles commercial driving tests as well as standard behind-the-wheel drive tests. Behind-the-wheel drive-test availability per office is only visible inside the official scheduler — check the appointment-type step there.

Payments accepted: Cash, Check, Credit Card, Debit Card, Digital Wallet, Money order.

3Booking an appointment here

1. Go to the official DMV appointment scheduler.
2. Choose your appointment type (field-office visit vs. behind-the-wheel drive test).
3. Search by ZIP (95354) or “Modesto” and pick this office.
4. Booking is free — the DMV never charges to make an appointment.
5. Prefer phone? Call 1-800-777-0133 (automated 24/7; live reps Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM).

Booking difficulty — honest notes: Central Valley offices can be busy — if Modesto shows nothing, try Turlock in the same scheduler search. Confirm whether your task needs a visit: renewals and many records requests get no counter service.

For the full walkthrough — which type to pick, what to do when nothing’s available — see our California DMV appointment guide.

4Nearby DMV offices

• Turlock — 825 E Monte Vista Avenue, Turlock, CA 95382 (kiosk available)
• Manteca — full-service office about 17 miles north of Modesto

Also in the Central Valley: our full guide to the Bakersfield DMV office.

Also in Northern California: our full guide to the Carmichael DMV office, in the Sacramento area.

Addresses per the official DMV office pages.

5Frequently asked questions

Office: Modesto DMV Field Office, 124 Burney Street, Modesto, CA 95354

Google Reviews Analysis — Real User Themes

• Google rating: 3.5 stars from 1,121 reviews. That places it squarely in “crowded but functional” territory for a California DMV — not hated, not loved. (Source: nextdoordriving.com Modesto DMV listing.)
• The #1 theme: one office is not enough for this city. The most-quoted local sentiment comes from Jim Tollison (Jan 2024, via xtreet’s Turlock page): *”I can’t stand going to the Modesto DMV. Modesto actually needs 2 or 3 offices. There’s just way too many people for only one.”* Modesto has 200,000+ residents and a single field office — reviewers across sources describe it as chronically over capacity, especially for walk-ins. (Source: xtreet.com/dmv-services/ca-dmv/turlock-ca/; population via alchetron/MAX transit overview.)
• Locals defect to Turlock. A recurring review pattern: Modesto-area drivers book at the Turlock DMV (825 E Monte Vista Ave, ~11.4 miles south) instead — reviews there describe appointments under 30 minutes with friendly, professional staff (Terry J., Oct 2023: “entire process was less than 30 minutes”). If Modesto’s wait looks brutal, Turlock is the pressure valve. (Source: xtreet.com Turlock reviews; countyoffice.org Turlock page.)
• Staff themselves get decent marks. countyoffice.org describes the Modesto office as “popular for its friendly staff and convenient location near public transportation.” The oreateai Modesto guide (early 2026) similarly reports staff as “generally friendly and eager to help guide you through whatever process you’re facing.” The complaint is volume, not attitude. (Sources: countyoffice.org Turlock page’s Modesto blurb; oreateai.com Modesto DMV guide.)
• Off-peak timing works. The oreateai guide’s local-sourced tip: *”Visit during off-peak hours if possible! Mornings right after opening or mid-afternoon tend to be quieter times.”* Combined with the office hours (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 8am–5pm, Wed 9am–5pm), that means the best bets are ~8:00am or ~2:00–3:30pm on Tue–Thu. Mondays, Fridays, and month-end remain the worst. (Source: oreateai.com Modesto guide; dmv.ca.gov Modesto hours.)
• Have your documents ready — downtown trips cost real time. Multiple reviews of crowded DMV offices echo: missing paperwork = a second trip through the same queue. Bring photo ID, residency proofs, and payment; check the DMV’s appointment confirmation checklist before you leave. (Source: review themes across xtreet Modesto-area pages + practicetestgeeks.com document guidance.)

Drive Test Routes & Tips (124 Burney St Does Drive Tests)

• The office officially offers Testing (dmv.ca.gov Modesto field office services list), which includes both knowledge tests and behind-the-wheel drive tests — and it is specifically listed as a motorcycle driving test location. (Source: dmv.ca.gov field office page; dmv.ca.gov locations search filtered for “take-a-motorcycle-driving-test,” which lists Modesto/124 Burney Street.)
• UNVERIFIABLE from public sources: a published turn-by-turn drive-test route for the Modesto office (no equivalent of Sacramento’s documented Broadway Route 1 was found). Mark any “route” you see on social media as unverified. What is known: the office sits in downtown Modesto’s grid, so test routes work the downtown streets — this matters because downtown Modesto has multi-lane one-way arterials (9th St, 10th St, J St, K St are the key corridors; 9th St is co-signed CA-99 Business and carries CA-132 through downtown per gribblenation’s route log). Examiners will use these arterials and the surrounding residential side streets.
• Practice advice specific to this area: (1) Lane discipline on multi-lane downtown streets — stay in lane, signal every change, check blind spots; (2) pedestrian awareness — downtown crosswalks and bus-stop activity near the transit center; (3) railroad crossings — the Union Pacific mainline crosses downtown (CA-132 crosses it at 9th St), so know the stop-at-tracks procedure; (4) residential streets just east/south of downtown for stop-sign and speed-control practice (25 mph zones). (Sources: downtown street geography from gribblenation.org CA-132 log + adquick Modesto corridor descriptions; tips generalized from dmvcalifornia.us and driversed.com guidance, not office-specific claims.)
• Fog season is a real factor. Modesto’s dense tule fog season runs roughly November–March, with 12 inches of average annual rainfall concentrated in those months (usacitiesonline.com Modesto profile). If your road test is scheduled in winter, practice driving in heavy fog: low beams, reduced speed, following distance. An examiner in January is a different test than one in June.
• Class B / non-commercial tests happen here too. Forum records show drivers scheduling non-commercial Class B behind-the-wheel tests at Modesto (iRV2 forums, 2018 scheduling post). But commercial CDL road tests: the nearest dedicated commercial center is West Sacramento; confirm your test type when booking at (800) 777-0133.

Office-Specific Services — What Makes This Office Stand Out

• Permanent Fleet Registration (PFR) designated office. This is Modesto’s biggest differentiator: it’s one of only ~12 PFR field offices statewide (alongside Fresno, Fullerton, Glendale, Montebello, Oakland Claremont, Pomona, Rocklin, San Francisco, San Pedro, Tracy, Westminster). PFR offices handle vehicle additions and deletions, duplicate registration cards/ownership certificates, substitute license plates or stickers, and vehicle weight changes for fleet customers. When booking, tell the rep it’s a PFR transaction — (800) 777-0133. (Source: dmv.ca.gov Fast Facts PFR brochure, qr.dmv.ca.gov.)
• Motorcycle driving tests offered — not every field office does these; Modesto is on the DMV’s motorcycle-test location list. (Source: dmv.ca.gov locations search, services=take-a-motorcycle-driving-test.)
• Full standard services: Licensing, Testing, Title Transfers, Registration, Plates/Permits/Placards, Replace Lost/Stolen/Damaged, Records, miscellaneous original documents, Self Service Terminals. Payments: Cash, Check, Credit Card, Debit Card, Digital Wallet, Money order. (Source: dmv.ca.gov Modesto field office page.)
• Self-serve kiosk on site + retail kiosks: The office has a DMV Now kiosk (registration renewals, sticker on the spot, no line). Two retail kiosks nearby with far longer hours: Safeway, 2001 McHenry Ave. Ste C., Modesto — Mon–Sun 5:00am–2:00am and Save Mart, 2100 Standiford Ave., Modesto — Mon–Sun 6:00am–12:00am. (Source: dmv.ca.gov/portal kiosk pages for the Modesto area.)
• DMV-authorized business partners nearby (shorter waits, small extra fees): Save Direct Insurance Agency (1800 Tully Rd, Mon–Fri 9–6, Sat 11–3), Wylie Insurance Services (1729 Tully Rd, Mon–Sat 10–6), Borba Registration Service (1619 Silkwood Dr), Rapid Placas (121 E Orangeburg Ave Ste 15), Payless Legal Services (705 McHenry Ave). Good for registration renewals when the office queue is punishing. (Source: qr.dmv.ca.gov business-partner pages.)

Area-Specific Advice

• Downtown location, historic core. 124 Burney St sits in downtown Modesto’s street grid, steps from the old commercial core. Nearby landmarks: the McHenry Mansion and the State Theatre are the commonly cited downtown anchors within walking distance; the DoubleTree hotel at 1150 9th Street is another easy landmark if you’re navigating to the area. (Sources: oreateai.com Modesto guide — note it mislabels the DMV address itself as “500 E. Main Street”; the landmark proximity claim is usable, the address is not; downtown-modesto.com vendor instructions for the DoubleTree address.)
• Best arrival times: 8:00am sharp on Tue/Wed/Thu, or mid-afternoon ~2:00–3:30pm. Wednesday opens at 9am, so Wednesday’s early window is weaker. Avoid Monday and Friday entirely if you can — and the first/last days of the month when registration deadlines stack the queue. Given the office’s crowding reputation, a booked appointment is close to mandatory for anything beyond a kiosk transaction. (Sources: dmv.ca.gov hours; oreateai.com; practicetestgeeks.com.)
• Food while you wait: The downtown core around 10th & J has the densest food options within walking distance (Paloma’s at J & 10th, Fuzio at 10th Street Plaza, Rancho Fresco on J St per downtown-modesto.com). Useful if you take a number and face a long wait — but don’t wander far; numbers get called.
• Summer heat planning. Modesto’s all-time high is 113°F (2006) with hot, dry summers (usacitiesonline.com). The queue area is not meaningfully shaded — bring water and sun protection for any summer visit where you might wait outside the building.
• UNVERIFIABLE from public sources: the size/fee status of the office’s own customer lot. Downtown curb-parking rules apply on surrounding streets (see transit/parking section).

Transit & Parking Details

• The Modesto Downtown Transit Center is your anchor. Housed in the historic 1915 Southern Pacific Depot at 9th & J Street (evendo.com landmark guide), it’s the hub for MAX (Modesto Area Express) and Greyhound — and it’s roughly a 5–10 minute walk from 124 Burney St. Every numbered MAX route (21 through 43 — Robertson Rd, McHenry, Sylvan, Orangeburg, Carpenter, Kiernan, Salida, Crows Landing, Prescott, Tully, Mable, Poust, Central Valley Plaza, Rumble, Airport neighborhood, Empire, Tucson Ave, California Ave) originates downtown. (Sources: alchetron.com Modesto Area Express; evendo.com depot guide.)
• MAX service hours (reported): Mon–Fri 6:00am–7:50pm, Saturday 7:50am–7:00pm, Sunday 8:45am–6:00pm; all buses have wheelchair lifts and bike racks; express commuter service runs to the Modesto Amtrak station, Lathrop ACE station, and Dublin/Pleasanton BART. No service on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day (observed), July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas; Presidents’ Day runs a Saturday schedule. (Source: alchetron.com Modesto Area Express — verify hours on modestogov.com before relying, as schedules change.)
• StaRT regional buses also serve downtown Modesto (StaRT Bus #10 runs the Modesto–Turlock intercity corridor per subwaynut.com’s rider account), and Amtrak San Joaquins stops in Modesto with a MAX feeder connection — viable if you’re coming from the Bay Area or Central Valley without a car. (Sources: subwaynut.com; alchetron.com; go-california.com Modesto transportation page.)
• City parking garages (official, modestogov.com): three downtown garages — 9th Street Garage (9th St between K and L), 10th Street Garage (corner of 11th and K), 11th Street Garage (11th St between I and J). The 11th Street Garage is the closest to Burney St. Rate: $1.25/hour; automated pay stations on the 1st floor near the elevator — take your ticket with you and pay BEFORE returning to your vehicle (cash/coin/card at the large station, debit/credit at express stations); lost/damaged tickets = $15 fee. (Source: modestogov.com “Parking Garages” page.)
• Street parking rules: Downtown Modesto street parking is free for up to two hours (the City Council extended it from one hour — fox40 via parksy.com) and free after 6pm (downtown-modesto.com vendor instructions). Overtime in a time-limited space carries a $52 fine; the 72-hour limit carries up to $108 (modestogov.com via parksy.com). Two hours is usually enough for a kiosk or appointment visit, but not for a long walk-in queue — use the 11th Street Garage for visits over 2 hours. (Sources: parksy.com Modesto parking guide; downtown-modesto.com; modestogov.com.)
• Walking from the transit center: from the 9th & J depot, head east on J to 12th/13th, then to Burney St — flat, sidewalked, well under half a mile. Downtown is walkable; the garage-to-office walk from 11th & J is ~3 blocks.

Sources used: dmv.ca.gov (Modesto field office page, PFR Fast Facts brochure, motorcycle-test locations search, Turlock field office page, kiosk/business-partner pages), qr.dmv.ca.gov (PFR brochure; Wylie Insurance / Central Auto Insurance partner pages), nextdoordriving.com (Modesto Google rating), xtreet.com (Turlock page reviews re: Modesto), countyoffice.org (Turlock DMV page), oreateai.com (Modesto DMV guide), modestogov.com (parking garages page; downtown master plan), parksy.com (Modesto parking FAQ), downtown-modesto.com (vendor/parking instructions), alchetron.com (Modesto Area Express), evendo.com (1915 SP Depot guide), gribblenation.org (CA-132 downtown Modesto route log), adquick.com (Modesto corridors), usacitiesonline.com (Modesto climate), subwaynut.com (StaRT rider account), go-california.com (Modesto transportation), iRV2 forums (Class B test scheduling), practicetestgeeks.com (wait-time/document guidance).

Official office page: dmv.ca.gov/portal/field-office/modesto/

Last verified against dmv.ca.gov: October 2026