Albany has two state-run DMV offices: the full-service Albany DMV at 855 Central Avenue and the Albany Concourse Innovation Center, a licensing-only office on the Empire State Plaza Concourse downtown. Central Avenue is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and handles everything from license renewals to vehicle registrations and permit tests, while the Concourse office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for license and ID transactions only. Both Albany DMV offices take reservations, which the DMV strongly encourages.
Albany DMV Offices at a Glance
| Office | Address | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany (Central Avenue) | 855 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206 | Mon–Fri, 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Every DMV service, including registrations and permit tests |
| Albany Concourse Innovation Center | 263 Madison Avenue (Empire State Plaza Concourse), Albany, NY 12210 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | License, permit and ID transactions only |
Which Albany DMV Office Should You Use?
- Central Avenue if your visit involves a vehicle registration or plates, a permit test, a license restoration or a restricted license, or if you need to arrive early or stay late. It’s the only full-service DMV office in the city.
- The Concourse office for license and ID renewals, REAL ID or Enhanced upgrades, out-of-state license exchanges, name or information changes and non-driver IDs, especially if you work downtown or in the Empire State Plaza.
Services at Each Albany Office
| Service | Central Avenue | Concourse |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to a REAL ID or Enhanced license | Yes | Yes |
| Renew a license, permit or ID | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange an out-of-state license | Yes | Yes |
| Change the name or other information on a license, permit or ID | Yes | Yes |
| Get a non-driver ID | Yes | Yes |
| Get a CDL after passing a CDL road test | Yes | Yes |
| Take a car or motorcycle permit test | Yes | No |
| Register a vehicle and get plates | Yes | No |
| Restore a revoked or suspended license | Yes | No |
| Apply for a restricted or conditional license | Yes | No |
Neither office gives road tests. You schedule them online or by calling (518) 402-2100, 24 hours a day.
How to Make a Reservation
- Go to the DMV’s reservation system.
- Choose your transaction and either Albany or the Albany Concourse Innovation Center.
- Pick an open date and time, and complete the DMV’s Document Guide before your visit.
Walk-ins are possible, but when an office has long wait times, only customers with a reservation are let in.
Getting to Each Office
Albany (Central Avenue)
- From I-787, take Exit 5 to I-90 west toward Buffalo, then Exit 5 for Everett Road. Turn left onto Everett Road Extension, then right onto Central Avenue.
- From the west on I-90 east, take Exit 5 for Everett Road, turn right onto Everett Road Extension, then right onto Central Avenue.
- By bus, the office is on Central Avenue’s bus routes, including the line between Albany and Schenectady.
When the office opened in 2019, the DMV said it has ample parking and is accessible for customers with disabilities.
Albany Concourse Innovation Center
The office is on the Concourse, the level below the Empire State Plaza that links its buildings; the plaza’s Concourse level map marks its location. Drivers can use the Visitors Lot beneath the plaza, reached from the Empire State Plaza exit of I-787. The plaza’s visitor parking page lists stays of 90 minutes or less as free and longer weekday stays as a $10 flat fee, payable by card only.
Hours and Holiday Closures
Central Avenue is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the Concourse office Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both are closed on weekends and state holidays, including Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Fees and Payment
Albany County isn’t in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD), so residents pay $64.50 for a Class D license renewal, compared with $80.50 in the New York City area. An Enhanced license adds $30, and a REAL ID costs the same as a Standard license. DMV offices accept cash; credit, debit and prepaid cards that don’t need a PIN, including American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa; Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay; and personal checks or money orders payable to Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.
Registering a vehicle? Our guide to registering a car in New York lists the documents and fees.
Renew Online and Skip the Trip
Many renewals don’t need either office. You can renew a license online if you’re eligible and pass an eye test with an approved provider, and renew a registration online up to one year after it expires, as long as the vehicle has been inspected in the past 12 months.
The DMV notes that some AAA branches may offer vision testing for license renewals. AAA’s full DMV service, though, is offered to members only at ten offices downstate, none of them in the Capital Region; our guide to AAA DMV services in New York lists them.
Other DMV Offices Near Albany
Outside the city, county clerks run the DMV offices in the neighboring counties and set their own hours and reservation rules:
- Troy DMV: 1600 7th Ave, Troy, NY 12180, run by Rensselaer County
- Schenectady DMV: 2025 State St, Schenectady, NY 12305, run by Schenectady County
- Clifton Park DMV: 22 Clifton Park Center Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065, run by Saratoga County
For every location in the state, see our guide to New York DMV offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two, both run by the state: the full-service office at 855 Central Avenue and the Albany Concourse Innovation Center on the Empire State Plaza Concourse, which handles license and ID transactions only.
Only the Central Avenue office. The Concourse office doesn’t register vehicles or issue plates.
Central Avenue is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the Concourse office weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both are closed on weekends and state holidays.
At the Central Avenue office. The Concourse office doesn’t give car or motorcycle permit tests.
No. The South Pearl Street office closed on January 4, 2019, and the DMV opened its Central Avenue office three days later.
Neither office publishes a direct line. Call the DMV at (518) 486-9786 or (800) 698-2931, weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Conclusion
Albany’s two DMV offices split the work: Central Avenue handles every service, from registrations to permit tests, while the Concourse office in the Empire State Plaza focuses on license and ID transactions. Pick the one that fits your errand, book a reservation before you go, and renew online when you’re eligible to skip the trip.
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