The Elizabethtown DMV is Essex County’s main motor vehicle office, run by the County Clerk in the county government complex at 7559 Court Street. From September through May, its lobby is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; in June, July and August it shifts to 8:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. Either way, it closes for lunch at noon, and you need to be in line well before closing for permit tests, REAL ID upgrades and CDL tests. Essex County also runs a part-time satellite office in Ticonderoga.
Elizabethtown DMV Address, Hours and Contact Details
| Detail | Elizabethtown DMV Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 7559 Court St, Elizabethtown, NY 12932 (get directions) |
| Hours | September–May: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m.; June–August: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:50 p.m.; closed weekends |
| Run by | Essex County Clerk |
| Lunch closure | Noon–12:30 p.m., according to the county; the state DMV lists noon–1:00 p.m. |
| Location | Essex County government complex on Court Street |
| [email protected] | |
| Fax | (518) 873-3623 |
| Phone | (518) 873-3620 |
Seasonal Hours and Cutoffs at the Elizabethtown DMV
Essex County runs the Elizabethtown office on two schedules, and the time you must be in line for tests and longer transactions changes with them:
| September–May | June–August | |
|---|---|---|
| Lobby hours | 9:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m. | 8:00 a.m.–3:50 p.m. |
| Closed for lunch | Noon–12:30 p.m. | Noon–12:30 p.m. |
| Be in line for CDL tests by | 3:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Be in line for permit tests, REAL ID and Enhanced licenses, and restricted and conditional licenses by | 3:45 p.m. | 2:50 p.m. |
The cutoffs are the times you need to be in line, not the times you’ll finish. The state DMV’s listing for Elizabethtown shows only the September–May hours and a longer lunch closure, from noon to 1:00 p.m., so if you’re arriving around midday, allow for the full hour.
Services Available at the Elizabethtown DMV
| Service | At Elizabethtown |
|---|---|
| Driver licenses, learner permits and non-driver IDs | Yes |
| Upgrade to a REAL ID or Enhanced license | Yes; be in line by 3:45 p.m. (2:50 p.m. in summer) |
| Car and motorcycle permit tests | Yes; be in line by 3:45 p.m. (2:50 p.m. in summer) |
| CDL tests | Yes; be in line by 3:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. in summer) |
| Restricted and conditional licenses, which allow limited driving, such as to work, during certain suspensions or revocations | Yes; be in line by 3:45 p.m. (2:50 p.m. in summer) |
| Vehicle registrations and plates | Yes |
| Road tests | Not at the office; schedule online or by calling (518) 402-2100 |
Essex County’s Ticonderoga Satellite
If you live in the southern part of the county, the Ticonderoga DMV at 132 Montcalm Street may be closer. It’s open only on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, which the county notes are subject to change, from 10:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from September through May and 9:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in summer, with a lunch closure from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. For everything else, and on every other weekday, Elizabethtown is the county’s office.
Directions to the Elizabethtown DMV
| Coming from | Directions |
|---|---|
| The south on I-87 | Take Exit 30, turn left and follow Route 9 for 2 miles. Keep right and stay on Route 9 for about 12 more miles; the county building is on the left. |
| The north on I-87 | Take Exit 31, turn right and drive about 4 miles toward Elizabethtown. Keep right to the blinking red light, then turn left up the hill. |
| Lake Placid | Follow Route 9N through Keene and over Spruce Hill, then turn left onto Court Street. The DMV is about a quarter mile ahead on the left in the county complex. |
Registering a Vehicle at the Elizabethtown DMV
Elizabethtown registers vehicles and issues plates. Essex County doesn’t charge a county vehicle use tax and isn’t in the MCTD, so residents don’t pay either of those on top of the state registration, plate and title fees. Bring proof of ownership, proof of New York insurance, your identification and proof of sales tax, and see our guide to registering a car in New York for the forms and fees.
Driver’s Licenses, REAL ID and Enhanced Licenses
Renewing Your License
You can renew up to one year before and up to two years after your license expires. If you already have a REAL ID or Enhanced license, or you’re keeping a Standard license, you can renew online after passing an eye test with an approved provider. Switching to a REAL ID or Enhanced license, updating your photo or changing your license class takes an office visit.
REAL ID or Enhanced?
Both can be used to board domestic flights and enter federal buildings. An Enhanced license can also be used to cross the U.S. border from Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries by land or sea, and it costs $30 more; a REAL ID costs the same as a Standard license.
License Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Class D license renewal | $64.50 |
| Class D license renewal with MCTD fee | $80.50 |
| Enhanced license | $30 on top of the regular fee |
| Replacement license or learner permit | $17.50 |
Essex County isn’t in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD), so residents pay $64.50 for a Class D renewal.
Before You Go: Payment and Holiday Closures
Payment
Essex County doesn’t list accepted payment methods for its DMV, so call (518) 873-3620 or email [email protected] if you’re unsure how to pay.
Holiday Closures
As a county office, Elizabethtown follows Essex County’s holiday schedule. It will be closed for Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Services You Can Complete Online
Some transactions don’t need a trip to Elizabethtown at all. On the DMV website, you can:
- Renew your driver’s license, if you’re eligible and pass an eye test with an approved provider
- Renew a vehicle registration, before it expires or up to one year after
- Schedule a road test
- Make a reservation for an office visit
You can’t renew a registration online if the vehicle hasn’t been inspected in the past 12 months.
Tips for Visiting the Elizabethtown DMV
- Check the season. From June through August, the office opens an hour earlier and closes at 3:50 p.m.
- Get in line early for tests and REAL ID. The cutoff is 3:45 p.m. from September to May and 2:50 p.m. in summer.
- Skip the lunch hour. The county closes from noon to 12:30 p.m., and the state’s listing says until 1:00 p.m.
- Email questions ahead. Send them to [email protected].
- Live near Ticonderoga? The satellite is open only on the second and fourth Tuesdays.
Other DMV Offices Near Elizabethtown
Besides the Ticonderoga satellite, the closest offices in neighboring counties are:
- Plattsburgh DMV: 137 Margaret St, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, run by Clinton County
- Saranac Lake DMV: 39 Main St, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, run by Franklin County
- Lake George DMV: 1340 State Route 9, Lake George, NY 12845, run by Warren County
For every location in the state, see our guide to New York DMV offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the Essex County government complex at 7559 Court Street, Elizabethtown, NY 12932. From Lake Placid, follow Route 9N through Keene and over Spruce Hill, then turn left onto Court Street.
From September through May, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. From June through August, 8:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. The office closes for lunch at noon and will be closed for Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026.
By 3:45 p.m. from September through May, or 2:50 p.m. in summer. For CDL tests, be in line by 3:00 p.m., or 2:00 p.m. in summer.
Yes. The county lists a lunch closure from noon to 12:30 p.m.; the state DMV’s listing shows noon to 1:00 p.m.
Yes. The Ticonderoga satellite at 132 Montcalm Street is open on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
Call (518) 873-3620. The fax number is (518) 873-3623, and the email address is [email protected].
Conclusion
The Elizabethtown DMV at 7559 Court Street is Essex County’s main office for licenses, IDs, registrations, REAL ID upgrades and knowledge tests, open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. most of the year and 8:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. in summer. Get in line by the cutoff for your transaction, steer clear of the lunch break, and use the Ticonderoga satellite when its twice-monthly Tuesdays suit you better.
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