The Saranac Lake DMV is Franklin County’s branch office in the Harrietstown Town Hall at 39 Main Street, Suite 4. It’s open three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and tests and Enhanced licenses stop earlier: CDL written tests at noon, Enhanced licenses at 1:00 p.m. and permit tests at 1:30 p.m. Just 9 miles west of Lake Placid, which has no DMV office, it’s also the nearest office for many Lake Placid drivers.
Saranac Lake DMV Address, Hours and Contact Details
| Detail | Saranac Lake DMV Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 39 Main St, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (get directions) |
| Hours | Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.; closed Monday, Friday and weekends |
| Run by | Franklin County Clerk |
| Location | Harrietstown Town Hall, Suite 4 |
| Test cutoffs | CDL written tests until noon; Enhanced licenses until 1:00 p.m.; permit tests until 1:30 p.m. |
| Fax | (518) 891-9430, for insurance cards only |
| Phone | (518) 891-1748, recorded information only; for questions, the state DMV at (800) 698-2931 |
Test and Enhanced License Hours in Saranac Lake
The branch’s three open days run on one schedule, with these cutoffs:
| Transaction | Tuesday–Thursday |
|---|---|
| CDL written tests | 9:00 a.m.–noon |
| Enhanced licenses | 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. |
| Car and motorcycle permit tests | 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Office hours | 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. |
Franklin County lists hours for Enhanced licenses but not REAL ID, so plan a REAL ID upgrade before 1:00 p.m. as well. Older listings that show Saranac Lake open Monday through Friday, or only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are out of date.
Services Available at the Saranac Lake DMV
| Service | At Saranac Lake |
|---|---|
| CDL written tests | 9:00 a.m.–noon |
| Car and motorcycle permit tests | 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. |
| Enhanced licenses (plan REAL ID upgrades for the same window) | 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. |
| Other license, ID and vehicle transactions | Not listed separately by the county; the state DMV at (800) 698-2931 can answer questions |
| Road tests | Not at the office; schedule online or by calling (518) 402-2100 |
For anything the branch can’t fit into its short week, Franklin County’s main office, the Malone DMV in the county courthouse at 355 West Main Street, is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
The Nearest DMV to Lake Placid
Lake Placid doesn’t have a DMV office, and Saranac Lake, 9 miles to the west, is the closest one. The village itself straddles the county line, covering parts of Harrietstown in Franklin County and North Elba and St. Armand in Essex County. Essex County’s own DMV offices are the main office in Elizabethtown, open every weekday, and a twice-monthly satellite in Ticonderoga.
Directions to the Saranac Lake DMV
| Coming from | Directions |
|---|---|
| Route 86 north | Take Route 86 north and turn left onto River Street. Go just past Main Street; the DMV is on the left. |
| Route 3 west | Take Route 3 west to just before Main Street. The DMV is on the left. |
| Route 3 east | Take Route 3 east into Saranac Lake and turn left on Broadway, which runs into Main Street. Turn right onto Route 3; the DMV is in the Harrietstown Town Hall on the right. |
Registering a Vehicle: Use Tax Depends on Where You Live
The county use tax is based on where you live, not the office you visit. Franklin County residents pay $10 or $20 with each two-year registration, depending on the vehicle’s weight, while Essex County residents, including those in Lake Placid and on the Essex side of the village, pay none. Neither county is in the MCTD. See our guide to registering a car in New York for the forms and fees, and allow for the branch’s short hours if your registration involves a lot of paperwork.
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 |
Neither Franklin nor Essex County is in the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD), so residents of both pay $64.50 for a Class D renewal.
Before You Go: Payment and Holiday Closures
Payment
Franklin County doesn’t publish the payment methods its DMV accepts, and the branch’s phone line is a recording, so bring a backup form of payment.
Holiday Closures
As a county office, the branch follows Franklin County’s holiday schedule. Veterans Day (Wednesday, November 11, 2026) and Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26, 2026) both fall on regular branch days, so check before you go that week.
Services You Can Complete Online
Some transactions don’t need a trip to Saranac Lake 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 Saranac Lake DMV
- Remember the days. The branch is open only Tuesday through Thursday.
- Come early for tests. CDL written tests end at noon and permit tests at 1:30 p.m.
- Start an Enhanced license or REAL ID by 1:00 p.m. That’s the county’s Enhanced cutoff.
- Use the state line for questions. The branch’s number is a recording; call (800) 698-2931 instead.
- Fax insurance cards only. The fax line, (518) 891-9430, doesn’t take other documents.
Other DMV Offices Near Saranac Lake
Besides Franklin County’s main office in Malone and Essex County’s office in Elizabethtown, the closest DMV office is:
- Plattsburgh DMV: 137 Margaret St, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, run by Clinton County
For every location in the state, see our guide to New York DMV offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the Harrietstown Town Hall at 39 Main Street, Suite 4, Saranac Lake, NY 12983.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It’s closed on Mondays, Fridays and weekends.
Car and motorcycle permit tests run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and CDL written tests from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Yes, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on open days. Plan a REAL ID upgrade for the same window.
No. The nearest office is the Saranac Lake DMV, 9 miles west. Essex County’s own offices are in Elizabethtown and Ticonderoga.
The office’s number, (518) 891-1748, plays recorded information only. For questions, call the state DMV at (800) 698-2931. The fax line, (518) 891-9430, takes insurance cards only.
Conclusion
The Saranac Lake DMV in the Harrietstown Town Hall at 39 Main Street is Franklin County’s three-day branch office, open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and the nearest DMV to Lake Placid. Arrive early for CDL tests, Enhanced licenses and permit tests, and use the Malone office when you need a weekday the branch doesn’t cover.
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