The Salem MVC in the Finlaw Building at 199 East Broadway is Salem County’s only MVC agency, and it’s both a licensing center and a vehicle center, so licenses, REAL ID, titles and registrations can all be handled in one place. The agency is on the first floor, with its entrance on Hires Avenue, and it’s open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Most transactions need an appointment. Inspections and road tests are at Salem’s other MVC site, on Salem Woodstown Road, where inspections are by appointment too.
Salem MVC Hours, Address and Contact Details
| Detail | Salem MVC |
|---|---|
| Address | 199 E. Broadway, Finlaw Building, 1st Floor, Salem, NJ 08079 (get directions) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; closed Sundays and state holidays |
| Facility type | Licensing center and vehicle center |
| Appointments | Required for most transactions; book through the MVC appointment scheduler |
| Entrance | Hires Avenue; the agency is on the first floor of the Finlaw Building |
| Walk-ins | Name and gender marker changes, probationary licenses, disability placards, plate returns, permit validation |
| Inspections and road tests | At the Salem inspection station and road test site, 185 Salem Woodstown Road; both by appointment |
| Phone | No direct line is published. Call MVC customer service at (609) 292-6500, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m., Monday–Friday. |
Do You Need an Appointment at the Salem MVC?
For most business, yes. Salem handles first-time licenses and permits, REAL ID, knowledge tests, out-of-state transfers, titles, registrations and plate transactions by appointment only.
How to Book an Appointment
- Open the MVC’s appointment scheduler and choose your appointment type, such as Initial permit, REAL ID, Renewal or New title or registration.
- Pick Salem from the list of locations, then choose an open date and time.
- Enter your contact details and keep the confirmation email. Each person needs their own appointment.
Walk-In Services
You can walk in without an appointment for name and gender marker changes, a probationary license after you pass your road test, disability placards, plate returns, permit validation, red GDL decals and 5-year driver abstracts. Most MVC agencies also have a drop box for returning plates.
Services Available at the Salem MVC
| Service | Available here? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First-time license, permit or non-driver ID | Yes | By appointment |
| License or ID renewal | Yes | By appointment, if you can’t renew online |
| REAL ID | Yes | By appointment |
| Knowledge tests | Yes | By appointment |
| Out-of-state license transfer | Yes | By appointment; title and registration can be transferred at the same visit |
| CDL permits, endorsements and renewals | Yes | By appointment |
| Name and gender marker changes | Yes | Walk-in |
| Titles, registrations and plates | Yes | By appointment |
| Registration renewal | Yes | By appointment, if you can’t renew online |
| Disability placards and plate returns | Yes | Walk-in |
| Vehicle inspections | Elsewhere in town | 185 Salem Woodstown Road, by appointment only |
| Road tests | Elsewhere in town | 185 Salem Woodstown Road, by appointment |
| Suspension and restoration conferences | No | West Deptford Regional Service Center in Thorofare |
Registering a Vehicle at the Salem MVC
Book a “New title or registration” appointment and bring the title, your ID, proof of New Jersey insurance and a completed Form BA-49, plus Form OS/SS-UTA if you’re transferring an out-of-state title. A title transfer costs $60, or $85 with a lien; registration for most passenger cars runs $46.50 to $84 a year; and purchases are taxed at 6.625%. Private-sale buyers have 10 working days to transfer the title before a $25 penalty applies. Our guide on how to register a car in New Jersey covers gifts, leases and new residents.
If you’re registering a car from another state, you’ll then have 14 days to get it inspected. Salem’s state station on Salem Woodstown Road is one of only three in New Jersey that work by appointment, so book a slot on the inspection appointment site as soon as you’ve registered. The Deptford and Millville stations take vehicles without an appointment if Salem has nothing open in time.
Driver’s Licenses and REAL ID
Renewing Your License
Most drivers can renew online, including those renewing a REAL ID, even if their renewal notice says to visit an agency. You must renew in person, by appointment, if you hold a CDL or your visa is expiring. New licenses aren’t printed at the agency; yours arrives by mail in two to four weeks, so keep your receipt until it does. A license that’s been expired for more than three years means starting over as a first-time driver.
Getting a REAL ID
If your license expires within three months, book a renewal appointment and upgrade during that visit; otherwise, book a REAL ID appointment. Bring identity documents worth six points, two proofs of your address and proof of your Social Security number. A REAL ID costs $35, compared with $24 for a standard license.
License and Permit Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Auto license, initial or renewal | $24 |
| REAL ID license or ID | $35 |
| Duplicate license or change | $11 |
| Student learner’s or examination permit | $10 |
| Motorcycle permit | $5 |
| Motorcycle license | $24 |
| CDL | $42 plus $2 per endorsement |
| CDL permit | $125 |
Knowledge and Road Tests
Salem gives knowledge tests by appointment, after your initial permit appointment. Road tests are given at the Salem site at 185 Salem Woodstown Road, by appointment, weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Our NJ MVC appointment guide lists the supervised-driving time you need before booking. After you pass, you can walk in at the Finlaw Building for your probationary license.
Before You Go: Payment and Holiday Closures
Accepted Payment Methods
The MVC accepts American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover cards, checks, money orders and cash.
Holiday Closures
Like every MVC facility, the Salem agency closes on state holidays. Expect closures on Columbus Day (Monday, October 12, 2026), Election Day (Tuesday, November 3), Veterans Day (Wednesday, November 11) and Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26); the MVC announces each one a few days ahead.
Services You Can Complete Online
Some transactions don’t need a trip to Salem at all. On the MVC’s online services page, you can:
- Renew a standard or REAL ID license or ID, if you’re eligible
- Change your address
- Replace a lost license
- Renew a vehicle registration or replace a lost one
- Request your driver history abstract
- Pay a surcharge or restoration fee
Tips for Visiting the Salem MVC
- Use the Hires Avenue entrance. The agency is on the first floor of the Finlaw Building at 199 East Broadway.
- Know Salem’s two MVC addresses. East Broadway is for licenses and vehicles; 185 Salem Woodstown Road is for inspections and road tests.
- Book your inspection, too. Salem’s inspection station doesn’t take vehicles without an appointment.
- Book a renewal if you’re within three months of expiring. It covers a REAL ID upgrade too.
- Use Saturdays. The agency is open until 3:00 p.m.
Other MVC Offices Near Salem
Salem County has no other MVC agency. If Salem has no appointments that suit you, these are the nearest alternatives:
- West Deptford MVC: 215 Crown Point Rd, Thorofare; licensing and a Regional Service Center
- Vineland MVC: 9 W. Park Ave, Vineland; licensing only
- Turnersville MVC: 5200 Route 42 North, Turnersville; vehicle services and REAL ID by appointment
For every location in the state, see our guide to New Jersey MVC offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the Finlaw Building at 199 East Broadway, first floor, Salem, NJ 08079. The MVC lists the entrance on Hires Avenue.
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It’s closed Sundays and state holidays.
Yes. Salem is a vehicle center as well as a licensing center, so you can title and register a vehicle there by appointment.
At the state inspection station at 185 Salem Woodstown Road. It works by appointment only, so book online before you go.
At 185 Salem Woodstown Road in Salem, by appointment on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
There’s no direct line. Call MVC customer service at (609) 292-6500, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m., Monday–Friday.
Conclusion
The Salem MVC in the Finlaw Building at 199 East Broadway is Salem County’s licensing and vehicle center, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays until 3:00 p.m. Use the Hires Avenue entrance, book an appointment for most business, walk in for placards and plate returns, and book ahead for inspections and road tests at 185 Salem Woodstown Road.
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