The Canton DMV is the St. Lawrence County Clerk’s motor vehicle office in the county’s Human Services Building at 80 State Highway 310. Like the county’s three other DMV offices, it’s open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with no appointment needed. Canton also has a drive-thru for renewals and plate surrenders and a drop box for registration renewals, plate surrenders, duplicate titles and abstracts.
Canton DMV Address, Hours and Contact Details
| Detail | Canton DMV Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 80 State Highway 310, Canton, NY 13617 (get directions) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:45 p.m.; closed weekends |
| Run by | St. Lawrence County Clerk |
| Location | Human Services Building, on State Highway 310 |
| Appointments | Not needed; walk-in service |
| Drive-thru | Renewals and plate surrenders |
| Drop box | Registration renewals, plate surrenders, duplicate titles and abstracts |
| Payment | Cash, checks payable to “St. Lawrence County Clerk,” Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express |
| Phone | (315) 386-1408 |
Walk-In Service and Cutoff Times
St. Lawrence County serves DMV customers on a walk-in basis at all four of its offices, so you don’t need an appointment in Canton. Some transactions stop before the 3:45 p.m. closing:
| Transaction | Last start time |
|---|---|
| Enhanced licenses and permit tests | 3:15 p.m., half an hour before closing |
| CDL tests and transactions | 2:45 p.m., an hour before closing |
| Everything else | 3:45 p.m. |
The state DMV’s listing for Canton shows permit tests, escort vehicle tests and REAL ID upgrades until 3:30 p.m. and CDL tests until 3:00 p.m., but the county’s own rule is stricter. Go by 3:15 p.m. for permits, Enhanced licenses and, to be safe, REAL ID, and by 2:45 p.m. for anything CDL.
The Canton DMV Drive-Thru and Drop Box
Canton gives you two ways to skip the counter for simple transactions:
- Drive-thru: open for renewals and plate surrenders.
- Drop box: takes registration renewals, plate surrenders, duplicate title applications and requests for abstracts. Massena has a drop box too.
Handling a renewal at a county office also keeps money in the county: St. Lawrence County keeps 12.7% of the fee for each renewal it processes, which it loses when residents renew online or by mail, and the county clerk has encouraged residents to renew locally for that reason.
Bring the Right Driver License
St. Lawrence County requires the driver license of the person the transaction is for. If you’re registering a car, surrendering plates or handling other paperwork for a spouse, parent or other family member, bring their license along with the forms.
Services Available at the Canton DMV
| Service | At Canton |
|---|---|
| Driver licenses, learner permits and non-driver IDs | Yes, walk-in |
| Upgrade to a REAL ID or Enhanced license | Yes; start by 3:15 p.m. |
| Car, motorcycle and escort vehicle knowledge tests | Yes; start by 3:15 p.m. |
| CDL tests and transactions | Yes; start by 2:45 p.m. |
| Vehicle registrations, plate transfers and plate surrenders | Yes; renewals and surrenders also at the drive-thru |
| Duplicate titles and abstracts | Yes, including through the drop box |
| Dealer plates and dealer motorcycle transactions | Yes |
| Road tests | Not at the office; schedule online or by calling (518) 402-2100 |
St. Lawrence County’s Other DMV Offices
All four county offices keep the same 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. weekday hours and take walk-ins:
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Gouverneur DMV | 1227 US Highway 11, Gouverneur | (315) 287-7034 |
| Massena DMV | 21 Harrowgate Commons, Massena; has a drop box | (315) 764-1727 |
| Ogdensburg DMV | 206 Ford Street, Room 100, Ogdensburg | (315) 393-5386 |
Directions to the Canton DMV
Coming into Canton on Route 11 northbound, turn right at the first stoplight onto State Highway 310. Go about a quarter mile; the DMV is on the right in the Human Services Building.
Registering a Vehicle at the Canton DMV
Canton registers vehicles, transfers and surrenders plates, and takes registration renewals at the counter, the drive-thru or the drop box. St. Lawrence 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 |
St. Lawrence 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
St. Lawrence County’s DMV offices accept cash, checks made payable to “St. Lawrence County Clerk,” and Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express cards.
Holiday Closures
The county’s DMV offices close on all major holidays, plus the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Coming up, Canton will be closed for Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026, on Friday, November 27, 2026, and on Thursday, December 24, 2026.
Services You Can Complete Online
Some transactions don’t need a trip to Canton 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 Canton DMV
- Just walk in. No appointment is needed at any St. Lawrence County DMV office.
- Use the drive-thru. Renewals and plate surrenders don’t need a trip inside.
- Start permits and Enhanced licenses by 3:15 p.m. CDL work must start by 2:45 p.m.
- Bring the license of the person the transaction is for. The county requires it for all transactions.
- Pay how you like. Cash, checks and all four major credit cards are accepted.
Other DMV Offices Near Canton
Outside St. Lawrence County, the closest DMV offices are:
- Malone DMV: 355 West Main St, Malone, NY 12953, run by Franklin County
- Watertown DMV: 175 Arsenal St, Watertown, NY 13601, run by Jefferson County
- Lowville DMV: 7513 E State St, Lowville, NY 13367, run by Lewis County
For every location in the state, see our guide to New York DMV offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the St. Lawrence County Human Services Building at 80 State Highway 310, Canton, NY 13617. From Route 11 northbound, turn right at the first stoplight onto State Highway 310 and go about a quarter mile.
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Enhanced licenses and permit tests must start by 3:15 p.m., and CDL transactions by 2:45 p.m. The office will be closed for Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026.
No. All four St. Lawrence County DMV offices serve customers on a walk-in basis.
Yes. The drive-thru is open for renewals and plate surrenders, and a drop box takes registration renewals, plate surrenders, duplicate titles and abstracts.
Yes. The county accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express, along with cash and checks made payable to “St. Lawrence County Clerk.”
Call (315) 386-1408.
Conclusion
The Canton DMV in the Human Services Building at 80 State Highway 310 is St. Lawrence County’s walk-in office for licenses, IDs, registrations, REAL ID upgrades and knowledge tests, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Use the drive-thru or drop box for simple renewals, start permits and Enhanced licenses by 3:15 p.m., and bring the license of the person the transaction is for.
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