The Ithaca DMV is the Tompkins County Clerk’s motor vehicle office in Hancock Plaza at 301 Third Street, a block off Route 13. It’s open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but closes for lunch from 12:45 to 2:00 p.m. Permit tests run from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., CDL tests are given only in the morning, until noon, and oral permit tests are by appointment.
Ithaca DMV Address, Hours and Contact Details
| Detail | Ithaca DMV Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 3rd St, Ithaca, NY 14850 (get directions) |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. and 2:00–4:30 p.m.; closed weekends |
| Run by | Tompkins County Clerk |
| Location | Hancock Plaza, one block from Route 13 on Third Street |
| Lunch closure | 12:45–2:00 p.m. daily |
| Permit tests | 8:30 a.m.–noon and 2:00–3:30 p.m. |
| CDL tests | 8:30 a.m.–noon |
| Fax | (607) 272-3359 |
| Phone | (607) 273-7187 |
Test Times and the Lunch Closure in Ithaca
| Transaction | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Car and motorcycle permit tests | 8:30 a.m.–noon | 2:00–3:30 p.m. |
| CDL knowledge tests | 8:30 a.m.–noon | Not given |
| Oral permit tests | By appointment | By appointment |
| Enforcement transactions, such as restoring a suspended or revoked license | 8:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | 2:00–3:30 p.m. |
| Other transactions | 8:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | 2:00–4:30 p.m. |
Neither the county nor the state lists separate hours for REAL ID and Enhanced upgrades in Ithaca, so give yourself plenty of time before 12:45 p.m. or the afternoon closing. To book an oral permit test, call (607) 273-7187.
Services Available at the Ithaca DMV
| Service | In Ithaca |
|---|---|
| Driver licenses, learner permits and non-driver IDs | Yes |
| Upgrade to a REAL ID or Enhanced license | Yes, during office hours |
| Car and motorcycle permit tests | Yes, in the morning and afternoon windows |
| CDL knowledge tests | Mornings only, until noon |
| Oral permit tests | By appointment |
| Enforcement transactions | Until 3:30 p.m., except during lunch |
| Vehicle registrations, plate transfers and plates | Yes |
| Road tests | Scheduled with the state DMV, online or at (518) 402-2100 |
Road Tests in Tompkins County
Road tests are booked through the state DMV, not the county office. Tompkins County lists weekday road test hours, for both car and motorcycle tests, of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., so expect your scheduled time to fall in that window.
Registering a Vehicle in Tompkins County
For a plate transfer or a new registration, Tompkins County’s checklist includes a blank check made payable to “Tompkins County Clerk,” or a credit card authorization, along with your other documents. The county also lists the office at 301 Third Street as its address for registration paperwork sent by mail. Tompkins County residents pay a county use tax of $10 or $20 with each two-year registration, depending on the vehicle’s weight, but no MCTD fee. See our guide to registering a car in New York for the forms and fees.
Directions to the Ithaca DMV
From Route 13, take the Third Street exit and go straight on Third Street for one block. The DMV is on the left, in Hancock Plaza.
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 |
Tompkins 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
For registrations, the county asks for a blank check made payable to Tompkins County Clerk or a credit card authorization. For other transactions, call (607) 273-7187 if you’re unsure how to pay.
Holiday Closures
As a county office, the Ithaca DMV follows Tompkins 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 Ithaca 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 Ithaca DMV
- Avoid 12:45 to 2:00 p.m. The office closes for lunch every day.
- Take CDL tests in the morning. They end at noon.
- Time your permit test. Tests run until noon and again from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
- Book oral permit tests ahead. They’re by appointment only.
- Bring a blank check for registrations. Make it out to Tompkins County Clerk, or bring a credit card authorization.
Other DMV Offices Near Ithaca
Tompkins County has one DMV office. The closest alternatives are:
- Cortland DMV: 112 River St, Cortland, NY 13045, run by Cortland County
- Watkins Glen DMV: 105 9th St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, run by Schuyler County
- Owego DMV: 56 Main St, Owego, NY 13827, run by Tioga County
For every location in the state, see our guide to New York DMV offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Hancock Plaza at 301 Third Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. From Route 13, take the Third Street exit and go one block.
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. The office will be closed for Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Yes, from 12:45 to 2:00 p.m. every weekday.
From 8:30 a.m. to noon or from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. CDL tests are given only from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and oral permit tests are by appointment.
Along with your other documents, the county asks for a blank check made payable to Tompkins County Clerk or a credit card authorization.
Call (607) 273-7187. The fax number is (607) 272-3359.
Conclusion
The Ithaca DMV in Hancock Plaza at 301 Third Street is Tompkins County’s office for licenses, IDs, registrations and knowledge tests, open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a lunch closure from 12:45 to 2:00 p.m. Plan CDL tests for the morning, fit permit tests into one of the two windows, and bring a blank check made out to the county clerk for registrations.
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