Due to low staffing levels, the Tompkins County Department of Motor Vehicles is continuing with the appointment system initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic for at least the next 30 days while new employees are trained and onboarded.
The Tompkins County DMV Office continues to be open to the public by appointment - with some services for walk-ins. Appointments will be given priority and walk-ins are available – without appointment - until 3:00pm.
DMV staff is available to answer questions daily until 4:30pm. There is also a drop box available outside the DMV office at 301 Third Street, Ithaca. Customers can drop their transaction in the box and staff will call you. Customers can either have the transaction mailed back or can pick it up once it is processed. Processing is usually that day or the next.
The DMV will be closed daily from 1:00pm- 2:00pm.
Appointments are mandatory for:
- All permit testing due to limited availability of test stations
- Reciprocity (moving to New York from another state)
- Enhanced license
- Real-ID license
Appointments are recommended for but not required for:
- Conditional license
- Restricted license
All other transactions do not require an appointment but can be scheduled for your convenience. Please schedule your appointment here:
https://tompkinscountydmv.setmore.com/
We answer the phone (273-7187) from 8:30 – 12:30.
We are also available on email at:
https://lfweb.tompkins-co.org/Forms/TCDMVEmail
and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tompkinsdmv/inbox