HUDSON – Columbia County Clerk Holly Tanner has taken steps to reduce wait times at the DMV office by installing a secure drop box at the county building.
Customers seeking to surrender license plates can do so by depositing them in the drop box located at 560 Warren Street without entering the building. When the surrendered plates are processed by DMV staff, a receipt will be mailed to the registered owner. The cancel date will be the surrender date and the clerk said that they are using the previous day’s date on the receipt. Tanner said that everyone is welcome in the office but noted that masks are required.
Tanner said that the DMV is back to regular hours, from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday while the hours for Thursdays are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. For legal filings and other matters, the Clerk’s office is open 9 am to 4:45 pm, Monday thru Friday, and is closed from noon to 1:00 pm for lunch.
The office is only doing appointments for permit tests for CDL licenses and class D or M licenses and other license transactions. Customers with appointments have their own line, starting at the side street door, going down towards Warren Street. Appointments can be made here.
Tanner stressed the fact that he lines for vehicle transactions can be “very long”. The clerk has advised that customers should be prepared to wait and should bring comfort items such as a drink, umbrella, chair, and reading material. “We work the line as fast as we can but we are not fully staffed,” said Tanner on her website.
Tanner also indicated that the new NYS “Excelsior” license plates are now being distributed. Those seeking new license plates with a new number must fill out the appropriate MV-82 and pay a fee of $25. Individuals seeking to keep the same plate number will be charged an additional $20.
