What you need to do to change your name on your driver's license
To change your name on your driver's license, you visit your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency with proof of your legal name change and your current license. The process itself is straightforward: you fill out a form, provide documents, pay a fee, and receive a new license with your updated name. The whole visit usually takes 15 to 45 minutes, though wait times vary by location and time of day.
The key difference between states is what documents they accept as proof of a legal name change. Most states accept a court order, a marriage certificate, or a divorce decree. Some states also accept a certified copy of a birth certificate if it shows your new name. A few states have additional requirements—for example, some require a certified copy of the court order rather than the original, and some require you to bring your Social Security card as well.
You do not need to change your name legally before you visit the DMV, but you do need to have completed the legal process. If you changed your name through marriage, your marriage certificate is your legal proof. If you changed your name through court order, you need that order. If you changed your name through divorce, your divorce decree serves as proof.
Key Takeaways
- Bring your current driver's license, proof of your legal name change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order), and a completed name-change form to your state's DMV.
- Each state sets its own fee for a replacement license with a name change, ranging from free to around $30, and you can usually pay by cash, check, or card.
- You can visit the DMV in person, and some states allow you to start the process online or by mail, though you will still need to appear in person for a new photo.
- Your new license will arrive by mail within one to three weeks in most states, though some issue it on the spot if you visit in person.
- If you changed your name through marriage or divorce, bring the original or certified copy of that document—a photocopy usually will not work.
What documents to bring to the DMV
Your current driver's license is the first document you need. Bring the physical card itself, not a photo of it. You will also need the original or a certified copy of your legal name-change document. For marriage, that is your marriage certificate. For divorce, it is your divorce decree. For a court-ordered name change, it is the court order itself.
Check your state's DMV website before you go, because some states require a certified copy (a copy stamped and signed by the court or vital records office) rather than the original, and some accept either. A certified copy costs $5 to $25 depending on where you get it, usually from the county clerk's office or vital records department. If you are unsure whether your document is certified, call the DMV ahead of time—showing up with the wrong version wastes a trip.
Bring a form of identification as well. Your current driver's license counts, but if you do not have it with you, bring a passport, state ID, or birth certificate. Some states also ask for your Social Security card or a document showing your Social Security number, so check your state's requirements online first.
How to fill out the name-change form
Your state's DMV provides the form, usually called an process for Driver License or process for Identification Card. You can read it from your state's DMV website before you go, or pick one up at the DMV office. The form asks for your current name, your new name, your date of birth, and your address.
Fill in your new name exactly as it appears on your legal name-change document. If your marriage certificate says "Sarah Jane Smith" and you want to be known as "Sarah Smith," write "Sarah Smith" on the form—do not write "Sarah Jane Smith" unless that is what you want on your license. The DMV will issue the license with whatever name you write on the form, so double-check it before you submit.
Some states let you start this form online through their DMV portal, which saves time at the office. If your state offers this, you can fill it out at home, print it, and bring it with you. Other states require you to fill it out in person at the DMV office.
The fee and how long it takes
The cost of a name change on your driver's license varies by state. Some states charge no fee for a replacement license due to a legal name change, while others charge $5 to $30. A few states charge the full cost of a replacement license, which can be $20 to $50 depending on how long your license is valid for. Check your state's DMV website or call ahead to find out the exact fee.
Most DMVs accept cash, check, and debit or credit card. Some offices accept only certain payment methods, so ask when you arrive or check online first. If you are mailing in your request, the DMV will tell you how to pay—usually by check or money order.
If you visit in person, you will get a temporary paper license on the spot in most states, valid for 30 to 60 days while your new plastic card is printed and mailed to you. Your new license usually arrives within one to three weeks. A few states issue the new license on the spot if you visit the office, so ask when you call or check online.
Whether you can do this by mail or online
Most states require you to appear in person at the DMV for a name change on your driver's license because you need a new photo taken. However, some states let you start the process online or by mail if you meet certain conditions—usually if your license is not expiring soon and you do not need to renew it at the same time.
Check your state's DMV website to see if online or mail-in name changes are available. If they are, you will still need to mail in your documents and may still need to visit an office for a new photo within a certain time frame. If your license is expiring within the next few months, the DMV may require you to renew it at the same time you change your name, which means you must visit in person.
Visiting in person is usually faster than mailing in your request. An in-person visit takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on how busy the office is, while a mail-in request can take four to six weeks from the time the DMV receives your documents.
What happens if your name-change document is from another state
If you were married or divorced in a different state than where you now live, your marriage certificate or divorce decree is still valid proof of a legal name change. Bring the original or certified copy to your state's DMV along with your current driver's license and the completed form. The DMV will accept it as long as it is an official document from a court or vital records office.
If you obtained a court-ordered name change in another state and have since moved, bring the certified copy of that court order. Some states require you to have lived in the state for a certain amount of time before you can change your license, but most do not—check your state's rules online or call the DMV to confirm.
What to do if you lost your name-change document
If you lost your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, you can request a replacement from the office that issued it. For a marriage certificate or divorce decree, contact the vital records office or county clerk in the county where you were married or divorced. For a court-ordered name change, contact the court that issued the order. Request a certified copy, which is what the DMV needs.
Getting a replacement document usually takes one to two weeks and costs $5 to $25. Some vital records offices let you request a copy online or by mail, which speeds up the process. Once you have the replacement, bring it to the DMV along with your current license and the completed form.
If you cannot locate the original document and the office that issued it has no record of it, contact your state's DMV to ask what alternative documents they will accept. Some states have workarounds for situations like this, though they vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to change my name legally before I go to the DMV?
Yes. You must have completed the legal name change through marriage, divorce, or court order before you visit the DMV. The DMV does not process legal name changes—it only updates your license to match a name change you have already completed. Bring proof of that legal change with you.
Can I change my name on my driver's license without going to the DMV in person?
Most states require an in-person visit because you need a new photo for your license. Some states allow you to mail in your documents if your license is not expiring soon, but you may still need to visit an office later for a new photo. Check your state's DMV website to see what options are available.
What if my marriage certificate does not have my new name on it?
A marriage certificate shows the names of both people being married, not a new name you have taken. It serves as proof that you legally changed your name through marriage. Bring it to the DMV along with your current license, and the DMV will update your license to whatever name you write on the process form.
How long does it take to get my new license after I visit the DMV?
If you visit in person, you usually get a temporary paper license on the spot, valid for 30 to 60 days. Your new plastic license arrives by mail within one to three weeks in most states. A few states issue the new license when ready at the office, so ask when you visit or check your state's website.
Can I use my old driver's license while I wait for the new one?
Your old license with your previous name is still valid for identification purposes, but it does not match your legal name anymore. Most places will accept it, but you may want to carry the temporary paper license the DMV gives you as well. Once your new license arrives, use that instead.