DC Address & Name Change

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

DC requires drivers to update their address with DC DMV within 60 days of moving, and to update vehicle registration at the same time. Name changes after marriage or divorce require an in-person visit to a DC DMV service center with court documentation.

Address change on your license

DC DMV requires drivers to report a change of address within 60 days. There are three ways to update:

Online through dmv.dc.gov. Free, instant update, and a duplicate card with the new address can be requested for an additional fee (about $20).
By mail with a written notice. Include your full name, date of birth, license number, old address, and new address.
In person at any DC DMV service center.

Address updates do not require a new card unless you specifically request one. The DC DMV system records the new address even if your card still shows the old one. However, a card with the wrong address can be questioned by some banks, lenders, or polling places, so most drivers request a duplicate.

Address change on vehicle registration

For vehicle registration, DC DMV updates the address as part of any registration renewal at no additional fee. Between renewal cycles, you can update online through dmv.dc.gov. A new registration card with the updated address is mailed within 7 to 10 business days.

Address change on the title

DC titles do not need to be reissued for an address change. The new address is recorded in the DC DMV database and on the next registration card. If you need a corrected title (for example, before selling the vehicle), file a title replacement with the new address.

Name change after marriage

To change your name on a DC license after marriage, visit any DC DMV service center with:

Your current DC driver's license.
A certified marriage certificate (a copy is not enough — the certificate must show the raised seal of the issuing authority).
Your Social Security card or evidence that the name has been updated with the Social Security Administration. The SSA must be updated before DC DMV, since DC DMV verifies names against SSA records electronically.
The duplicate license fee, approximately $20.

The new license is mailed within 7 to 10 business days. Update vehicle registration and title at the same DC DMV visit, or at the next registration renewal.

Name change after divorce

To restore a former name after divorce, visit a DC DMV service center with:

The certified divorce decree showing the court order to restore the prior name.
Your current DC driver's license.
Your Social Security card or evidence of the SSA name update.
The duplicate license fee.

If the decree does not specifically restore the former name, you'll need a separate name-change court order from DC Superior Court. DC's Family Court processes name-change petitions at modest cost.

Name change by court order (general)

For any other name change (gender confirmation, family name change, anglicization), DC requires a name-change order from DC Superior Court. After the order is final:

Update the SSA first.
Visit a DC DMV service center with the certified court order, the current license, and SSA evidence.
DC DMV issues a new license with the updated name; a duplicate fee applies.
Update vehicle registration and title; the title may need to be reissued depending on circumstances.

What to update after a move or name change

DC DMV driver's license.
DC DMV vehicle registration.
Title (if needed).
DC Board of Elections voter registration.
Auto insurance carrier (rate may change with the new address).
Vehicle lender, if there's an active loan.
DC tax records and parking permit (DC residents in residential parking permit zones must update).

Pull a fresh driver record after about 30 days to confirm the name and address propagated through the system.