Kentucky Address & Name Change

Kentucky law requires drivers to update their address with KYTC within 10 days of moving. Address updates can be completed online for free; name changes always require an in-person visit to the county circuit court clerk and a small replacement-card fee. County moves can also affect annual property tax rates, so updating promptly matters for billing accuracy as well as legal compliance.

Address change — when it's required

You must notify KYTC of an address change within 10 days when:

• You move to a new residential address — even within the same county.
• You move to a different Kentucky county (which also affects property tax rates).
• The post office updates your mailing address.

KYTC mails renewal notices, suspension notices, and important correspondence to the address on file. A stale address is the most common reason Kentucky drivers miss their renewal notice and end up with a lapsed license.

How to update your address

Three options:

• Online through drive.ky.gov — free, takes about 5 minutes. KYTC updates the digital record immediately. This option is open to any Kentucky license holder with a valid REAL ID-compliant or standard license.
• County circuit court clerk — bring proof of your new address (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within 60 days). The clerk can issue a new printed license at the office for a small replacement fee.
• Mail-in — submit a written notification with name, license number, old address, new address, and signature to the KYTC's central licensing office in Frankfort.

Online updates change the digital address but don't print a new card; the old card stays valid as long as the digital record matches what officers see in the system. If you want a new card with the updated address printed on the front, visit the county circuit court clerk and pay the replacement fee (~$15).

Vehicle registration address

KYTC maintains separate address records for the driver license and for each registered vehicle. When you update the license address online, vehicle registrations are not automatically updated. To change the registration address, log into drive.ky.gov separately, select each vehicle, and apply the new address. This matters for counties with property tax rate differences at renewal time. Cross-county moves may also require visiting the new county's circuit court clerk for the next renewal cycle.

Name change — when it's required

Update your legal name with KYTC promptly when:

• You marry and adopt a new last name.
• You divorce and revert to a prior last name.
• You change your name through a Kentucky Circuit Court order.
• You correct a misspelling or transcription error on the existing license.

Documents required for a name change

Name changes can only be processed in person at a county circuit court clerk's office. Bring:

• Your current Kentucky operator license or state ID.
• A certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order linking your old name to your new legal name. The certificate must be the certified original (or a certified copy with raised seal) — photocopies and online printouts are not accepted.
• Proof of Social Security number under your new name. The Social Security Administration must update its record first; KYTC verifies the name change against the SSA database.
• A completed application form.
• A replacement-card fee of approximately $15.

Order of operations for name changes

1. Update your name with the Social Security Administration first. KYTC checks SSA electronically and can't issue a new license until SSA shows the new name.
2. Wait at least 24 hours for the SSA database to sync.
3. Visit the county circuit court clerk with your supporting documents.
4. Update your name on vehicle titles and registrations — see Kentucky title transfer for the title amendment process.
5. Update your name on your auto insurance policy so the policy and license match — mismatched names can complicate claim payments.

What if you only update with the post office?

USPS forwarding services do not notify KYTC. Mail forwards work for 12 months but the KYTC record stays at the old address until you update it directly. Renewal notices, suspension notices, and SR-22 reinstatement letters can all be missed during the forwarding period. Always update KYTC directly even when you've set up USPS forwarding.

If you've moved out of state

Kentucky drivers who relocate to another state have varying windows (typically 30 days, depending on the destination state) to obtain a new license in the new state, which usually requires surrendering the Kentucky license. KYTC doesn't need a separate notification — the new state's DMV reports the surrender through the federal driver license clearinghouse. Vehicles taken out of state need to be re-registered in the new state under its rules; the Kentucky plate stays with the seller and the registration is canceled at the county circuit court clerk's office.

Cross-county Kentucky moves

If you move from one Kentucky county to another, the next registration renewal must be processed through the new county's circuit court clerk. Annual property tax rates can vary significantly between counties — a driver moving from Boone County to a rural eastern Kentucky county might see annual property tax drop by 30-50% on the same vehicle. KYTC will continue mailing notices to the address on file regardless of county, so updating online or in person is the trigger that switches the renewal county.