Louisiana Address & Name Change

Louisiana law gives drivers 10 days to update their address with the OMV after a move and a similar window for legal name changes after marriage, divorce, or court order. Address updates can be done online for free; name changes always require an in-person OMV visit and a new license card with a small replacement fee.

Address change — when it's required

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

• You move to a new residential address — even within the same parish.
• You move to a different parish (which can also affect parish-level taxes and registration).
• The post office updates your mailing address (a new postal route can change the recorded ZIP code).

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

How to update your address

Three options:

• Online through expresslane.org — free, takes about 5 minutes. The OMV updates the digital record immediately. This option is open to U.S. citizens with a Louisiana address.
• OMV office — bring proof of your new address (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within 60 days). The OMV can issue a new printed license at the office for a $13 replacement fee.
• Mail-in — submit a written notification with name, license number, old address, new address, and signature to the OMV's central office in Baton Rouge.

Online updates change the digital address but don't print a new card; the old card stays valid. If you want a new card with the updated address printed on the front, visit an OMV office and pay the replacement fee.

Vehicle registration address

The OMV 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 expresslane separately, select each vehicle, and apply the new address. This matters for parishes with local sales-tax differentials at renewal time.

Name change — when it's required

Update your legal name with the OMV within a reasonable time (Louisiana doesn't enforce a strict 10-day rule for name changes, but the agency expects prompt updates) when:

• You marry and adopt a new last name.
• You divorce and revert to a prior last name.
• You change your name through a Louisiana parish district 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 an OMV office. Bring:

• Your current Louisiana driver 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; the OMV verifies your name change against the SSA database.
• A completed DPSMV1799 application form.
• A $13 replacement fee.

Order of operations for name changes

1. Update your name with the Social Security Administration first. The OMV 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 an OMV office with your supporting documents.
4. Update your name on vehicle titles and registrations — see Louisiana 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 the Louisiana OMV. Mail forwards work for 12 months but the OMV 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 the OMV directly even when you've set up USPS forwarding.

If you've moved out of state

Louisiana drivers who relocate to another state have 30 days (typical, varies by destination state) to obtain a new license in the new state, which usually requires surrendering the Louisiana license. The Louisiana OMV 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 on its rules; the Louisiana plate stays with the seller and the registration is canceled.