Massachusetts Address & Name Change at the Mass RMV

Massachusetts Address & Name Change

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Massachusetts requires drivers to notify the Mass RMV of an address change within 30 days under M.G.L. c. 90 § 26A. The same rule applies after a name change. The notification covers both the driver's license and every vehicle registered to that driver. Missing the 30-day window is technically a chargeable offense, but in practice the bigger consequence is missed renewal notices, missed inspection reminders, and missed citation notices that can default into license-renewal holds.

Address change — moving within Massachusetts

If you've moved from one Massachusetts city or town to another (or just changed apartments within the same city), update through myRMV:

  1. Log into the myRMV Online Service Center with your Mass RMV-issued license number, date of birth, and last four of SSN.
  2. Select "Change Address" and enter the new address. The system verifies against the USPS address-validation database.
  3. Choose whether to update your driver's license, all registered vehicles, or both. The standard recommendation is "both" — there is no fee.
  4. Receive an email confirmation. The myRMV system updates the address on file immediately.

Massachusetts does not mail a new driver's license after an address change. The old card is still valid; the address printed on the card may not match the address on file with the Mass RMV. You can request a duplicate license with the updated address printed on it for $25 if you need a card that matches.

Address change — moving from out of state into Massachusetts

New Massachusetts residents have 30 days to convert their license but only seven days to register their vehicles. The license conversion is in person at any Mass RMV service center. Bring:

  • Your current out-of-state license — surrendered in exchange for the Mass license.
  • 4 points of primary identification (passport or birth certificate).
  • 2 points of secondary identification (Social Security card, W-2).
  • Two proofs of Massachusetts residency from two different sources, dated within 60 days.
  • Proof of insurance meeting Massachusetts minimums.

The conversion fee is $50 for a 5-year Class D license. New residents with a clean out-of-state driving record skip the road test, but a knowledge test and vision screening are still required. See driver's license for the full conversion process.

Name change — after marriage or divorce

Massachusetts requires the new legal name to appear on the driver's license, registration, and title. Documentation depends on the source of the change:

  • Marriage: bring the certified marriage certificate (raised seal) to a Mass RMV service center.
  • Divorce: bring the certified divorce decree showing the legal name restoration, plus any prior marriage certificates if there's a chain of name changes.
  • Probate court name change: bring the certified court order under M.G.L. c. 210 § 12.
  • Federal naturalization: bring the Certificate of Naturalization showing the new legal name.

The Mass RMV updates the name on the driver's license at the counter and prints a new card on the spot. Vehicle title and registration name updates require Form RMV-3, processed through the agent or directly at the service center. Fee for the new license card: $25; title amendment: $25.

Updating vehicle title to a new name

If a name change occurs after a vehicle is titled in Massachusetts, the title can be amended:

  1. Submit Form RMV-3 (Title Amendment) to the Mass RMV Title Division at the Quincy headquarters.
  2. Attach a certified copy of the legal-name-change document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order).
  3. Include the original or duplicate title.
  4. Pay the $25 title amendment fee.

The amended title is mailed in 6-8 weeks. The registration is updated in real time at the service-center counter or through the agent. You don't need to update the title before selling the vehicle, but a buyer's bank may require the title be in the seller's current legal name.

Voter registration, SNAP, and other state agencies

Massachusetts is an "automatic voter registration" state. Updating your address through myRMV automatically updates your voter registration with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. SNAP, MassHealth, and unemployment-insurance records are not automatically updated; those agencies maintain separate records and require their own change-of-address notification.

Selective Service for males 18-25

Mass RMV transactions for male applicants between the ages of 18 and 25 automatically transmit a Selective Service registration update to the federal Selective Service System. This is a federal requirement that runs through any state DMV. The myRMV change-of-address flow includes a single-line consent that fulfills the federal notification.

What if you missed the 30-day window

The 30-day deadline under c. 90 § 26A is rarely enforced as a standalone citation, but it becomes relevant when:

  • A citation issued at the old address defaults because you never received the notice — the Mass RMV places a renewal hold and you discover the missed citation only at the next renewal.
  • An SDIP surcharge notice never reaches you, and the appeal window passes.
  • Your insurance is voided for failure to give notice of garaging address change — Massachusetts garaging address is part of the SDIP rate calculation.

The fix is the same regardless of how late you are: log into myRMV and update the address. The Mass RMV does not impose a back-fee for late updates, but you'll need to clear any defaulted citations or held renewals separately. See the Mass RMV hub for current contact details.

Official sources

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