Minnesota Address & Name Change

Minnesota law requires updates to the address on file with DVS within 30 days of a move, and updates to a legal name within 30 days of a marriage, divorce, or court-ordered name change. Address updates are free and can be done online; name changes require a counter visit and supporting documents.

When you must report a change

Under Minnesota Statutes § 171.11, every Minnesota licensed driver must report:

• A change of residential address within 30 days.
• A change of legal name within 30 days.

The same statute requires the address on the vehicle registration to be updated within 30 days. Driver license and vehicle registration are tracked separately — updating one does not automatically update the other. Both updates can be initiated through Minnesota.gov/DVS in the same session, but require two transactions.

Updating your address online

The simplest path is Minnesota.gov/DVS. Log in with your driver license number and date of birth. The address change is free and takes effect immediately in the DVS database. The DVS does not mail a new card or sticker for an address change; the change is recorded in the database, and your existing card remains valid until renewal. Carry a printout of the change confirmation in the glove box for the first month or two until any officer who runs your license sees the updated address.

Online address change is unavailable when:

• You have a hold or suspension on your license.
• You're upgrading to a REAL ID or EDL at the same time (both require new residency proofs in person).
• Your account has not yet been activated since first issuance of the license.

Updating your address by mail or in person

The paper alternative is the Address Change form available at any DVS exam station or deputy registrar. Mail or drop it off — the change is processed within 5 business days. Counter address changes can be processed during a renewal or duplicate-license visit at no additional charge.

Vehicle registration address

The vehicle registration address is updated through DVS using a separate transaction at Minnesota.gov/DVS. The portal can update the registration address for free, and the DVS sends a confirmation by mail. If you've moved between counties, the wheelage tax may change at the next renewal — vehicles registered in a wheelage county pay the additional fee, while those in non-wheelage counties don't. Mid-year moves are handled at the next renewal.

Name change after marriage

To update your driver license and ID after marriage:

• Update your Social Security record first (DVS verifies the new name through SSA's federal database).
• Visit a DVS exam station in person.
• Bring a certified copy of your marriage certificate (a photocopy is not accepted).
• Bring your current driver license and any required REAL ID/EDL documents.
• Pay the $17 duplicate license fee.

DVS cannot accept the marriage certificate alone — Social Security must show the new name first. Plan on a 2-4 week gap between the SSA update and the DVS visit.

Name change after divorce

For a name change resulting from a divorce, bring a certified divorce decree showing the court order to restore a former name. The same SSA update needs to happen first. DVS does not accept a divorce decree that simply dissolves the marriage without specifically restoring the former name — that requires either a separate court petition or a marriage-certificate path back to the maiden name.

Court-ordered name change

If your name change is unrelated to marriage or divorce, you'll need a certified copy of the court order from a Minnesota district court (or out-of-state equivalent), updated SSA record, and the duplicate license fee. The court order replaces the marriage certificate or divorce decree as the document DVS verifies.

Updating titles after a name change

Vehicle titles in your old name can be updated at the deputy registrar. Bring:

• The current title.
• The certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.
• Your updated driver license.
• Title fee of $11.

The deputy registrar issues a duplicate title in your new name with the same lien information carried forward. Registration cards are reissued at the same time.

Updates and the EDL

Holders of the Enhanced Driver License (EDL) face additional document requirements at any address or name change because the EDL is federally compliant and tied to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records. EDL holders cannot update online — they must appear in person and present the same documents required at first issuance. Border-crossing records are updated by CBP within 7 business days of the DVS change.

What happens if you don't update

An out-of-date address can cause:

• Missed renewal notices, leading to expired license or registration without warning.
• Missed court correspondence — including DVS notices of suspension, which run on a strict 30-day response window.
• Failure to receive jury summons or property tax notices, which can trigger separate legal action.
• Citations under § 171.11 — a small fine if charged.

To verify the address on file at any time, pull a 5-year driving record through Minnesota.gov/DVS — the record header shows the current registered address. Drivers also reach this page from renewal when they realize the address is wrong before starting the renewal.