Texas Address & Name Change

Texas requires drivers to update their address on the driver license and on every vehicle registration within 30 days of moving. Name changes after a marriage, divorce, or court order have a similar urgency — both DPS and TxDMV ratify the change off a single court-issued document, which makes the process straightforward but unforgiving when a record is missing.

Address change on a Texas driver license

The address on your Texas driver license can be updated three ways:

• Online through the Texas.gov DPS Change of Address service — you'll need your driver license number, audit number from the back of your card, date of birth, and a credit card. The fee is $11 for an updated card with the new address. The change posts to DPS records immediately and the new card mails in 2-4 weeks.
• By mail using Form DL-92 (Change of Address). Mail to DPS in Austin with a check for $11. Allow 4-6 weeks.
• In person at any DPS office — same $11 fee, new card mailed in 2-4 weeks.

If you're already inside the renewal window for the license, doing both at the same time saves you the change-of-address fee — see Texas license renewal.

Address change on Texas vehicle registration

Updating the address on a vehicle registration is a separate step from the driver license update. Use Form VTR-146 (Texas Vehicle Registration Change of Address) and submit to the county tax assessor-collector's office in the new county of residence. The change is free if no new sticker is requested. If you also want a corrected registration card, the county prints one for $1-$3.

If you've moved across counties, the new county will pick up your registration at the next renewal. You can also request immediate transfer to update the records and get a card with a current local emergency-services fee. See registration renewal for the rest of the cycle.

Name change on a Texas driver license

A Texas name change requires an in-person visit to a DPS office. Online and mail updates are not allowed. You'll bring:

• A government-issued document showing the new name — a certified marriage license, divorce decree restoring a maiden name, or court order of name change.
• Your current Texas driver license.
• Proof of identity, citizenship, SSN, and Texas residency, the same checklist used for a new Texas driver license.
• A completed Form DL-14A.
• The $11 update fee (free if you're already inside your renewal window).

The DPS office reissues the card with the new name; the temporary paper license is valid for 60 days while the permanent card is mailed.

Name change on Texas vehicle records

For TxDMV records — vehicle title and registration — submit Form 130-U at the county tax office along with a copy of the same court-issued name change document. There is no transfer fee for a self-directed name change on a title you already hold; the county updates the registration card for $1-$3 and reissues the title with the new name on request for $33.

Federal REAL ID consideration

If your Texas license has the gold-star REAL ID mark, the new card after a name change must continue to comply with REAL ID — which means presenting full identity, citizenship, SSN, and residency documents at the DPS visit, not just the marriage license. DPS will not issue a non-compliant card unless you specifically request a downgrade.

Voter registration

The DPS Change of Address transaction also forwards your new address to the Texas Secretary of State for voter registration purposes. If you don't want your voter registration updated, you can opt out during the online or in-person transaction. Voter registration follows the residence address — not the mailing address — for jurisdictional purposes.

Insurance update

Don't forget to update your Texas auto insurance with the new address — Texas insurers rate by ZIP code, and a move across town can shift the rate up or down 10-30%. Your insurer also needs the corrected name to keep TexasSure verification clean at registration renewal.