Virginia Address and Name Change

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Virginia drivers have 30 days from a move, marriage, divorce, or court-ordered name change to update their driver's license, registration, and title with the DMV. Address changes can usually be completed online; name changes require a customer service center visit because the new card needs a new photo and a fresh signature.

Address change online

The fastest way to update an address on a Virginia driver's license, ID card, vehicle registration, and title is through the DMV customer portal:

Sign in with your existing DMV account or create one with your driver number.
Choose "Change of Address."
Enter the new Virginia address as it appears on your lease, mortgage, or utility bill.
Confirm whether you want a replacement license card and updated registration cards mailed.
Pay the $20 replacement license fee if you choose a new card; updated registration cards are free.

The change posts to your record immediately. The new license and registration cards are mailed in 7-10 business days. Voter registration is not automatically updated — Virginia requires a separate filing with the local registrar of voters.

Address change in person or by mail

Drivers who prefer paper can submit a change-of-address request at any DMV customer service center, DMV Select, or by mailing a signed change-of-address request to the DMV's central mailing address. The fee is the same — free to update the record, $20 for a replacement card. Bring or include two proofs of the new Virginia residency (a utility bill plus a lease, for example) if you want the new address printed on a replacement card.

Move out of Virginia

If you've moved out of state, do not file a Virginia address change. Surrender the Virginia license at your new state's DMV when you obtain that state's license; the new state's DMV electronically notifies Virginia. For Virginia-registered vehicles, file a Notice of Sale or Disposition if the vehicle was sold; otherwise the vehicle's registration remains active until cancellation. If you are relocating but maintaining a Virginia residence (active-duty military, college students with permanent Virginia residency, etc.), you can keep the Virginia license and notify the DMV of the temporary out-of-state address.

Name change after marriage

To update a Virginia license after a marriage, visit a customer service center with:

Your current Virginia license.
A certified copy of the marriage certificate (must be certified — informal commemorative certificates are not accepted).
An updated Social Security card or a federal Social Security record showing the new name. Virginia cannot issue a new license name until the new name appears on file with the SSA.
A completed DL 1P with the new name.

The center takes a new photo and signature, prints a temporary credential valid for 30 days, and mails the permanent card. The fee is $20 for a duplicate or $32 if the renewal is also being processed at the same visit.

Name change after divorce

Divorce decrees in Virginia commonly include a restoration of the maiden name in the final order. Bring the certified divorce decree showing the restored name plus the updated Social Security card. The DMV cannot use the divorce decree alone — the name must already be updated with the SSA.

Court-ordered name change

For any other name change — gender marker update, family-court order, witness protection, etc. — Virginia accepts a certified court order from the Virginia Circuit Court or any other state's equivalent. The same checklist applies: the SSA must already have updated records before the DMV can produce a new license.

Updating the title

A Virginia title showing a former name should be updated when convenient — there is no statutory deadline — but mismatched names can complicate a future sale or insurance claim. A title name change uses Form VSA 17A with proof of name change attached. The title fee is $15. No sales and use tax applies because no transfer of ownership is occurring.

Insurance and other records

After a name or address change at the DMV, notify your insurance carrier so the policy reflects the new information. Virginia's electronic insurance verification system pulls policy data by VIN, but a name mismatch on the policy can produce a coverage gap or a claim denial. If you carry an SR-22 or FR-44 filing, the carrier must amend the certificate to match. For the broader rules around the DMV's 30-day deadlines, see the Virginia car registration page.