How to change your name at dmv after marriage

Use Your Legal Name

You must list your full legal name on all DMV documents. The DMV will use the name as listed on the document which authorizes the change.

Driver License/ID Card

If you are legally changing your name, you must change your name with the Social Security Administration before you may change it on your license or ID.

See Changing your name on your Social Security card. You must visit a Social Security office in person.

The DMV electronically verifies your name, birth date and social security number with the SSA. You may wish to wait for two or more business days for Social Security to update your records.

You must have your current license or ID and the original legal documents which authorize the change. An updated Social Security card is not sufficient.

Required Documents

• Your current license or ID (from any state)
• Legal document authorizing the change. See the requirements for each type of name change below.
• Updated Social Security card (if a Social Security number has been issued to you)
• Completed Application for Driving Privileges or ID Card (DMV 002):
  English  |  Spanish  |  Tagalog

All documents must be originals or certified copies. Fees are $8.25 for a non-commerical license, $7.25 for an ID card and $12.25 for a commercial license.

• Marriage

  Marriage

  A certified Marriage Certificate filed with the county in which the marriage occured. The Marriage License issued before the ceremony is not acceptable. Certificates are filed with the County Clerk in Clark County and with the County Recorder in other counties.

  The DMV will use the married name stated on the Marriage Certificate. No variations are allowed.

  Only if a new name is not stated, the person may choose to:

  1. Change his or her last name to the last name of his or her spouse;
  2. Use his or her last name hyphenated with the last name of his or her spouse; or
  3. Replace his or her middle name with his or her last name and use as his or her last name the last name of his or her spouse.

• Divorce

  Divorce

  An original or certified Decree of Divorce. The DMV uses the full legal name as listed on the decree.

• Court-Ordered Change

  Court-Ordered Change

  The DMV will use the full legal name listed in the court order.

• Death of Spouse

  Death of Spouse

  Original or certified copies of the Death and Marriage Certificates.

  The surviving spouse may keep the existing name or he or she has two options:

  1. Change his or her last name back to a last name he or she used before the marriage; or
  2. If, at the time of marriage, he or she replaced his or her middle name with his or her last name, he or she may change his or her middle name and last name back to the middle name and last name he or she used before the marriage.

• Adoption

  Adoption

  An original or certified copy of a Decree of Adoption. The DMV uses the full legal name listed on the decree.

You must visit a DMV office to have a new driver license or ID card issued. This cannot be done online or through the mail. Make an appointment at our offices in Carson City, Las Vegas and Reno.

The DMV will punch a hole in your existing license or ID and return it to you with an interim document. Your new license or ID will be mailed to you.

Real ID vs. Standard

Nevada offers a choice between a license or ID that complies with the federal Real ID Act of 2005 or a standard Nevada license or ID.

Upgrading to a Real ID is easy if you already have the documents required for a name change. Simply bring in your original birth certificate or other proof of identity and two documents that prove your Nevada residential address.

You must bring all of the following to upgrade to a Real ID:

• Proof of Identity AND
• If you have changed your name, Proof of All Name Change(s) AND
• Proof of Social Security number AND
• Proof of your Nevada residential address (two documents) AND
• Application for Driving Privileges or ID Card (DMV 002):
     English  |  Spanish  |  Tagalog

See Residency and Proof of Identity for details and lists of documents.

Veteran Designation and Organ Donation

Veterans with an honorable discharge may present their evidence of honorable discharge to have a Veteran designation placed on their license. Visit archives.gov to obtain a copy of a DD-214 of other evidence of honorable discharge. Anyone may elect to become an Organ Donor.

Gender Change

Your driver's license or ID card will indicate the gender you choose on the application: Male (M), Female (F) or Non-Binary (X). Medical certification of a gender change is not necessary.

Vehicle Registration and Title

If you are changing your name, you must have the legal document which authorizes the change (Marriage Certificate, divorce decree, etc.). Divorce decrees should include language which awards the vehicle to the new owner by Vehicle Identification Number. You do not have to change the title for a name change only, but we suggest you do so if possible.

We will match the full legal name on your driver license. You must get a new Nevada Evidence of Insurance with the name(s) exactly as they will be listed on the license and registration. Bring the name change document, Evidence of Insurance and current registration slip to a DMV office.

An emission inspection and registration renewal are not required as long as one of the current owners remains on the new registration. 

You have the option of renewing your vehicle registration for a full year. You will need to complete an emission inspection if required and if the last test was completed more than 90 days ago. Your expiration date will change if the current expiration date is more than 35 days away. Credit will be given for the unused portion of your current Nevada registration.

Vehicle Title

If you are adding or dropping vehicle owners, you must change the vehicle title as well as the registration. We suggest changing it even if the owner(s) remain the same. If you have the title, bring it with you.

• If the title says 'person 1' AND 'person 2', both parties must sign it.
• If the title says 'person 1' OR 'person 2', either party can sign without the other.

If you have a loan or lease on the vehicle, you must ask the lienholder to approve the change. The lienholder may ask you to sign either the title or a power of attorney. The lienholder may wish to refinance any loan if you are adding or dropping vehicle owners. The lienholder will have to apply for the new title and issue you a letter, including the Vehicle Identification Number, stating they will do so. You may also satisfy the lien and bring the signed-off title to the DMV.

Lienholders who are not familiar with Nevada procedures should call Title Research for exact instructions. See the Registration and Title Guide.

See Titles.

DMV Title Research
555 Wright Way
Carson City, NV 89711
(775) 684-4810 in Reno/Carson City
(702) 486-4368 ext. 3 in Las Vegas
8:00 am to 1:00 p.m. only

Family Trust

To transfer vehicles into a Family Trust, you must ask any lienholder to approve the change. The lienholder may ask you to sign either the title or a power of attorney, and may wish to refinance any loan. The lienholder will have to apply for the new title and issue you a letter, including the Vehicle Identification Number, stating they will do so. You may also satisfy the lien and bring the signed-off title to the DMV.

You must add the name of the insured trustee to the registration and title or request that your insurance company report the vehicle in the name of the trust. The name of the insured on the Nevada Evidence of Insurance must match either a name of a trustee or the trust as the vehicle will be registered. This is necessary to comply with Nevada Liability Insurance Validation Electronically (NVLIVE).

Please note the name of the trust can be a maximum of 34 characters on a vehicle registration. Bring the following items to a DMV Full-Service Office:

• Vehicle Title or lienholder letter
• Current registration
• Nevada Evidence of Insurance
• A completed Trustee Appointment and Powers Affidavit (VP 188) or court-certified trust documents

An emission inspection and registration renewal are not required.

You have the option of renewing your vehicle registration for a full year. You will need to complete an emission inspection if required and if the last test was completed more than 90 days ago. Your expiration date will change if the current expiration date is more than 35 days away. Credit will be given for the unused portion of your current Nevada registration.

If you have a Governmental Services Tax Exemption for Veterans, Disabled Veterans, Surviving Spouses or the Blind, you may apply this to a vehicle registered to a trust by completing the Trust Affidavit for Exemptions (VP 242). This must be filed at the registration renewal each year.

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