If you are wondering, “When and how do I change the name on my car registration in DC?” you may be required to do so after a marriage, divorce or after receiving a court order. Moreover, vehicle owners may also perform a procedure of changing car registration to another person in specific situations. Motorists may have to change name on car registration when they are updating their DMV records and other credentials.

Vehicle owners must obtain a duplicate registration with their updated information through the state department of motor vehicles (DMV) in Washington DC. However, if you want to find out more information about how to change your name on car registration in Washington DC, you need to continue reading the sections below.

Instances Where You Must Change Your Name on Your Washington DC Car Registration

You may often wonder when to change your name on car registration in Washington DC, if you have already changed your full name and have updated your DMV records. If you are a vehicle owner, you may be required to perform a process of changing name on car registration after marriage or after divorce.

Moreover, you may also need to change your name due to court order received from your local court. If you are wondering how a DC car registration name change after marriage or divorce may be performed, contact a local DC DMV service center and find out more details about the procedure.

If wondering, “Is name change notification mandatory?” understand that in most cases, the state DMV sets time limits and requires you to update your records and credentials within that period.

The Washington DC DMV does not provide a strict answer to the question “How long do I have to change my name after marriage or after divorce?”, but it is implied that you may change your name with the DMV after you update your personal information with the Social Security Administration (SSA). To find out the time limit and the consequences for not changing your name on time in Washington DC, you are recommended to contact the DMV and learn more information.

Steps to Take Before Updating Your Registration in Washington DC

To know what to do before updating your registration in Washington DC, you should review the steps it takes to prepare to submit your information.  Prior to performing a Washington DC DMV registration update, vehicle owners are required to change or correct their names with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Moreover, one of the things to do before updating your registration is to change or correct your name on your DMV records and other credentials, such as driver’s license and ID card. After you perform a driver’s license name change in DC, you may be able to update the car registration.

How to Change Your Name on Your Washington DC Car Registration

Vehicle owners wondering, how to change your name on your car registration in person in Washington DC?” are recommended to visit a local DC DMV service center and perform the procedure. Prior to changing your name on your car registration in person, you may be required to update your DMV records and the name on other credentials.

That is why you are encouraged to change name on vehicle registration in person, because you may perform a name change on all of your documents at the same time.

Note: Motorists who want to change vehicle registration name online in Washington DC currently do not have the online option available, which is why they will have to use other method for name update on their vehicle registrations. However, they may always update their DC DMV records online.

When to Renew Instead of Update Your Registration in Washington DC

Prior to being eligible for a process of vehicle registration renewal name change requests may be submitted to the DC DMV. However, if you are wondering when to renew your car registration in DC, you need to know that name changes done within the car registration renewal period may be performed at the same time with the renewal procedure in order to avoid getting a replacement credential.

Therefore, when you are ready to renew your car registration name change procedure must be also performed at the DC DMV service center.

Washington DC DMV Name Change Fees

Submitting a payment for the applicable Washington DC DMV name change fees is the final step of the name update procedure. You may be required to pay a certain DMV name change price, which may vary based on whether you are only updating your name with the DC DMV or obtaining a replacement credential.

If you want to learn how much is to change name at DMV and how much a replacement registration or title will cost, in your particular situation, you can contact the local DMV. A duplicate registration card costs $20 per year.

Last updated on Tuesday, March 10 2020.