Changing Your Name

Notifying the State

You must inform the Division of Driver Licensing and the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing, both administered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. That way your name change will be reflected on your driver's license (or ID card), vehicle registration, and title.

Driver's License and ID Card Name Change

When you change your name in Kentucky, you have 10 days to notify the Circuit Court Clerk in your county.

You'll need proof of Kentucky residency as well as proof of your legal name change. (These documents include name change court orders, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees.)

If you choose to present a birth certificate or Social Security card as proof, those documents will obviously need to reflect the name change. Visit Social Security Online for information about updating your card.

The fee to change your name on your Kentucky driver's license is $12, and there's virtually no waiting period; your new KY license is handed to you on the spot.

Title and Registration Name Changes

In Kentucky, you can take care of title and registration name changes at the same time―as long as there's no lien on the vehicle. Simply take your current title and registration to your local County Clerk's office and they'll update it for you. Fees are between $12 and $16.

Any liens on your vehicle must be cleared before you can change your name on your title and registration.