Changing Your Name

Make the Change in Person

If you need to change your name on your driver's license, ID card, car registration, or title, you cannot do it online. You need to visit the nearest BMV office and make the changes in person.

Driver Licenses and ID Cards

If you hold a driver's license or ID card and your name changes, Maine law requires that you notify the Bureau of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of the change.

You must to go to a BMV office; it'll provide you with the necessary form. You will need to present your current license or card as well as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that shows the name change.

You can also present an updated Social Security card. Visit Social Security Online for information about affecting the name change.

The cost is $5 for a new license.

Registration

To change your name on your car registration, you can either go to your local motor vehicle office or the municipal office in the city or town where you reside.

Most Maine municipalities issue registrations and will make a name change to your car registration. You will need to show proper ID, along with a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that shows the name change. The service is free.

If you want to add or delete an owner's name on a car registration, you either can go to a BMV branch office or your municipal office.

You will need to present a letter from your insurance company acknowledging the changes. You also must bring your original vehicle registration and fill out a name addition or deletion form. You will need to show proper ID. The service is free.

Call the BMV at (207) 624-9000, ext. 52114 or your municipal office for more information.

Titles

To change your name on a title, you need to bring a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing your name change to a BMV branch office. You also need to present the original title and proper ID. You will be asked to fill out the title's reverse side and sign it. The fee is $23.

Adding or deleting names on a title also requires you to fill out the title's reverse side and sign it. Complete a title application and take the documents to a local BMV office. The cost is $23.

Surviving spouses may want to add their names to vehicle titles after a husband or wife dies.

The surviving spouse first needs to fill out an affidavit that allows the vehicle to be titled in his or her name ― or sold to a new owner. The form must be notarized.

If the surviving spouse plans to keep the car, he or she also needs to complete a title application. Bring the application, along with the affidavit and the original vehicle title, to a local BMV office.

There is no charge to the surviving spouse if the deceased owner was a Maine resident and the car was registered and titled in Maine. A lien release must accompany the title if the vehicle was financed.

If the vehicle was jointly owned, the surviving spouse also needs to show a death certificate.