Name Change in North Carolina

Changing Your Name in North Carolina

Whether you've just married, divorced, or legally changed your name, you need to report the change to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

On this page, you'll learn how to change your name on your Social Security card, NC driver's license, identification card, vehicle title, and registration.

Change Your Name with the SSA

Before you change your name with the NC DMV, you need to report the change to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

You can change your name in person or by mail. You cannot change your name online.

To change your name with the SSA, you'll need:

• A completed Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5).
• Your legal name change documents, such as your:
  • Marriage certificate.
  • Divorce decree.
  • Court order.
• Proof of your identity, such as your:
  • Driver's license.
  • Passport.
  • Identification card.
• Proof of your U.S. citizenship, such as your:
  • Birth certificate.
  • Citizenship certificate.
  • Naturalization certificate.

All documents must be originals or certified copies. Visit the website for a complete list of accepted documents.

You can mail or take the above documents in person to your local SSA office. All mailed documents will be sent back to you after your name change has been processed.

The SSA will mail your new Social Security card. Your Social Security number will not change.

Wait 24-36 hours after changing your name with the SSA before reporting the change to the NC DMV.

NC Driver's License/ID Card Name Change

After you've legally changed your name, you need to report your new name to the North Carolina DMV within 60 days and get an updated NC driver's license or ID card.

NOTE: Before changing your name on your NC driver's license or ID card, you must first change your name with the SSA (see the “Change Your Name With the SSA" section above).

Change your name on your NC driver's license or ID card by visiting a NC DMV office in person. You cannot change your name online or by mail.

You will need:

• Your current NC driver's license or ID card.
• Your legal name change documents, such as your:
  • Marriage certificate.
  • Court order.
  • Divorce decree.
• Cash, check, or money order for the $14 fee.

NOTE: If you own a vehicle, you'll also need to change your name on your vehicle records. Please see the “NC Vehicle Title/Registration Name Change" section below.

NC Vehicle Title & Registration Name Change

You must change your name on your NC vehicle title and registration within 60 days. You will first need to change your name on your NC driver's license (see the “NC Driver's License or ID Card Name Change" section above).

You can change your name either in person or by mail. You cannot change your name online.

You'll need:

• Your updated NC driver's license showing your new name.
• Your legal name change documents, such as your:
  • Marriage certificate.
  • Documented proof from courts or the Register of Deeds that your name has been officially changed.
  • Divorce decree.
• The original vehicle title.
• A completed and notarized Corrected or Substituted Title Application (MVR-5).
  • If your vehicle is under 10 years old, you must also provide the odometer reading on the form.
• A lien release, if there are any liens on your vehicle.
• Cash, check, or money order for the $25.50 fee.

Either take the above documents to your local North Carolina DMV office, or mail them to:

N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles
3148 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27697

You will receive an updated NC title and registration in the mail. For more information, please contact your local NC DMV.

Fees to Change Your Name in NC

You'll pay the following fees to change your name on North Carolina DMV documents:

• Driver's license: $14.
• Id Card: $14
• Vehicle title and registration card: $25.50

Accepted Payment Methods

North Carolina DMV offices accept payment by:

• Cash.
• Money order.
• Personal check:
  • You must be able to show identification.
  • Check must be drawn from a NC bank or an out-of-state bank that has a branch in NC.

The NC DMV does not accept credit or debit cards.

Changing Your Address in North Carolina

If you have moved to or changed addresses in North Carolina, you must notify the NC DMV within 60 days of moving.

You will need to change the address on your NC driver's license/ID card, vehicle registration, and title.

For more information, please see our Changing Your Address in North Carolina page.