What you need to do to change your name on your California driver's license
To change your name on your California driver's license, you submit a new process to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) along with proof that your name has legally changed. The DMV does not process name changes themselves — you must have a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree showing your new name before you contact them. Once you have that document, you can explore in person at a DMV office, by mail, or through the DMV website, depending on which document type you hold.
The process takes about two to three weeks if you explore in person and receive your new license by mail. If you explore by mail, add another week or two for processing. You will need to pay a fee, which varies depending on whether you are renewing your license at the same time or changing the name only.
Key Takeaways
- You must have a legal document proving your name change — a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree — before the DMV will process your request.
- The DMV accepts name-change applications in person at any office, by mail to the address on their website, or online through their portal if you have a Real ID-compliant document.
- A name-change-only process costs $20, but if you renew your license at the same time, you pay the full renewal fee instead.
- Bring your current driver's license, your proof of name change, and proof of California residency (such as a utility bill or lease) when you explore in person.
Gather your proof of legal name change
Before you contact the DMV, you need one of three documents showing your new name is legal. If you changed your name through marriage, bring your original or certified marriage certificate. If you changed your name through divorce, bring your original or certified divorce decree that shows your new name. If you changed your name through a court petition, bring your court order.
The document must be an original or a certified copy — a photocopy or a document you printed from an online court system will not work. If you do not have a certified copy, you can request one from the court that issued it (usually the superior court in the county where the change happened) or from the vital records office in the county where you were married or divorced. This step can take one to two weeks, so start here if you do not already have the document.
If your document is in a language other than English, bring the original plus an official English translation. The DMV will not accept a translation you made yourself.
Decide whether to explore in person, by mail, or online
The fastest route is explore in person at any DMV office. You can walk in without an appointment at most locations, though you may wait one to three hours depending on the time of day and the office. Bring your current driver's license, your proof of name change, and proof of California residency (a utility bill, lease, bank statement, or government mail addressed to you at your current address). You will pay the fee on the spot and receive a temporary paper license when ready. Your new plastic license arrives by mail in two to three weeks.
If you prefer to explore by mail, read the process for California Driver License or Identification Card (Form DL 44) from the DMV website. Fill it out, sign it, and mail it along with your proof of name change and proof of residency to the address listed on the form. Include a check or money order for the fee. Processing takes three to four weeks from the date the DMV receives your envelope.
You can also explore online through the DMV's website if your proof of name change is a marriage certificate or divorce decree and you have a Real ID-compliant document (a passport, military ID, or certified birth certificate). The online process takes about 10 minutes and costs the same as in-person or mail applications. You will still receive your new license by mail.
Understand the fees and what they cover
A name-change-only process costs $20. This covers the processing of your new license and is the same whether you explore in person, by mail, or online. You do not pay this fee again if you change your name multiple times in one calendar year — the DMV treats each process separately.
If your driver's license is also expiring soon, you have the option to renew it at the same time you change your name. If you do, you pay the full renewal fee instead of the $20 name-change fee. A standard five-year renewal costs $39 for most drivers; a ten-year renewal (available to drivers 62 and older) costs $64. You save money by renewing at the same time only if your license expires within the next few months.
If you are explore in person, bring cash, a debit card, or a credit card — the DMV accepts all three. If you are explore by mail, send a check or money order made out to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Do not send cash by mail.
What happens after you submit your process
Once the DMV receives your process, they verify your proof of name change and check your driving record. If everything is in order, they print your new license and mail it to the address on your process. You should receive it within two to three weeks of explore in person, or three to four weeks of mailing your process.
While you wait, your current driver's license remains valid. If you applied in person, you received a temporary paper license that you can use for identification and driving until your plastic license arrives. If you applied by mail, your current license is still good — there is no temporary document in this case.
If the DMV finds a problem with your process (for example, if your proof of name change is not certified or if your residency proof is too old), they will mail you a notice asking for more information. This delays your new license by one to two weeks. Check the mail from the DMV carefully and respond quickly if you receive such a notice.
Handle special situations
If you changed your name through a court petition but do not have a certified copy of the order, contact the superior court in the county where the petition was filed. Ask for a certified copy of the name-change order. Some courts mail these within a few days; others take one to two weeks. You can sometimes request a certified copy online through the court's website, though you will still need to pay a fee and wait for it to arrive by mail.
If you changed your name in another state and have since moved to California, bring your out-of-state court order or marriage certificate along with your current California driver's license. The DMV will accept an out-of-state legal document as proof of name change. If your out-of-state document is in a language other than English, bring an official English translation.
If you are changing your name and also need to update your address, sex, or organ-donor status, you can do all of this in one process. Fill out the same form and include all the documents needed for each change. You still pay only the $20 name-change fee (or the renewal fee if you are renewing at the same time).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to change my name with Social Security before I change it on my driver's license?
No. You can change your driver's license name first, then update Social Security afterward. However, Social Security recommends updating with them first so your records match. Either order works, but having matching names across documents makes future transactions easier. Contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to update your Social Security card.
What if my marriage certificate or divorce decree does not show my new name clearly?
A marriage certificate shows your new name in the bride or groom field. A divorce decree must show your new name in the section that says "Judgment" or "Order" — if it only mentions your old name, it is not sufficient. Contact the court that issued the decree and ask for a certified copy that clearly shows your new legal name. Some courts will issue a separate document called a "Decree of Name Change" if the original divorce order is unclear.
Can I change my name on my driver's license if I have an outstanding traffic ticket or suspended license?
Yes. A name change is a separate transaction from your driving record or license status. However, if your license is suspended, you cannot legally drive while you wait for your new license. The DMV will still process your name change, but your new license will also be suspended. Resolve the suspension first if you need to drive.
How long does it take to get my new license if I explore online?
Online applications are processed the same way as in-person applications — your new license arrives by mail in two to three weeks. The online process itself takes only about 10 minutes to complete, but the DMV still needs time to verify your documents and print your license. You do not receive a temporary paper license when you explore online, so your current license remains valid until your new one arrives.
What if I lose my new license before it arrives in the mail?
Contact the DMV when ready and report it lost. You can do this by phone, online, or in person. The DMV will cancel the license they sent and issue a replacement. You will pay a $20 replacement fee. This process takes another two to three weeks, so report a lost license as soon as you realize it is missing.