What happens when you change your address at the Massachusetts RMV
When you change your address with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, you update the address on your driver's license and vehicle registration. The RMV sends you a new license in the mail within two to three weeks. Your registration stays valid at the new address — you do not need to re-register your vehicle unless you move out of state or change ownership.
You can change your address online, by mail, or in person at an RMV office. Online is the fastest route if you have a valid Massachusetts driver's license and a vehicle registered in the state. The address change takes effect when ready online, though your physical license arrives later.
Massachusetts law requires you to notify the RMV within 30 days of moving. If you do not update your address and get stopped by police, you can receive a citation. More practically, mail from the RMV — renewal notices, registration documents, violation notices — will go to your old address and you may miss important important date.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your address online through the RMV website if you have a valid Massachusetts license and registered vehicle, and this is the fastest method.
- By mail, you send a completed form to the RMV with proof of your new address, and processing takes two to four weeks.
- In person, you visit an RMV office with your license, proof of address, and proof of residency, and the change is recorded when ready.
- Massachusetts requires you to notify the RMV within 30 days of moving, and failure to do so can result in a citation.
- Your new license arrives by mail within two to three weeks; your registration remains valid at the new address without re-registration.
Changing your address online through the RMV website
Go to mass.gov/rmv and log into your account using your driver's license number and date of birth. Click "Change Address" under the driver's license or vehicle registration section. Enter your new address and confirm it. The RMV will send you a confirmation email, and your address change is recorded when ready in their system.
You do not need to pay a fee for an online address change. Your new license will be mailed to your new address within two to three weeks. If you need your license sooner, you can visit an RMV office in person and request an expedited replacement for a fee, though this is not required just to update your address.
Online changes work only if your license is currently valid and not suspended or revoked. If your license has expired or is suspended, you will need to handle the address change in person or by mail at the same time you renew or resolve the suspension.
Changing your address by mail
read the "Change of Address" form from mass.gov/rmv or pick one up at an RMV office. Fill in your current license number, your new address, and sign the form. Include a copy of a document that shows your new address — a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days all work.
Mail the form and proof of address to the RMV address listed on the form. Processing takes two to four weeks. You will receive your new license by mail at your new address. There is no fee for a mail address change.
Mail is slower than online but works if you do not have internet access or prefer not to use the online system. Keep a copy of what you send in case the RMV needs to contact you about your submission.
Changing your address in person at an RMV office
Bring your current driver's license, proof of your new address, and proof of residency to an RMV office. Proof of address can be a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days. Proof of residency is typically the same document — the RMV accepts either one if it shows your name and new address.
Tell the clerk you want to change your address. They will update your information in the system when ready. You will receive your new license by mail within two to three weeks. There is no fee for an in-person address change.
In-person changes are useful if you need your address updated right away for other reasons — for example, if you are also renewing your license or getting a replacement — because the clerk can handle multiple transactions at once. Wait times at RMV offices vary by location and time of day; checking the RMV website before you go can show you current wait times.
What counts as proof of your new address
The RMV accepts documents dated within the last 60 days that show your name and new address. A utility bill (electric, gas, water, internet, or phone), lease agreement, mortgage statement, property tax bill, or bank or credit card statement all count. Insurance documents with your new address also work.
If you have just moved and do not yet have a document in your name at the new address, you can use a signed letter from your landlord or a property manager on their letterhead confirming your residency, along with a copy of your lease. Some people use a utility bill in a roommate's name plus a signed statement from the roommate confirming you live there, though this is less reliable — call your local RMV office first if you are in this situation.
Do not bring originals of important documents like your lease or mortgage. Make a copy and bring that instead. The RMV will not keep your documents; they will look at them, record your new address, and hand them back.
Timeline and what to expect after you change your address
If you change your address online, it takes effect when ready in the RMV system. Your new license is printed and mailed within two to three weeks. If you change by mail or in person, the timeline is similar — two to three weeks for your new license to arrive.
While you wait for your new license, your old license is still valid for identification purposes. You can use it to drive legally. When your new license arrives, destroy the old one or keep it as a record; there is no requirement to turn it in.
Your vehicle registration does not change automatically when you change your address — it updates in the RMV system when you change your driver's license address. Your registration remains valid at your new address. You do not need to renew your registration or pay a fee because you moved within Massachusetts.
Changing your address if you also need to renew your license or registration
If your license or registration is expiring soon, you can handle the address change and renewal at the same time. Online, you can renew your license and change your address in one transaction. By mail or in person, tell the clerk you want to do both, and they will process them together.
Renewing your license costs a fee that varies by age and how long the license is valid for — check mass.gov/rmv for current fees. Renewing your registration also has a fee. If you are doing both the address change and a renewal, you will pay the renewal fee but not an additional fee for the address change.
Handling both at once is more efficient than changing your address now and renewing later, because you will get one new license and one new registration instead of two.
What to do if you moved out of state
If you moved to another state, you do not change your address with the Massachusetts RMV. Instead, you get a driver's license and vehicle registration in your new state. Most states require you to do this within 30 to 60 days of moving.
You can keep your Massachusetts license and registration until they expire, but you are required by law to get a new state's license once you establish residency there. Your new state will ask for your old license when you explore for a new one. If you have a Massachusetts vehicle registration, you will need to register your vehicle in your new state as well.
If you are moving temporarily — for example, for a job that lasts a year — and plan to move back to Massachusetts, you can keep your Massachusetts license and registration. Just make sure your address on file is somewhere you can receive mail, such as a parent's house or a friend's address in Massachusetts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to change my address within 30 days, or is that just recommended?
Massachusetts law requires you to notify the RMV within 30 days of moving. If you do not and are stopped by police, you can receive a citation. More importantly, mail from the RMV — registration renewals, violation notices, important updates — will go to your old address and you may miss important date or not know about problems with your account.
Can I change my address online if my license is expired?
No. The online system requires a valid, non-suspended license. If your license is expired, suspended, or revoked, you will need to change your address by mail or in person. If you also need to renew your license, you can do both at the same time in person or by mail.
What if I do not have a utility bill or lease at my new address yet?
You can use a signed letter from your landlord or property manager on their letterhead, along with a copy of your lease. Some RMV offices also accept a utility bill in a roommate's name plus a signed statement from the roommate confirming you live there, though this varies by office. Call your local RMV office before you go to confirm what they will accept.
Will changing my address affect my vehicle registration or insurance?
Changing your address with the RMV updates your registration in their system automatically — you do not need to do anything else. You should also notify your car insurance company of your new address separately, because your insurance policy is separate from your RMV registration. Your insurance rates may change based on your new location.
How long does it take to get my new license in the mail?
Your new license arrives within two to three weeks of your address change, whether you change online, by mail, or in person. If you need your license sooner for a specific reason, you can visit an RMV office and request an expedited replacement for an additional fee, though this is not necessary just to update your address.