Massachusetts DMV Name Change (Driver's License)

Before you visit the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), you must update Social Security and then wait 24–48 hours for their systems to sync. Most DMVs check your new name against SSA data electronically, so if you go too soon you can be rejected. Start with the free Massachusetts SS-5 step.

Bring the following to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV):

• Certified marriage certificate (proof of legal name change)
• Current Massachusetts driver's license or ID card
• Proof of Social Security Number (SSA card, W-2, or 1099)
• Completed RMV license/ID application form
• Proof of residency (only if address also changed)

REAL ID note: Name change requests must be completed in person at an RMV Service Center by appointment; online/phone options only cover address changes, not name changes. For a REAL ID where the current name doesn't match lawful presence documents, you must prove the legal name change with an acceptable document. For a Standard (non-REAL) ID, name may be changed with no documentation absent fraud.

The Massachusetts fee to update your license is typically $25 (Driver's License/ID Amendment Fee). This change generally must be done in person. You can confirm the current requirements on the official Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) page. To see how Massachusetts compares with every other state, use our name change fee table.

Massachusetts requires an appointment for a name change, so book one before you go: Massachusetts appointment options.