How to Change Your Name on Your Car Registration in Louisiana
Vehicle owners may perform a process of a car registration name change in Louisiana through the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) of the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Motorists may have to change a name on a car registration in addition to the name update of their other credentials such as driver’s license and/or ID card.
If you are wondering “When and how do I change the name on my car registration in LA?” you may be required to perform a name update procedure after a marriage, a divorce or after receiving a court order. To find out more information about the name change process for your vehicle documents in Louisiana, it is recommended that you continue reading the following sections.
Instances Where You Must Change Your Name on Your Louisiana Car Registration
A Louisiana car registration name change after marriage is the most common instance when vehicle owners need to perform as a result of taking the spouse’s last name. However, a car registration name change after a divorce is a procedure that may be also performed in situations when vehicle owners want to switch back to their previous surnames.
Moreover, you may want to change your name due to court order received by a local court. Regardless of whether you are undergoing this name change process after a marriage or divorce, you need to perform a procedure through the LA OMV.
To learn more information about the appropriate times to change a name, contact the OMV and discover in-depth details about the instances when you may be required to perform such procedure.
Louisiana Name Change Time Limits for Updating Your Car Registration
Many drivers may ask “How long do I have to change my name before having a penalty in Louisiana?” The time limits to change your name on car registration in LA are currently not set by the state OMV. However, certain penalties for not changing name on car registration may occur when vehicle owners fail to update their names on their credentials.
In order to avoid facing negative consequences of not updating your name on your vehicle documents, you are recommended to contact the LA OMV beforehand and learn when it is best to update your name on your car registration.
Steps to Take Before Updating Your Registration in Louisiana
You may often wonder what to do before updating your registration in Louisiana and what are the steps that you must take in order to successfully perform the procedure. One of the things to do before updating your registration is to change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
After that, you may be required you to have completed a drivers license name change procedure with the LA OMV. For more information on how to complete the name change process, contact the state OMV and discover the needed details.
How to Change Your Name on Your Louisiana Car Registration
If you want to know how to change your name on your car registration online in Louisiana, you should know that this is currently not an option. If you are unable to learn whether you are eligible to change name on vehicle registration in person or by mail, call the LA OMV and find out more information about the name update procedure.
When changing your name on your car registration in person at a nearby LA OMV location you may have to take your current vehicle registration certificate in order to change the name on it.
In addition, motorists who are wondering how to complete the name change process for vehicle documents may be also required to provide payment for applicable fees, depending on whether they will obtain a duplicate credential or not.
Keep in mind that in order to get an updated registration document, you may need to follow the same procedures that are involved with getting a replacement registration in Louisiana.
When to Renew Instead of Update Your Registration in Louisiana
Prior to performing a Louisiana vehicle registration renewal name change requests may be submitted to a local OMV office. However, if you are wondering how and when to renew your car registration, name changes done within the vehicle registration renewal period may be performed at the same time with the renewal procedure in order to avoid getting duplicate credentials.
Therefore, when you decide to renew your car registration name change procedures may be also performed through the LA OMV. To learn more information about whether grace periods are available for registration renewals, contact the LA OMV.
Louisiana DMV Name Change Fees
A payment for DMV name change fees in Louisiana will be required as the final step of a name update procedure on a vehicle registration. In general, applicants must pay a $12 fee to update their names on these documents.
Motorists may also be required to pay vehicle registration name change fees when obtaining replacement credentials along with the name update process. However, these fees will vary depending on the county where you reside.
Sources
- Name Changes and Usage from Louisiana.gov