Motorists must complete a drivers license name change in Connecticut whenever they change their name after marriage, divorce or court order. However, drivers cannot perform a change of name on driving license materials until they change their name with the Social Security Administration (SSA). When drivers request to change name on driving license materials, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) verifies the name change with the SSA. The division cannot process the change until drivers update their Social Security cards and change their names through the SSA.

A DMV name change has several requirements, which residents must adhere to for a successful request of a replacement drivers license with a new name. Such requirements include submitting certain paperwork and paying a fee. To learn more about how to change name on drivers license materials and Social Security cards, review the sections below.

Instances Where You Must Change Your Name on Your Connecticut Drivers License

Motorists must apply for a name change on drivers license materials and non-driver identification cards after changing their name due to marriage, divorce, legal separation, court order or civil union. In addition to applying for a change of name on CT drivers licenses or ID cards, motorists must change their names with the SSA and obtain a new Social Security card before they may update their information with the DMV. However, drivers who apply for a change of name through the SSA must wait at least 48 hours before changing their name with the DMV.

Connecticut Drivers License Name Change Time Limits

There is no specific time limit for changing your name on driving license materials or non-driver ID cards. However, you must change the name on your Connecticut driving license as soon as possible after the name change occurs to avoid possible complications with the DMV.

Failure to change the name on your driving license may result in possible issues with your driving record, while failure to change your name with a local Social Security office makes it difficult for the SSA to track your earnings history.

How to Change Your Name with the Social Security Administration

Before changing a name on drivers license materials or non-driver ID cards, motorists must change their names with the SSA. To apply for a change of name with the SSA, drivers must visit a local Social Security office to file the name change in person. Alternately, motorists may update their Social Security cards through the mail.

To apply for a change of name in CT, drivers must complete an application for a Social Security card and submit it to the SSA along with proof of the legal name change and proof of identity. Proof of identity includes a U.S. drivers license, non-driver ID card or a U.S. passport, while proof of the name change includes a marriage document, divorce decree, court order or other legal name change document.

After changing your name with the SSA, wait 48 hours before updating your name with the DMV. The DMV verifies the name change through the SSA before processing the name change through the motor vehicle division.

How to Change Your Name on Your Drivers License in Person

Drivers may apply for a drivers license name change in person at a DMV office or participating AAA office. Business hours for processing DMV name changes vary depending on the DMV location, but typical office hours for AAA locations are between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Motorists cannot complete online drivers license name changes or mail-in name changes.

Note: If you wish to apply for a change of name on driving license materials through an AAA office, then you may visit an AAA office in any of the locations in Avon, Enfield, Cromwell, Manchester, Plainville, West Hartford, Old Saybrook and Waterford.

To process a driving license name change in Connecticut, motorists must complete the following steps:

• Complete a change of name request. Applicants must provide their former name and address as well as their new name and address. Additionally, they must provide their birth date, driver license number, registration plate number, signature and a reason for the name change.
• Visit a DMV or AAA office to submit the change of name application, along with proof of identity and certified documentation displaying the legal name change. Proof of identity includes a current driver license or non-driver identification card. Certified documentation includes a civil union certificate, probate court document, marriage license or divorce decree. The DMV does not accept religious certificates or photocopies of certified documents.
• Submit payment for the name change.

After you apply to change the name on your CT driving license, the DMV or AAA office will send you the new identification document through the mail. Meanwhile, the motor vehicle office provides you with a Temporary Paper Credential (TPC) until your new drivers license arrives in the mail. In most cases, you will receive your new license with the DMV name change within 20 calendar days.

Alternately, you may retain your expiring identification card and use the old license as a form of photo identification until your new document arrives in the mail.

Connecticut DMV Name Change Fees

When applying for a drivers license name change in CT, you must pay a $30 fee for obtaining a replacement license. This fee varies depending on the driving class to which the driver belongs to, such as a commercial drivers license. On the other hand, there is no fee to apply for a change of name through the SSA.

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