Vehicle owners are required to change name on car registration in Georgia by using one of the offered methods by the state Department of Driver Services (DDS). Motorists may perform a car registration name change as a result of marriage, divorce or court order. To change car registration, individuals need to complete certain steps before the procedure and choose one of the offered methods by the GA DDS.

Vehicle owners who are wondering, “How do I change the name on my car registration?” need to prepare a set of documents and submit them to the DDS. Likewise, they should prepare a payment for replacement car registration or other documentation. For more information on how to change your name on car registration in Georgia, continue reading the sections below and learn the procedure.

Instances Where You Must Change Your Name on Your Georgia Car Registration

You need to know when to change your name on car registration, driver’s license and vehicle title. A Georgia car registration name change after marriage is a procedure that is most often performed by motorists who have recently concluded matrimony. However, changing name on car registration after a divorce is also a frequent procedure.

Moreover, to change your name due to court order is the final instance when you are required to notify the GA DDS about correcting a name. If you want to learn how and why changing your name on car registration in Georgia is important, continue reading about the time limits and penalties below.

Georgia Name Change Time Limits for Updating Your Car Registration

If you are wondering, “How long do I have to change my name before having a penalty in Georgia?” then you need to know that the name correction may be performed on all of your credentials within the same given time frame. The time limits to change your name on car registration or other credentials are the same as for a driver’s license or ID card.

The GA DDS has determined the time limit for a car registration name change is 60 days from the date of the designation modification.

You may receive certain penalties for not changing name on car registration within the given period of time. Some consequences for not changing your name on time in Georgia may include having problems if driver and vehicle information do not such as proving ownership or having proper auto insurance.

Steps to Take Before Updating Your Registration in Georgia

You should learn what to do before updating your registration in Georgia in order to be able to perform the procedure accurately and in a timely manner. One of the things to do before updating your registration is to change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

DDS will confirm the name correction with SSA to ensure that state and federal records match.

After that, a DMV registration update may be performed at the same time with a drivers license name change procedure. To find out how to update your car registration in Georgia after changing your name on your license, continue reading the following sections.

How to Change Your Name on Your Georgia Car Registration in Person

Vehicle owners who want to change vehicle registration name in person at a local GA DDS branch can update their driver’s license or ID card and title at the same time when updating their registration. When changing your name on your car registration in person, you are required to provide the following:

• Current GA car title
• A valid GA driver’s license or ID card
• A certified copy of one document that proves the name change such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order

If you still have more questions about how to change your name on your car registration and renew your registration, then continue to the next section.

Note: Currently you cannot change your name on your vehicle registration certificate online or perform any other name correction request digitally.

How to Change Your Name on Your Georgia Car Registration by Mail

Motorists may also change car registration name by mail in Georgia when they collect a list of documents and send them to the DDS mailing address. The documents needed for changing your name on your car registration by mail include the following:

• A completed application
• Current GA car title
• Copy of a GA driver’s license or ID card
• A certified copy of a document that proves the name change such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order

In addition to these documents, motorists who change vehicle registration name by mail may be required to provide additional documents if there is a lien or security interest has been paid.

When to Renew Instead of Update Your Registration in Georgia

Prior to performing a vehicle registration renewal name change requests may be submitted to the GA DDS. However, if the time when to renew your car registration comes up near when you need to correct your name on the documentation, then you may be able to both renew and update your credential at the same time.

Therefore, if you renew your car registration name change procedures may be performed in order to avoid getting duplicate credentials. You must be close to the expiration date to complete the vehicle registration renewal process and the name change at the same time.

Likewise, you should complete both corrections be the registration renewal grace periods in Georgia so you do not incur late penalty fees.

Georgia DMV Name Change Fees

Paying the applicable DMV name change fees in Georgia is the final step of a car registration name correction. Motorists may be required to pay a certain DMV name change price for the process that they perform through the GA DDS. For instance, if renewing your registration along with updating your name on the document, you will be charged a $20 fee.

However, be mindful that these fees will vary depending on whether drivers plan to obtain a replacement or renewed registration card.

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