About Changing Your Address on Your Alaska Registration

By law, you must change name on car registration in Alaska, along with other DMV documents, within 30 days of legally changing your name. Whether your name changed due to marriage, divorce, adoption or another legal decree, you must change car registration information to reflect your new identifier. 

To get an AK name change on car registration materials, the DMV requires you to provide proof of the name change in person. If you have changed your name multiple times through the years, you must provide documentation that verifies each name change.

Keep reading to learn the best ways to keep your DMV records updated with your latest identifying information.

When an Alaska DMV Name Change is Required

You must submit a DMV name change in Alaska within 30 days of taking on a new name after getting married or entering into a civil union. Likewise, you must update your name on DMV documents if a separation or divorce leads you to restore your name to a previously-used version.

The state’s 30-day name change rule applies to all court-ordered name changes, including adoption or gender reassignment. 

Download our free guide to learn more about the name change process.

Although most states require drivers to change their name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) before changing name on car registration, there is no such rule in Alaska.

However, it is recommended that you update the SSA as soon as possible to maintain identification continuity. This can help prevent problems later on if the names on your documents do not match.

Changing Your Name on Car Registration in Alaska

You must change name on car registration documents in person at an Alaska DMV office. Note that you may also have to complete a title transfer to update your name or to add or remove a spouse from your vehicle titles. If you live in a remote location and it is difficult to get to a DMV office, you may be able to complete this task over the phone.

After reviewing the following name change checklist section, call your nearest DMV to verify hours and days of operation. While some remote DMV offices are only open for a few days each month, busier AK DMV locations may require you to make an appointment.

Note that you must update your car registration documents, title documents and Alaska driver’s license account in separate transactions. 

You must remember to bring a credit card, debit card, personalized check or money order to pay DMV name change fees. 

Alaska Name Change Checklist of Acceptable Documents

This Alaska DMV name change document checklist includes acceptable documents to submit for a name change request. You must provide one or more of the following to verify your legal name change. Remember that multiple documents will be required if you have had several legal name changes throughout your life. 

• A marriage certificate
• A valid U.S. passport
• An official court order
• A certificate of naturalization
• A certificate of name change
• A certified adoption decree, marriage decree, court order or divorce decree

Download our guide for a list of the documents you may need to submit. 

All documents provided for Alaska name change purposes must be original, certified copies. Official documents usually bear a raised seal placed by the issuing agency. Alaska DMV cannot accept faxed, photocopied or digital copies of these documents.