About Changing Your Name on Your Maine Registration

You must change the name on your car registration in Maine whenever your legal name changes. Common reasons include a marriage, divorce, adoption and court order. 

To make this change, you must visit your local town office to submit your request in person by visiting your local branch of the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). 

To learn more about the steps you must take to update your vehicle registration credentials, review the sections below. 

Changing a Name on Car Registration in Maine

Before you can change your car registration and driver’s license information, you must first notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of your new name. 

To do so, forward a completed application for a new Social Security card to your local Social Security office. You will also need to submit proof of your name change, identity and U.S. citizenship status.

In most cases, you can submit your application materials in person or by mail. 

Download our free guide for instructions on how to complete this task. 

Once you have updated your Social Security card, you can visit your local town office to to perform a name change on car registration credentials.

Currently, you cannot submit your request online or by mail. You must do so in person. 

When changing the name on your car registration records, you may need to provide the following:

• Proof of the legal name change
• Your vehicle’s current certificate of registration
• Payment for a replacement registration certificate, if applicable 

Because these requirements often vary depending on the city or town in which you live, you may need to contact your municipal office for specific instructions before heading in. 

Note: If you need to obtain a certified copy of your name change document prior to submitting your request, contact the Maine Division of Data, Research and Vital Statistics. 

Other Maine DMV Name Change Requirements 

As part of your ME name change checklist, you must also correct the information on your state-issued driver’s license. 

If you do not update the name on your driver’s license before your next renewal period, you cannot renew your driver’s license online. 

To change the name on your Maine driver’s license, visit a local motor vehicle office to submit your request in person. 

During your office visit, you will typically need to present certified proof of your name change and pay a fee to obtain a replacement credential that displays your new name.