About Changing Your Name on Your North Dakota Registration

North Dakota vehicle owners must change car registration records to reflect any legal name changes. Marriage and divorce are the most common reasons for a DMV name change, but other significant life events can also result in needing to update your name information.

You must change your name on your car registration in person at an North Dakota Department of Transportation (ND DOT) office. Be sure to update your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) before you attempt to do so at the DOT. Read on to learn more about how to submit a name change to the DOT.

When is a North Dakota DMV name change required?

Changing your name on your car registration in North Dakota is required after a marriage, divorce or other court-ordered name change. If you notice a printed error on your current registration documents, you should also change name on car registration and other DMV records.

Note: You should wait to get a name change on car registration paperwork or vehicle titles until after you update the SSA. Visit the administration online or make an appointment at your local SSA office to complete the necessary forms. After you receive an SSA confirmation notice, make your ND DOT name change appointment.

Changing a Name on Car Registration in North Dakota

After updating the SSA, the next step for changing your name on your car registration in ND involves updating your vehicle title. Visit your local ND DOT office and bring your current title and registration paperwork, as well as a way to pay the associated fees.

You must also provide proof of your legal name change using a document from the name change checklist in the section below. Your title will be transferred from your old name to your new name.

North Dakota Name Change Checklist of Acceptable Documents

Processing a DMV name change requires presenting the proper paperwork. Name change documents must be government-issued and include an official signature and seal. The ND DOT will not accept photocopied documents. The most commonly used name change documents include but are not limited to:

• Certified marriage certificates.
• Certified divorce records.
• Any other court order verifying a legal name change.