To complete a CT DMV name change, update your name with the Social Security Administration first, wait at least 48 hours, then visit a Connecticut DMV hub office in person with a completed Form E-78, your current license, a certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, and $30.
Start With Social Security, Not the DMV
The Connecticut DMV verifies your identity electronically against Social Security Administration records. If your new name isn’t in that federal database yet, the clerk’s system won’t recognize it and you’ll be sent home.
Some name changes can now be requested online through a my Social Security account. If your situation doesn’t qualify, you’ll need to complete Form SS-5 and visit a local Social Security office in person.1Social Security Administration. Change Name With Social Security Either way, you’ll show documents that prove both your identity and the name change, such as a birth certificate or passport along with your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.2Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card
After the SSA processes the change, wait at least 48 hours before going to the DMV. That gives the electronic verification system time to sync. Showing up before the records refresh is one of the most common reasons people get turned away.3Connecticut DMV. Update a Driver’s License, Learner’s Permit, or Non-Driver ID
What to Bring to Your DMV Appointment
Download and fill out Form E-78, the Change of Name Request, before you go.4CT.gov. Department of Motor Vehicle Forms Enter your previous legal name and your new name exactly as it now appears on your Social Security record, then sign it.
Bring with you:
- The completed and signed Form E-78.
- Your current Connecticut driver’s license, learner’s permit, or non-driver ID.
- Certified proof of the name change: a marriage license, civil union certificate, divorce decree, or probate court order. It must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies and religious marriage certificates are not accepted.3Connecticut DMV. Update a Driver’s License, Learner’s Permit, or Non-Driver ID
- $30 for the standard duplicate license or non-driver ID fee.5CT.gov. DMV Fees
If you don’t already have a certified copy of your marriage certificate or divorce decree, order one from the town clerk or court clerk that issued it before scheduling your DMV visit. Processing times vary.
At the counter, the clerk reviews your form, verifies your certified document, and confirms the Social Security match. You’ll leave with a temporary paper credential. The permanent card is mailed through USPS and usually arrives within a few weeks.
If You Have a REAL ID
A name change is not a routine renewal, so your existing REAL ID status does not carry over automatically. Be prepared to bring the same identity documents you originally used to obtain your REAL ID, such as a passport or birth certificate, in addition to your name-change proof.6CT.gov. Learn How to Get a REAL ID If keeping the gold star matters to you for boarding domestic flights or entering federal buildings, confirm with the DMV before your appointment that your document package meets the REAL ID standard.
Where to Go and How to Schedule
Connecticut DMV offices run on appointments. Book through the DMV’s online portal under “License and non-driver ID services,” where name changes are specifically listed as an available transaction.7CT.gov. Make or Change DMV Appointment
Not every office handles name changes. Hub locations like Bridgeport and Danbury offer the full range of license and registration services. Branch offices handle a limited set of transactions, so check your local branch’s offerings before booking.8CT.gov. DMV Locations and Hours
AAA as an Alternative
AAA Northeast locations across Connecticut process license name changes through a DMV Express partnership, which is often faster than a state-run hub. AAA Northeast members pay no convenience fee. Members of another AAA club pay $6 per transaction, and non-members pay $8, on top of the $30 state fee.9AAA Northeast. Connecticut Registry Services
Your Vehicle Registration and Title Are Separate
Updating your license does not update your vehicle records. Registration and title are handled individually.
For the registration, bring your current registration card to the DMV and surrender it. There’s no fee if you turn in the old card. If you can’t, the duplicate registration fee is $20.10CT.gov. Update Your DMV Registration You can usually handle this during the same appointment at a hub office.
Updating the vehicle title is a separate $45 request, handled in person or by mail. If your vehicle has an active loan, a new title mails directly to the lienholder, not to you, because Connecticut doesn’t participate in electronic lien and title programs. You don’t need the lienholder’s permission to correct your name, but you won’t physically hold the title until the loan is paid off.11CT.gov. Make Changes to a Car Title at the DMV
Follow-Ups: Insurance and Voter Registration
Once your DMV records are updated, call your auto insurance company to match the policy to your new name. A mismatch between your license and your policy can create problems at claim time. Insurers usually ask for a copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, and there’s typically no fee.
Your voter registration does not update automatically either. At your DMV appointment, you’ll be offered the chance to apply or update at the same time, and the DMV will transmit your information to election officials if you opt in. You’re not registered under the new name until your town’s registrar of voters approves the application, which usually takes about three weeks.12CT.gov. CT DMV – Register to Vote If you skip it at the DMV, update through your town clerk’s office or Connecticut’s online voter registration portal well before any election.