The Ohio BMV 5756 change of address form is a single-page paper form that updates your driver’s license, state ID, and vehicle registration records in one filing. Ohio law gives you 10 days after a move to report your new address, and there is no fee to submit the form. If you would rather skip paper altogether, the BMV’s online portal at bmvonline.dps.ohio.gov handles the same change electronically.1Ohio BMV Online Services. Ohio BMV Online Services
The 10-Day Deadline
Every licensed Ohio driver must notify the BMV of an address change within 10 days of moving under Ohio Revised Code 4507.09.2Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 4507.09 – Expiration and Renewal of License – Limited Term License The same 10-day window applies to Ohio ID card holders and, under ORC 4503.101, to every vehicle owner or lessee with a certificate of registration.3Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 4503.101 – Establishing System of Motor Vehicle Registration One BMV 5756 covers both the license and any vehicles registered in your name.
Commercial driver’s license holders have the same 10-day rule under ORC 4506.14, but with sharper consequences: failing to report the change is a minor misdemeanor.4Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Code 4506.14 – Expiration or Renewal of License
Online Instead of Paper
If you have internet access and a few minutes, the online portal is faster. The “Change of Address” option on bmvonline.dps.ohio.gov lets you update your residence address or add a separate mailing address without printing anything, and it satisfies the same legal notification requirement that the paper form does.5Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Administrative Code 4501:1-10-01 – Written Notice of Orders If you prefer paper, download the PDF from the Ohio BMV site or from dam.assets.ohio.gov and work through the sections below.6Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. BMV 5756 – Request for Change of Address
Filling Out the Form
The form is one page, designed to fold and seal for mailing. Three fields are strictly required, and leaving any of them blank will stop the change from processing: date of birth, driver license number, and your signature.6Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. BMV 5756 – Request for Change of Address
Your Identifying Information
Enter your first name, middle initial, and last name as they appear on your current license or ID. Fill in your date of birth and driver license number. The Social Security field asks for only the last four digits, not the full number. Keep your license in front of you so the identifiers match BMV records exactly.
The Three Address Blocks
- Old address: your previous street address, city, state, and ZIP as they currently appear in BMV records.
- New residence address: where you now live permanently. This block also asks for your county and the city, village, or township of residence.
- Mailing address: fill this in only if your mail goes somewhere different, such as a P.O. box. You can mark it permanent or temporary; if temporary, write in the start and end dates.
License Plates
The bottom of the form has room for up to four license plate numbers. List every vehicle registered in your name so all of the registrations update together. If you own more than four vehicles, you may need a second form or a direct call to the BMV for the extra plates.
Email and Signature
An optional email field and a checkbox let you sign up for electronic notifications, which routes renewal reminders and other correspondence to your inbox. Then sign and date the form. The form itself states that the change cannot be processed without your signature.6Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. BMV 5756 – Request for Change of Address
The Voter Registration Opt-Out
Under the National Voter Registration Act and Ohio Revised Code 3503.11, submitting an address change to the BMV also updates your voter registration by default. Signing BMV 5756 consents to having your new address forwarded to the Ohio Secretary of State.6Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. BMV 5756 – Request for Change of Address
If you don’t want that transfer to happen, or you don’t meet Ohio’s voter eligibility rules, check the opt-out box. The form warns that a false statement related to elections is a fifth-degree felony, so read that section before deciding whether to check the box or leave it blank.
Where to Send It
Fold the completed form in half, tape it shut, and mail it to the BMV License Section in Columbus:
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 16520
Columbus, OH 43216-6520
There is no fee to file the address change, whether you mail the form or use the online portal.
What the Filing Does Not Do
Filing BMV 5756 updates the BMV’s electronic records only. It does not produce a new physical driver’s license or ID card, and your current card remains valid with the old address printed on it. If you want a card that shows your new address, visit a deputy registrar location and request a duplicate. Ohio charges $9.00 for a duplicate driver’s license or ID card.7Ohio BMV. Driver License and ID Cards
Carrying a card with an outdated address is not itself illegal as long as the BMV’s electronic file is correct. During a traffic stop, officers pull your record from the state database, so the digital address is what governs. The printed address still matters at banks, pharmacies, and other places that check ID, which is the practical reason many drivers pay for the duplicate.
One more update the BMV filing will not handle: your auto insurance carrier. Insurers rate policies partly on the vehicle’s overnight “garaging address,” and a mismatch can support a denied claim later. Call your insurer the same week you move.