Updating your driver’s license and forwarding your new address might not be at the top of your moving to-do list, but it’s an important step. Unfortunately, this can be a complicated, time-consuming, and frustrating process that many movers put on the back burner.
This procrastination can come back to haunt you later, as all states require updating your address and driver’s license. Failure to do so after a certain period of time can result in fines, charges, the loss of motor vehicle insurance, and a whole host of other problems. We’re here to help make this process a little easier with this quick guide to updating your license and registration when moving.
Do You Need to Update Your License When You Move?
When moving to another state, you’ll need to update your license and registration. Each state’s laws vary, but they all require new residents to contact the local DMV and get an updated driver’s license. There are some exceptions to this. For example, in some states, college students are not required to update their licenses if they are attending university.
If you are moving in-state, the rules can vary. Some states require you to get a new license, while others only require you to update the DMV with a change of address. Thankfully, this process is quick and easy in most states, as you can fill out a change of address form online for your new address. After doing so, states will even send you a new license in the mail once your information is updated.
What Are Each State’s Rules for Updating a Driver’s License?
State-by-state laws regarding updating driver’s licenses can get messy, as each state is different, and their respective DMV, DOT, RMV, and GOV websites can be unclear. To help save you some time and avoid confusion, what follows is a comprehensive list of each state’s transportation departments, along with how long you have to update your license and registration. You can follow the provided links to the appropriate DMV websites to schedule an appointment and check up on state-specific documentation requirements.
State | State Transportation Dept. | Time to Update License for Interstate Move | Time to Update License for Out of State Move | Time to Update Registration |
Alabama | Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Licensing Division | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Alaska | Division of Motor Vehicles | Immediately | Within 90 Days | Within 10 Days |
Arizona | Dept. of Transportation | Within 10 Days | Immediately | Immediately |
Arkansas | Dept. of Motor Vehicles | Unspecified | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
California | Dept. of Motor Vehicles | Within 10 Days | Within 10 Days | Within 20 Days |
Colorado | Division of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Connecticut | Dept. of Motor Vehicles | Within 48 Hours | Within 30 Days | Within 60 Days |
Delaware | Division of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Florida | DHSMV | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Georgia | Department of Driver’s Services | Within 60 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Hawaii | Department of Transportation and Highways | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Idaho | Division of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | Within 90 Days | Within 90 Days |
Illinois | Office of the Secretary of State | Within 30 Days | Within 90 Days | Within 30 Days |
Indiana | Bureau of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Iowa | Iowa Motor Vehicle Division | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Kansas | Department of Revenue | Unspecified | Within 90 Days | Within 90 Days |
Kentucky | Circuit Clerks Office | Within 10 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 15 Days |
Louisiana | Office of Motor Vehicles | Within 10 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Maine | Bureau of Motor Vehicles | Within 10 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Maryland | Motor Vehicles Administration | Within 30 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Massachusetts | Registry of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | As Soon as Residency is Established | As Soon as Residency is Established |
Michigan | Secretary of State Office | As soon as residency is established | As soon as residency is established | As soon as residency is established |
Minnesota | DVSH | Within 30 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Mississippi | Department of Public Safety | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Missouri | Department of Revenue Office | As soon as residency is established | As soon as residency is established | As soon as residency is established |
Montana | Country Treasurer Motor Vehicle Office | Within 10 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Nebraska | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 60 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Nevada | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
New Hampshire | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
New Jersey | Motor Vehicle Commission Office | Within One Week | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
New Mexico | MVD | Within 10 Days | As soon as you move | Within 60 Days |
New York | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 10 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
North Carolina | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 60 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
North Dakota | Department of Transportation | Within 10 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Ohio | Deputy Registrar License Agency | Unspecified | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Oklahoma | Department of Public Safety | Within 10 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Oregon | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Pennsylvania | Department of Transportation | Within 15 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 20 Days |
Rhode Island | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 10 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
South Carolina | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 10 Days | Within 45 Days | Within 45 Days |
South Dakota | Department of Public Safety | Unspecified | Within 90 Days | Within 90 Days |
Tennessee | Driver Services Division | Within 10 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Texas | Department of Public Safety | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Utah | Driver License Division | Within 10 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Vermont | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 30 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Washington | Department of Drivers Licensing | Within 10 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Washington D.C. | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 30 Days |
West Virginia | Department of Motor Vehicles | Within 20 Days | Within 30 Days | Within 30 Days |
Wisconsin | Department of Transportation | Within 10 Days | Within 60 Days | Within 60 Days |
Wyoming | Department of Transportation | Within 10 Days | Within 1 Year | Within 30 Days |
What Documentation Will You Need to Bring to the DMV?
Once you find the right department to get ahold of, you need to schedule an appointment and head down with the appropriate documentation. What you need depends on the state, with some stricter states requiring you to retake your driver’s examination. However, most departments require you to bring the following documents:
- Your current driver’s license from your old state, or at the very least, your old license number
- Further proof of identity, such as a passport, identification card, birth certificate, social security card, etc. Some states require multiple pieces of identification, while others require only one.
- Your social security number
- Proof of residency
- Documentation on legal name changes, if applicable
- Documentation proving citizenship, if applicable
- Proof of insurance
Do You Need to Update Your Vehicle Registration?
Each state requires you to update your vehicle registration when you move. Thankfully, you can take care of this while at the DMV when getting your new driver’s license. Be sure to check the state rules for updating vehicle registration, as the required documents are different than those for updating a license such as:
- The out-of-state vehicle title
- The out-of-state registration card
- The vehicle’s license plates
- Proof of in-state emission tests
- Proof of in-state insurance
- Proof of new mailing address
- A photo ID card
You will also need to pay a registration fee and a new plate fee alongside the cost of your new license. Keep in mind that these fees add up quickly and, depending on the state, can be quite costly.
Do You Need to Update Your Auto Insurance?
One of the key documents all DMVs will require of you is proof of insurance. Without this, you will not be able to get a new license. You will need to call your car insurance company to verify your new residency and have your insurance policy transferred to your new state. Keep in mind that some insurance companies do not operate in every state. If this happens, you will need to find a different insurance company. Finally, some insurance companies require updating your license before transferring you to a new home. In these cases, bring proof of current out-of-state insurance with you to the DMV.
What Happens if You Don’t Update Your Driver’s License?
If you do not update your driver’s license and insurance, you will eventually be driving with an invalid driver’s license. Driving with an invalid, out-of-state license can lead to tickets, fines, and other unpleasant consequences. Furthermore, your insurance will also go out the window after a time. Driving uninsured is illegal and considered a misdemeanor offense in most states.
Key Takeaways
If you move interstate or to a new state, you will need to contact the DMV to update your license. Each state has different rules, departments, time frames, and documentation requirements you will need to follow to get a new license. At the DMV, you may need to retake a driving test, have an eye exam, and pay various fees before getting your license. After everything is said and done, you will need to contact your insurance provider to transfer your policy or, potentially, find a new insurance company.
It’s never fun to go down to the DMV, as the wait times, driver’s tests, vision tests, and steep fees can be challenging. But this process is a part of moving and is required by every resident of each state.