State service guide

Connecticut address and name change: 48-hour update rule, printable license label, and SSA-first name corrections

Connecticut treats address changes and name changes very differently. Address changes are mostly a record update: the DMV says residents must report the change within 48 hours, the online update is free, and the practical next step is usually to print or obtain an address label and place it on the back of the current license instead of waiting for a new card. Name changes are a separate in-person transaction. Connecticut wants the Social Security Administration updated first, can take up to 48 hours to recognize that SSA change, and then requires an appointment, certified legal documents, surrender of the old credential, and a $30 replacement fee.

Open official source View Connecticut services
Address deadline Connecticut says you must update DMV within 48 hours of an address change
Address-change cost Updating the DMV address record is free, but a duplicate card with the new address costs $30
Name-change first step Update the Social Security Administration first and allow up to 48 hours for processing before going to DMV
Name-change format Name changes to a Connecticut license or ID are handled by in-person appointment only

Overview

What this page helps you verify

A useful Connecticut address and name change page should explain that the state separates record maintenance from card replacement. For an address change, Connecticut mainly wants the DMV record updated immediately and then wants the current registration and physical card marked correctly. For a name change, the state expects a fresh credential transaction with Social Security synchronization, original legal documents, and an in-person appointment. These are not interchangeable workflows, even though national DMV pages often collapse them into one checklist.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-17. This page was manually upgraded against service-specific official sources, but requirements can still change quickly.

Usually needed

Documents and information to prepare

  • For an online address update, your exact name as it appears on the credential, date of birth, current DMV address, Connecticut license or ID number, and Social Security number
  • If you want a replacement card showing the new address on its face, payment for the $30 duplicate-card fee
  • For a name change, a completed Change of Name Request (Form E-78)
  • Your current Connecticut driver's license or non-driver ID card to surrender during the material-change transaction
  • Certified legal proof of the name change such as a marriage license, civil union certificate, divorce decree, or probate court document

Typical flow

What the process often looks like

  1. Update your address with Connecticut DMV within 48 hours, usually through the online service, and keep a copy of the receipt if you want transaction proof.
  2. Cross out the old address on each vehicle registration and write the new one in the space provided, because Connecticut treats that as part of the update process.
  3. Get an address label from a Connecticut police department or print one yourself, then place it on the back of the current license or ID unless you choose to buy a duplicate.
  4. For a legal name change, update the Social Security Administration first and wait for DMV's stated processing lag before making the appointment.
  5. Bring Form E-78, your current credential, the certified name-change document, and payment to the in-person DMV appointment, then surrender the old card and use the temporary paper credential while the corrected card is issued.

Address updates

Connecticut mainly wants the record fixed fast, not the card automatically reprinted

That is the key practical distinction for most address-only changes.

  • Connecticut requires residents with a registration, driver's license, or non-driver ID to update DMV within 48 hours of an address change.
  • The address update itself is free and becomes effective once the online transaction is successfully processed.
  • After the update, Connecticut tells you to cross out the old address on your registration, write in the new one, and place an address label on the back of the current license or ID.

Replacement card choice

An address change does not automatically mean a fresh plastic card is coming

That is easy to miss if you assume every DMV update triggers a reissue.

  • Connecticut says you can keep using the current credential with the back-of-card address label after changing the record.
  • If you want the new address printed on the face of the credential, you must request a duplicate driver's license or non-driver ID.
  • The duplicate-card fee for that reprint is $30.

Name changes

Connecticut treats a legal name change as an in-person identity transaction, not as an online edit

The SSA-first rule and surrender requirement are the practical points most people need to know.

  • Name updates to a Connecticut driver's license or non-driver ID are provided by appointment only at DMV hub or DMV express offices.
  • The DMV says to file the name change with the Social Security Administration first, and it may take up to 48 hours before DMV can process the update.
  • Original documents are required, photocopies and religious marriage certificates are not accepted, and the former credential must be surrendered when the corrected credential is issued.

Accuracy notes

Where people get tripped up

  • Connecticut's 48-hour address rule is unusually short and should not be watered down into a generic 10-day or 30-day warning.
  • The address workflow is mostly record update plus label, not automatic reissuance.
  • Name change guidance should always mention the SSA-first step and the in-person surrender of the old credential.

FAQ

Common questions

  • Do I have to buy a new Connecticut license after moving?

    No. Connecticut requires the address record to be updated within 48 hours, but for a standard address-only change you can usually place an address label on the back of the current card instead of buying a duplicate.

  • Can I change my Connecticut driver's license name online?

    No. Connecticut handles name updates by in-person appointment only after you first update your Social Security record.

  • Can I update my driver's license name and registration name in one DMV visit?

    Yes. Connecticut says you can handle both during one DMV appointment if you bring the required registration affidavit and certified name-change documents.

Sources

Official references used for this page

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