Name change after marriage in Washington
To change your name after marriage in Washington, update Social Security first, then your Washington driver's license / REAL ID, then your passport. Do it in that order and you won't get turned away at the counter on a name mismatch. Below are Washington's exact DMV steps and fees, each linked to the real .gov page it came from, then the federal steps that apply in every state.
Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL)
Washington DMV name-change steps
Change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) FIRST
Before DOL can update your driver license, ID card, or EDL/EID, you must update your name with the SSA (ssa.gov). For an EDL specifically, DOL states you must visit an SSA office to change your name and then allow up to 5 business days for the SSA to notify DOL before you can update the EDL. For the ID card, DOL says to bring your new Social Security card with your updated name into the office.
SourceObtain a certified marriage certificate
You need a marriage certificate filed after the ceremony with the county or authorized issuing authority AND certified. Church or wedding chapel forms are not acceptable. To get a certified copy, contact the county auditor where the marriage license was filed.
SourceMake an appointment and apply IN PERSON at a driver licensing office
A name change cannot be done by mail or online. You must make an appointment to visit a driver licensing office, bring your original documents (photocopies are not accepted), and have a new photo taken for your new card.
SourcePay the fee for a new license/ID with updated information
DOL requires payment for a new license/ID card with the updated information. The change-name pages do not list a specific dollar amount for a name-change card and direct applicants to the driver licensing fees page (fee varies — see source).
SourceSeparately update your vehicle registration if you own a vehicle
DOL explicitly states that updating your name on your driver license does NOT change it on your vehicle registration; you must do that separately.
Source
What you need to bring
- Certified marriage certificate (filed after the ceremony with the county or authorized issuing authority and certified) — church/wedding chapel forms are NOT acceptable
- Updated Social Security record / new Social Security card showing your new name (SSA name change must be completed first)
- Original documents only — photocopies are NOT accepted
- Payment for the new license/ID card fee
Washington fees
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New driver license / ID card with updated name information | fee varies — see source. The DOL change-name pages state a fee is required ('Payment for the fee for a new license with updated information' / 'You may need to pay a fee') but do not list a specific dollar amount; they direct applicants to the driver licensing fees page. | Washington DOL |
| Standard driver license renewal (context only, not the name-change card fee) | DOL renew page states a standard license costs $10 per year to renew; you may renew for 6 years ($61) or 8 years ($81), including a $1 technology fee. This is the renewal fee schedule, NOT a stated name-change/replacement fee. | Washington DOL |
Watch out for these in Washington
SSA NAME CHANGE MUST COME FIRST. DOL requires you to update your name with the Social Security Administration before it can update your license/ID/EDL. For an EDL, DOL says to allow up to 5 BUSINESS DAYS for the SSA to notify DOL after your SSA change before you apply — going to DOL too soon is a common multi-week-wasting failure.
IN-PERSON ONLY. A name change must be done at a driver licensing office by appointment; it cannot be done by mail or online. Bring ORIGINAL documents — photocopies are NOT accepted.
Marriage certificate must be CERTIFIED (filed with the county/authorized issuing authority). Church or wedding chapel forms are NOT acceptable. Get a certified copy from the county auditor where the license was filed.
Washington's standard driver license/ID is NOT REAL ID-compliant. Washington's REAL ID-compliant credential is the Enhanced Driver License (EDL) / Enhanced ID (EID). As of May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant document is required to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities.
Updating your name on your driver license does NOT automatically update your vehicle registration — that must be done separately.
No deadline is stated by DOL for updating your NAME after marriage (the 10-day deadline DOL lists applies only to ADDRESS changes, not name changes).
The federal steps (every state)
Your Washington DMV step sits between Social Security and your passport. The three steps below are the same wherever you live.
Official Washington & federal sources
Every step is backed by an official government page — confirm the current rules on the source before you act.
- https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/update-driver-license-information/change-your-name-or-address-your-driver-license
- https://dol.wa.gov/id-cards/update-id-card-or-enhanced-id-card-eid
- https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/enhanced-driver-license-edl/change-name-or-address-enhanced-driver-license-edl
- https://dol.wa.gov/id-cards/real-id
- https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/renew-or-replace-driver-license/renew-driver-license
See your exact steps free
Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you what to do first, second, and third for your exact situation — each step linked to the real .gov page. No account, no card.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a deadline to update my license name after marriage in Washington?
- No deadline is stated by DOL for updating your NAME after marriage (the 10-day deadline DOL lists applies only to ADDRESS changes, not name changes).
- Do I change my name at the Washington DMV or Social Security first?
- Social Security first. Washington's DMV verifies your name and SSN against SSA's records, so updating SSA before the DMV prevents your license or REAL ID from being rejected on a mismatch.
- What documents does Washington need to change my license name after marriage?
- Certified marriage certificate (filed after the ceremony with the county or authorized issuing authority and certified) — church/wedding chapel forms are NOT acceptable See the full .gov-verified list below, each linked to its official Washington page.
- How much does a Washington name change cost?
- New driver license / ID card with updated name information: fee varies — see source. The DOL change-name pages state a fee is required ('Payment for the fee for a new license with updated information' / 'You may need to pay a fee') but do not list a specific dollar amount; they direct applicants to the driver licensing fees page.; Standard driver license renewal (context only, not the name-change card fee): DOL renew page states a standard license costs $10 per year to renew; you may renew for 6 years ($61) or 8 years ($81), including a $1 technology fee. This is the renewal fee schedule, NOT a stated name-change/replacement fee.. The federal Social Security update is always free.
- When was this Washington guidance last checked?
- 2026-06-14. We checked every step against Washington's official pages and show you the date so you know it's current — and we link every step to the real .gov page it came from.
Not legal advice · Not a government service · Not affiliated with any government agency.