Changing Name and/or Gender on Your Driver's License

Changing Name Only

You will need to bring with you to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) office:

1. Name change papers - A court order showing your legal name change.
2. Your Social Security Card with your new legal name - After obtaining a name change court order you should first go the social security office to change your records there, before attempting to do so at the RMV.
3. Cash for the RMV fee. (check RMV site http://www.mass.gov/rmv/ for current fees)

Although changing your name on driver's license is standard procedure for RMV employees, there have been some incidents were a clerk will try to deny a name change. As long as you have all the necessary legal paperwork you cannot be denied a name change. A court order has higher legal standing than an RMV policy.

If you are denied the name change by the clerk ask to speak with a supervisor. Record the name of the clerk, date, time, and reason you were given for the denial. Record the name, date, time, and outcome of speaking with the supervisor. If you are still denied by the supervisor ask to speak with the RMV branch manager, again record name, date, time and outcome.

For information on the RMV policy, click here

Although the policy states you do not need any documents, other policies listed in the driver's manual states you do need court order name change papers.

Changing Gender

You will need:

1. Name change papers - A court order showing your legal name change.
2. A completed RMV Application Form
3. A completed Gender Designation Change Form, signed by you and a medical provider attesting to the gender that you consider yourself to be. The medical provider should be either a licensed physician, therapist or counselor, or psychiatric social worker.

The RMV policy no longer requires a person to submit medical proof of sex reassignment surgery or an amended birth certificate. The next edition of the Registry of Motor Vehicles Driver's Manual will reflect the agency's policy amendments.

The new policy is not yet available on the RMV website.

MTPC is recording all incidents of denial, discrimination, harassment because someone is transgender and/or requesting a name change or gender change on their license. If this has happened to you, please take a moment to fill out our RMV Experience Report. We'll use your feedback to track how well the new policy is being implemented, and to advocate with the Registry if and when problems arise. We do not take legal action on behalf of any individual, we only use the information for advocacy purposes.