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 change - After obtaining a legal name change you should go the social security office first and change your records there.
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. Amended birth certificate
3. Letter from a licensed doctor/surgeon stating you have has irreversible sex re-assignment surgery.

The policy, though no longer available on the RMV website, currently states a person needs to bring "gender change documents" to obtain a change of sex designation on their driver's license.

The above stated documents are what MTPC has been told are the gender change documents. MTPC recognizes not everyone is able to amend their birth certificates. If this is your situation you may need to work with a lawyer to change your driver's license.

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 form (click here). The information is used to advocate with the RMV for a policy change in regards to name changed and/or gender changes. We do not take legal action on behalf of any individual, we only use the information for advocacy purposes.