Name Changes

If you are legally changing your name because of marriage, divorce or a court-approved legal name change, you must change your name with the Social Security Administration first. See Changing your name on your Social Security card. You must visit a Social Security office in person.

The DMV electronically verifies your name, birth date and social security number with the SSA. You may wish to wait for two or more business days for Social Security to update your records.

You must have your current license or ID and the original legal documents which authorize the change. For marriage, this must be the certified Marriage Certificate which is recorded with the County Recorder. The Marriage License issued before the ceremony is not acceptable. Divorce decrees or other court documents must be originals or certified copies.

You must visit a DMV Office to have a new driver license or ID card issued.  This cannot be done online or through the mail. The DMV will punch a hole in your existing license or ID and return it to you with an interim document. Your new license or ID will be mailed to you.

To transfer vehicles into a Family Trust, you must ask any lienholder to approve the change. The lienholder may ask you to sign either the title or a power of attorney, and may wish to refinance any loan. The lienholder will have to apply for the new title and issue you a letter, including the Vehicle Identification Number, stating they will do so. You may also satisfy the lien and bring the signed-off title to the DMV.

You must add the name of the insured trustee to the registration and title or request that your insurance company report the vehicle in the name of the trust. The name of the insured on the Nevada Evidence of Insurance card must match either a name of a trustee or the trust as the vehicle will be registered. This is necessary to comply with Nevada LIVE Insurance Validation. 

Please note the name of the trust can be a maximum of 34 characters. Bring the following items to a DMV Full-Service Office:

• Vehicle Title or lienholder letter
• Current registration
• Nevada Evidence of Insurance Card
• A completed Trustee Appointment and Powers Affidavit (VP-188)

An emissions inspection and registration renewal are not required.

You have the option of renewing your vehicle registration for a full year. You will need to complete an emissions inspection if required and if the last test was completed more than 90 days ago. Your expiration date will change if the current expiration date is more than 35 days away. Credit will be given for the unused portion of your current Nevada registration.

If you have a Governmental Services Tax Exemption for Veterans, Disabled Veterans, Surviving Spouses or the Blind, you may apply this to a vehicle registered to a trust by completing the Trust Affidavit for Exemptions (VP-242). This must be filed at the registration renewal each year.