How do I change my name on my car registration in Alabama?
Before a driver can change name on registration, a name change first must be reflected on a Social Security card and then a drivers license. To change name on car registration, the applicant must first make an appointment with the Social Security Administration or submit a completed Application for a Social Security Card and send it by mail along with applicable documentation. A car owner may begin changing name on car registration in AL once the legal name change is approved. However, the car owner must then wait until the new Social Security card arrives in the mail.
After this, the driver is one step closer to finalizing a change of name on car registration paperwork. However, before moving on to a name change for car registration papers, the DMV must also be notified of the new name so that primary forms of identification can be updated. A name change on a car registration can finally be requested after the DMV has been notified.
What to Do Before Changing Name on Car Registration in Alabama
As mentioned above, before changing name on car registration, you must first change your name with the SSA. A name change on car registration will only be approved if you take this step. To begin changing name on car registration in AL, you should fill out and complete an Application for a Social Security Card, also known as Form SS-5. You will also need to present proof of your name change, identity and citizenship so your identity and information can be verified. One document from each of the following categories must be provided:
Proof of Name Change ? marriage certificate, court order, divorce decree
Proof of Identity ? state driver?s license, Alabama identification card, U.S. passport
Proof of Citizenship ? U.S. birth certificate, certificate of naturalization
To get a name change car registration, you will need to submit original or certified copies of the documents listed above to the SSA. The Administration does not accept photocopied or illegible documents. In general, the Social Security Administration will not send you a new card if you have already received 10 replacements during your lifetime.
How to Change Name on Car Registration in Alabama
If a car owner is asking, ?How do I change my name on my car registration in Alabama,? then he or she first needs to make the sure the initial name change steps outlined above have been completed. If an individual does not take the preliminary steps of changing a name with the Social Security office, then no name modification can be carried out with the DOR.
After the Social Security card has been modified, the car owner can then begin the name change for car registration documentation. To start the process of changing a name on a car registration, the car owner must bring the following documentation to a local county Department of Public Safety office:
Current and valid AL driver?s license that shows the new name
Proof of name change, such as a court order, divorce decree or marriage certificate
Current car registration papers
Car certificate or title (if the owner has it)
There are fees for deciding to change a name on registration papers, so the car owner should also be prepared to complete payment. Otherwise, the name change request will not be processed.
Instances When Changing Name on Car Registration in Alabama Is Necessary
While some of the more common causes for changing a name on car registration is attributed to marriage or divorce, there can be other factors that prompt a name change. For instance, sometimes a court order is involved if an individual simply does not like his or her name and wants to modify it for personal or even professional reasons. Name changes on car registrations can also be prompted by adoptions. Regardless, after an individual undergoes a legal name change, all other legal documentation must also be updated.
Timeline for a Name Change on Car Registration in Alabama
There is no set timeline for a car owner to change a name on a registration after a legal name change has occurred. However, if you wish to get a name change on car registration, a 30-day window of time is generally recommended. This is because if some documentation has been updated but not others (such as a drivers license but not a car registration), then needless frustrations can occur because the information does not match.
Consequences to Delaying Changing Name on Car Registration in Alabama
If a name change for car registration paperwork is delayed, then this can create a host of other issues. For a car owner who wants to change name on Alabama car registration, having his or her name correspond across all legal paperwork is important, especially if a driver is pulled over by law enforcement for a traffic violation or is involved in a car accident. If a driver decides to start changing a name on car registration documents, it is important to ensure other documentation is updated as well.