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Ohio BMV Change of Address

On this page
  1. Ohio’s 10-day rule
  2. Two records, two updates
  3. Your driver license / ID address
  4. Your vehicle registration address
  5. What to bring (checklist)
  6. Step by step
  7. Online options
  8. What causes return trips
  9. Common questions
  10. Helpful next pages
  11. before you visit
  12. Where this information comes from

Moved recently? You’ll need to update two Ohio BMV records: your driver license / state ID and each vehicle registration tied to your old address. A BMV deputy registrar can help with both, and some address changes can be handled online. Ohio gives you 10 days after a move, so take care of this before renewal mail or notices start going to the wrong place.

DMVQ is an independent informational resource, not a BMV deputy registrar or government agency. We do not process address changes or any transactions. Your vehicle title is a separate record at the County Clerk of Courts. A routine address change doesn’t require a new title.

Ohio’s 10-day rule

Under Ohio law, you must notify the BMV of an address change within 10 days of moving. This applies to both your driver license/ID record and your vehicle registration record. Keeping your address current matters for more than compliance: it’s how you receive registration renewal notices, recall notices, and any official BMV mail, and it keeps your records accurate if you’re ever stopped or in a crash.

Verify current rules and any deadline details on bmv.ohio.gov, as requirements can change.

Two records, two updates

It’s easy to assume one address change covers everything. It doesn’t. These are distinct records:

RecordWhat changesWhere
Driver license / state IDYour address on file (and optionally a new card showing it)Online or at a BMV deputy registrar
Vehicle registrationThe address tied to each vehicle you ownOnline (OPLATES) or at a BMV deputy registrar

If you have multiple vehicles, update the registration address for each of them. And if anyone else on your household’s records moved with you (a spouse on a shared registration, a teen driver), each person updates their own driver-license record.

Your driver license / ID address

When you change your driver-license or state-ID address, the BMV updates your record. Whether you also get a new card depends on what you request:

  • Update the address on file only. This satisfies the legal requirement and keeps your mail flowing. You may be issued a change-of-address notification to carry with your license.
  • Get a new (duplicate) license or ID showing the new address. This is a duplicate transaction with its own fee (duplicate operator license $29.00; duplicate ID $12.00, deputy registrar fee included).

If your move also means you need a REAL ID or you’re a new Ohio resident, handle those at the same visit, see REAL ID and new Ohio resident.

Your vehicle registration address

Update the registration address for each vehicle you own. A basic address update does not require buying a new printed credential, but if you request a duplicate registration card showing the new address, the Ohio BMV fee schedule lists that duplicate registration at $9.00.

Keeping your registration address current is what ensures your renewal notice reaches you before your plates expire.

What to bring (checklist)

For an in-person update at a BMV deputy registrar, bring:

  • Photo ID (your current Ohio driver license or state ID)
  • Your new residential address (and mailing address, if different)
  • Your vehicle registration(s) or plate number(s), if updating registration
  • Last four digits of the primary owner’s Social Security number
  • Payment, only if you want a duplicate license, ID, or registration card
  • If you’re also establishing residency or upgrading to REAL ID, the supporting documents for that transaction, see what to bring

Step by step

  1. Decide what you’re updating, license/ID, registration, or both (most movers need both).
  2. Choose online or in person. Many address updates can be done online (see below); in person lets you handle license, registration, REAL ID, and new-resident steps in one stop.
  3. Gather your documents from the checklist.
  4. Update your driver-license/ID address, online or at the counter.
  5. Update each vehicle’s registration address, online via OPLATES or at the counter.
  6. Decide on new cards. Request a duplicate license, ID, or registration card if you want the new address printed; otherwise the record update alone meets the requirement.

Online options

Ohio offers online address changes through its self-service portals: your driver-license/ID address via the BMV’s online services (OHID / MyBMV) and your vehicle registration address via OPLATES. You’ll need to visit a deputy registrar in person if you also need a REAL ID, are a new Ohio resident transferring an out-of-state license, or want help at the counter. See online vs. in-person to choose.

What causes return trips

  • Updating only one record. Your license and your registration are separate, change both.
  • Missing a vehicle. Each vehicle’s registration address is updated individually.
  • Assuming your card auto-updates. A record change doesn’t reprint your license; request a duplicate if you want the new address on the card.
  • Blowing the 10-day window. Ohio expects notification within 10 days of moving.
  • Forgetting downstream mail. An outdated address means missed renewal and recall notices, and a possible lapse if your plates expire unnoticed.
  • Confusing it with your title. A standard address change doesn’t touch your vehicle title at the Clerk of Courts.

Common questions

How long do I have to change my address with the Ohio BMV after moving? Ohio law requires you to notify the BMV within 10 days of an address change, for both your driver license/ID and your vehicle registration.

Do I have to change my address for both my license and my registration? Yes. They’re separate records. Update your driver-license/ID address and the registration address for each vehicle you own.

Can I change my BMV address online in Ohio? Yes, driver-license/ID address changes through the BMV’s online services and registration address changes through OPLATES. You’ll need to visit for REAL ID, new-resident transfers, or in-person help.

Does changing my address give me a new license? Not automatically. Updating the address on file meets the requirement; if you want the new address printed on a card, request a duplicate license or ID (with its own fee).

Is there a fee to change my address? A basic record update does not require buying a new printed credential. Fees apply if you request a duplicate license ($29.00), ID ($12.00), or registration card ($9.00) showing the new address.

I just moved to Ohio from another state, is this the same thing? No. New residents must transfer an out-of-state license and register their vehicles, which is a fuller process. See new Ohio resident.

Helpful next pages

before you visit

Just moved? Plan your visit to a BMV deputy registrar to update your license and registration, or check queueing options to save time.

Where this information comes from