Last Update: September 16, 2026

Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Minnesota

Vehicle registration information in Minnesota may need to be updated after an address change, a legal name change, a vehicle purchase or transfer, moving to the state, or an error in the registration record. Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, administers vehicle registration and titling, while most routine transactions are completed through deputy registrar offices located throughout the state. The filing point for a change depends on whether the update affects the registration alone or extends to the title record.

Minnesota Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

Minnesota requires every motor vehicle operated on public streets and highways to be registered and to display valid number plates. A registration update or related transaction may be required in the following situations:

• A physical or mailing address has changed, which may affect where registration renewal notices are sent.
• A legal name has changed; DVS requires the name change to be completed on the driver's license or ID card and on vehicle title records.
• A vehicle has been purchased or transferred, including transfers between private parties, which require an application for a new certificate of title as described under vehicle titles.
• A person has newly moved into Minnesota and must register the vehicle within the period allowed by state law.
• The registration card or certificate of title contains incorrect information that must be corrected.
• A license plate may be transferred to a newly acquired vehicle; transferring a special plate to another vehicle carries a $5 transfer fee.

Where to File a Minnesota Vehicle Registration Change

Minnesota processes vehicle registration transactions through deputy registrar offices, which operate on behalf of Driver and Vehicle Services and are located throughout the state. Registrations may be renewed online, in person, or by mail, and address updates for motor vehicles may be completed at a deputy registrar's office or online through DVS e-services.

Document-based filings may also be mailed directly to DVS. A completed application to title and register a motor vehicle may be submitted in person at a deputy registrar office or mailed to Driver and Vehicle Services with the appropriate fees. Title transactions, including transfers, corrections, and duplicate title applications, are likewise submitted through deputy registrar offices or by mail to DVS at 445 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Minnesota Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

DVS instructs vehicle owners to keep the motor vehicle address current so that registration renewal notices are delivered. The address on file for a motor vehicle can be updated at a deputy registrar's office or online once a MyDVS profile has been created.

DVS address-change guidance for driver's licenses and ID cards also directs owners to update the address for motor vehicles at a deputy registrar's office or online. Because registrations expire on the last day of the month displayed on the plates, keeping the address current helps ensure that the renewal notice arrives before the registration period ends.

Minnesota Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change affects both the driver's license or ID record and the vehicle title. DVS requires the name change to be recorded with the Social Security Administration first, because the full legal name must match the Social Security record, before visiting a renewal office with a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order that specifies the name change. DVS also directs owners not to forget to change the name on vehicle titles.

Minnesota processes corrections and name changes on title records as title transactions. The title fee schedule shows a title fee of $8.25 that applies to initial title applications, title transfers, title corrections, and name changes. After the title record is corrected, the vehicle registration is updated to match.

Correcting Incorrect Information on a Minnesota Registration Record

Minnesota distinguishes between corrections to the registration record and corrections to the title record.

For the registration record, a replacement registration card may be requested through the Application for Duplicate Title, Registration, Cab or Lien Card form. The fee for a duplicate registration card is $1.

For the title record, the Application for Corrected Title/Odometer is used when information is printed incorrectly on a certificate of title or when alteration or erasure has occurred on the title. The completed form is attached to the current certificate of title and submitted through a deputy registrar's office or by mail to DVS.

When the original title has been lost, mutilated, or stolen, the owner may apply for a duplicate title at a deputy registrar's office, where same-day printing may be available, or by mail to DVS.

Minnesota Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

Several Minnesota deadlines may affect a registration update:

• Registration expires on the last day of the month displayed on the plates; the renewal must be purchased by that date, and the new registration stickers must be affixed to the plate within 10 days after the registration period begins.
• New residents have 60 days to register a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, utility trailer, or house trailer. A vehicle must be registered immediately upon expiration of its current registration, or if it is a commercial trailer or truck.
• An owner who transfers a vehicle must complete and return the Notice of Sale, or transmit the required information electronically, within 10 days of the date of sale, and the transferee must apply for a new certificate of title within 20 calendar days after assignment of the title certificate. Failure to comply results in suspension of the vehicle's registration under Section 168.17, as provided in Section 168A.10.
• A $2 late transfer penalty applies when a transfer is not submitted within 20 calendar days of the sale date.
• Operating a vehicle on public streets or highways without registration is prohibited under Section 168.09. A person is not charged for failure to renew when the registrar did not send a renewal notice, and the registration is renewed with the tax and fees paid within 10 days of the citation.
• Minnesota's No-Fault Act requires owners of registered vehicles to maintain no-fault insurance, and proof of insurance must be carried in the vehicle at all times. When registering a vehicle, the owner must provide the name of the insurance company, the policy number, and the policy expiration date.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Minnesota?

Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), part of the Department of Public Safety, handles registration changes, title corrections, and related vehicle transactions. The table below shows the statewide fees Minnesota publishes for the registration-detail changes and related services for which it provides specific fee information.

Contact Information

Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 195, St. Paul, MN 55101-5190
Phone: (651) 201-7777
Official Website: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services