Change Your Address Online, by Mail, or In Person at the BMV

Ohio lets you change your address three ways: online through the BMV website (fastest, takes minutes), by mail (takes 1–2 weeks), or in person at any BMV office (same-day processing). You do not need to renew your license to change the address — it is a separate transaction. The online method works only if your license is not expired and you have not had more than one address change in the past year through the online system.

If your license expired more than six months ago, you cannot use the online method and must go in person or mail in a form. If you have moved more than once in the past 12 months and already used the online system once, you must visit a BMV office or mail in your request the second time.

Key Takeaways

  • The online method at bmv.ohio.gov takes 5–10 minutes and costs nothing if you do not request a replacement card.
  • By mail, send Form DL 43 (Address Change) with your current license and a proof-of-residence document to the BMV; processing takes 1–2 weeks.
  • In person at any BMV office, bring your current license and proof of residence; you walk out with an updated license the same day.
  • Proof of residence must show your name and new address and be dated within the last 60 days — utility bills, lease agreements, and bank statements all work.
  • You can request a replacement card with your new address for $8.50, but the address updates for free if you keep your current card.

Online Address Change Through the BMV Website

Go to bmv.ohio.gov and select "Change Address Online" from the main menu. You will need your current Ohio driver's license number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your date of birth. The system will verify your identity and ask you to enter your new address.

Once you submit, the BMV mails you a new license with the updated address at no cost. The card arrives in 7–10 business days. Your old license remains valid until the new one arrives. This method works only if your license is current (not expired) and you have not already changed your address online within the past 12 months.

Mailing in Form DL 43 for Address Change

read or request Form DL 43 (Address Change) from the BMV website or pick one up at any BMV office. Fill in your current license number, name, date of birth, and new address. Attach a copy of your current driver's license (front and back) and one document proving your residence at the new address.

Mail the completed form and documents to: Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 16520, Columbus, OH 43216–6520. Include a check or money order for $8.50 if you want a replacement card with your new address printed on it. If you do not include payment, the BMV updates your address in the system for free, but you keep your old card with the old address printed on it. Processing by mail takes 1–2 weeks after the BMV receives your envelope.

In-Person Address Change at a BMV Office

Visit any BMV office with your current driver's license and one proof-of-residence document. No appointment is needed, though wait times vary by location and time of day. Bring your documents to the counter, tell the clerk you are changing your address, and they will process it on the spot.

You can request a replacement card for $8.50, which the BMV will print and give you before you leave. If you decline the replacement card, your address updates in the system when ready, but your old license card still shows the old address. Either way, the address change is complete the same day.

What Counts as Proof of Residence

Your proof-of-residence document must show your name, your new address, and be dated within the last 60 days. The BMV accepts utility bills (electric, gas, water, internet), lease agreements or rental contracts, bank or credit card statements, mortgage documents, property tax bills, and homeowner's insurance policies. A government-issued ID with your new address also works.

Documents that do not work include mail from the post office, cell phone bills, or anything without both your name and address visible. If you live with someone else and the bill is in their name, bring a signed letter from the person whose name is on the bill, along with the bill itself, stating that you live there.

Timeline and What to Expect

Online processing is the fastest: your new license arrives in 7–10 business days, and your address updates in the system when ready. By mail, the entire process takes 1–2 weeks from the day the BMV receives your envelope, plus mail delivery time on both ends. In person, the address change is complete the same day; if you order a replacement card, you receive it before you leave.

Your old license remains valid for driving until your new one arrives (online method) or until you leave the BMV office (in-person method). You do not need to surrender your old card when you change your address — the BMV straightforward updates its records.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not try to use the online method if your license has expired or if you have already changed your address online once in the past year. The system will reject your request, and you will have to start over by mail or in person. Do not send original documents by mail — always send copies, because the BMV does not return them.

Do not assume your address is updated just because you changed it with the post office. The post office and the BMV are separate systems. You must notify the BMV directly. If your proof-of-residence document is older than 60 days, the BMV may reject it; get a current utility bill or bank statement if yours is dated further back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to get a new card when I change my address?

No. The BMV updates your address in the system for free. Your old card remains valid for driving, even though it shows the old address. You can pay $8.50 for a replacement card with the new address printed on it, but it is optional.

What if I do not have a utility bill or lease in my name?

Bring a bank or credit card statement, mortgage document, property tax bill, or homeowner's insurance policy — all work as proof of residence. If the bill is in someone else's name, bring the bill plus a signed letter from that person confirming you live there.

How long does the online method take?

Your new license arrives in 7–10 business days. The address updates in the BMV system right away, so you can use your old license for driving until the new card arrives. In-person changes are complete the same day.

Can I change my address if my license is expired?

No, not online. You must go in person or mail in Form DL 43. If your license has been expired for more than six months, you may need to renew it at the same time; contact your local BMV office to confirm what documents you need.

What if I moved twice in one year?

You can change your address online once per year. If you have already done so and moved again, you must visit a BMV office or mail in Form DL 43 for the second change.