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Last updated: December 20, 2024
How to Change the Gender on Your Driver’s License
In some states, you must show proof of surgery or medical transition in order to change the gender on your license, while others do not have any such requirements.
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The United States leaves the laws regarding gender identity on your driver’s license and registration up to each state. While some states, like New York, let you change the gender on your driver’s license online without any medical proof of a gender transition, other states require proof of gender confirmation surgery. Meanwhile, some states haven’t addressed this issue at all or do not allow people to identify as transgender and nonbinary on their driver’s licenses. Below, we’ve explained the options in each state.
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How to Change the Gender on Your Driver’s License by State
The following states allow you to change the gender listed on your driver’s license to male, female, or in some states, nonbinary (usually written as “X” or “Not Specified”). Here’s how to do it.
| State | Requires proof of gender reassignment surgery? | Requires additional proof of gender identity? | Option for non-binary identification? | Link for online application | Physical application link | Fee to change permit/license |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | No | Yes, an amended birth certificate and U.S. court order granting a change of sex/gender. The form must also be completed/certified by an advanced nurse practitioner, psychologist, physical assistant, professional counselor, physician in medicine/osteopathy, or social worker. | No | n/a | Form D1 (DL application) and Form 427 (certification for change of sex designator on DL) | n/a |
| Arizona | No | Yes, a signed statement from a licensed physician that says the person is “irrevocably committed” to their gender transition.1 | No | n/a | n/a | $25 |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes, an emergency administrative rule put into effect in March 2024 requires an amended birth certificate (which can only be issued if a person gets a court order indicating “that the sex of an individual born in this state has been changed by surgical procedure.”) | No longer as of March 20242 | n/a | n/a | $165 to change your name ($165 in Saline County) and $10 for a duplicate license3 |
| California | No | No | Yes | https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/dl-id-online-app-edl-44/ | https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/gender-category-request-form-dmv-329s-pdf/ | $30-354 |
| Colorado | No | Yes, a Colorado birth certificate or form DR 2083 if under 18, which requires a licensed professional medical/health care provider to verify gender identity | Yes | n/a | https://drive.google.com/a/state.co.us/file/d/1PeYZd7U43ar6Flg8lFAT1Etg1EPdLVUy/view?usp=sharing | $0 |
| Connecticut | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DMV/20/29/B-385.pdf | $30 |
| Delaware | No | Yes, part of the form must be completed by a licensed U.S. medical or social service provider certifying their gender | No | n/a | https://www.dmv.de.gov/forms/driver_serv_forms/pdfs/gender_change_request_form.pdf | $1.15 for a change of name; $40 for a duplicate license5 |
| District of Columbia | No | No6 | Yes | n/a | https://dmv.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dmv/publication/attachments/Gender_Change_Policies.pdf | There is a fee, but the amount is not listed on the government website |
| Georgia | Yes, and the physician must state the date of the operation | Yes, a court order or physician’s letter certifying gender change is required. | No | https://dds.drives.ga.gov/_/ | n/a | $106 |
| Hawaii | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/csd/onlineforms/csddlapplicationform.pdf | There is a fee, but the amount is not listed on the government website |
| Idaho | No | Yes, a licensed professional must certify the person has “undergone a change of sex” | No | n/a | https://www.idaholegalaid.org/sites/idaholegalaid.org/files/Application%20to%20Change%20Sex%20Designation%20on%20a%20Driver%27s%20License%20or%20ID%20Card.pdf | $308 |
| Illinois | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a329.pdf | At renewal: $0
Not at renewal: $5 |
| Indiana | No | Yes, a physician’s signed and dated statement, on letterhead, that includes the language from 140 IAC 7-1.1-3 “<insert customer’s name> successfully underwent all treatment necessary to permanently change <insert customer’s name> gender from <insert prior gender> to <insert new gender>.”9 | No | n/a | https://forms.in.gov/Download.aspx?id=11817 | $9 |
| Iowa | No | Yes, a certified, amended birth certificate or a court-ordered change of sex designation with an official court seal. | No | n/a | n/a | $1010 |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes, a court order changing gender marker, a letter from a surgeon verifying completed gender reassignment surgery, an amended birth certificate | No | n/a | n/a | $15 for an updated license |
| Louisiana | No | Yes, a physician-signed medical statement stating the person has had a successful gender change/reassignment | No | n/a | n/a | $25, plus parish-specific fees |
| Maine | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/forms/GENDER%20DESIGNATION%20FORM.pdf | Renewal: $20-$59
Duplicate: $5 |
| Maryland | No | No | Yes | n/a | None required unless you are also changing your name11 | Renewal: $6
Duplicate: $20 |
| Massachusetts | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://www.mass.gov/doc/learners-permit-drivers-license-and-id-card-application/download | $25 |
| Michigan | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/10lawensn/Gender_Change_form_Fillable.pdf?rev=b73591b26d6344d9bc0e658e1104ef6b | $9 |
| Minnesota | No | No | Yes | https://onlineservices.dps.mn.gov/EServices/_/#1 | n/a | $17 |
| Missouri | No | Yes, a medical or social provider must verify gender “reassignment.”12 | No | n/a | As of August 2024, Missouri removed Form 5532 from its website. Individuals must submit medical documentation of “gender reassignment surgery,” or a court order declaring gender designation.13 | n/a |
| Montana | No | Yes, the state requires an amended birth certificate.14 | No | n/a | n/a | $90 |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes, doctors of medicine/osteopathy, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, or doctors of chiropractic must verify “sex reassignment procedures required for social gender recognition” | No | n/a | https://dmv.nebraska.gov/sites/dmv.nebraska.gov/files/doc/dls/forms/Certificationofsexreassignment.pdf | $5.00 |
| Nevada | No | No | Yes | n/a | n/a | $9.25 |
| New Hampshire | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://www.dmv.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt416/files/inline-documents/dsmv450.pdf | $3 |
| New Jersey | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://www.nj.gov/mvc/pdf/license/genderchange.pdf | $11 |
| New Mexico | No | No, but the application form must be notarized | Yes | n/a | https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/mvd10237.pdf | $18 |
| New York | No | No | Yes | https://transact3.dmv.ny.gov/UpdateSexIdentifier/?_ga=2.16987641.1579787477.1677073166-1075449368.1677073166 | https://dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv44.pdf | $12.50 |
| North Carolina | No | Yes, a physician, psychiatrist, physician’s assistant, licensed therapist, counselor, psychologist, case worker, or social worker must verify the gender identity in their “professional opinion.” The requested sex must match the birth certificate and must have a U.S. court order granting a change of sex/gender | No | n/a | https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/downloads/Documents/DL-300.pdf | $15 |
| North Dakota | No | Yes, a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse, psychologist, or psychiatrist must verify that “gender role transition” is completed/permanent | No | n/a | https://www.dot.nd.gov/forms/sfn61146.pdf | Not listed on the government website |
| Ohio | No | Yes, a physician, psychologist, therapist, nurse practitioner, or social worker needs to certify that they treat and counsel the person and that their gender identity is correct | No | n/a | https://publicsafety.ohio.gov/static/bmv2369.pdf | Not listed on the government website |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes, an original or certified court order for name change and a notarized statement on letterhead from a physician who performed a sex change operation that is “irreversible and permanent” | No | n/a | n/a | 4-year renewal: $38.50
4-year replacement: $25 |
| Oregon | No | Yes, a U.S. court document that proves gender change | Yes | n/a | https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/Pages/driverid/chg_gender_designation.aspx | Renewal: $40
Replacement: $26 |
| Pennsylvania | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DVSPubsForms/BDL/BDL%20Form/DL-32.pdf | $0 |
| Rhode Island | No | No | Yes | n/a | https://dmv.ri.gov/media/41/download?language=en | Duplicate: $27.50
Renewal: $62.50 |
| South Carolina | No | Yes, a court order certifying the applicant’s gender marker change or a replaced/amended birth certificate showing the correct gender | No | n/a | Not available. Many individuals report needing to hire a lawyer to change their gender marker in SC due to the complexity of the paperwork.15 | Not listed on the government website |
| Utah | No | Yes: “evidence of your medical history, care or treatment related to your transition (like a letter signed by a licensed medical provider that says you experience clinically significant distress because of the current sex on your birth certificate),
proof that you have outwardly expressed as the sex sought in your paperwork for the past 6 months, and proof that the change you are asking for is a true and an important part of your identity.”16 |
Yes | n/a | https://legacy.utcourts.gov/resources/forms/namechange/docs/1704FA_Petition_for_Name_or_Sex_Change.pdf | Renewal: $23
Duplicate: $23 |
| Vermont | No | No | Yes | https://dmv.vermont.gov/faq/how-do-i-change-the-gender-on-my-license-id#VOR | https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VL-040-Replacement_License.pdf | $20 |
| Virginia | No | No | Yes | https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/online-services/gender | https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/dl1p.pdf | $32 |
| Washington | No | No | Yes | https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/update-driver-license-information/change-your-gender-designation (to make an appointment) | https://dol.wa.gov/forms/view?combine=&field_topic_target_id=All&field_language_target_id=All&field_form_id_value=520043 | Free if only change is gender marker; $20 if you change your name as well |
| West Virginia | No | Yes, a licensed physician must certify gender identity | No | n/a | https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/DMVFormSearch/DMV-99-RO-GenderDesignationForm.pdf | $5 |
| Wisconsin | No | Yes, proof by court order under seal or physician’s note | No | n/a | https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/formdocs/mv3001.pdf | $14 |
| Wyoming | No | Yes, a statement signed by a physician, therapist, counselor, psychiatric social worker, or other medical/social service provider verifying that they treat the person and their gender identity will continue “for the foreseeable future” | No | n/a | https://www.dot.state.wy.us/files/live/sites/wydot/files/shared/Driver_Services/Forms/GENDER%20CHANGE%2020190620.pdf | $35 |
NOTE:
Less than half of states allow residents to list nonbinary gender identities on their driver’s licenses. Nationwide, 5 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 identify as transgender.17
Unfortunately, several states have made it harder or impossible to change gender markers on identification documents since we last updated this list, including Florida, Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas.
Will Your State Let You Change the Gender on Your Driver’s License?
Four states — Florida, Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas — explicitly do not allow for changes to gender markers on driver’s licenses. In other states, the process is difficult and sometimes impossible due to lack of available paperwork and unclear requirements or procedures. Additionally, some states still require you to undergo gender confirmation surgery to do so, a procedure that is not accessible or desirable to all transgender people.
Gender Confirmation Surgery Required
Among people 13 and older, 1.6 million identify as transgender in the United States.18 According to a study published in 2023, the number of patients undergoing gender-affirming surgery in the United States nearly tripled from 2016 to 2019.19
Some trans people don’t want to get gender-affirming surgery, preferring to stay physically the same or only undergo hormone treatment, dermatology changes, and voice therapy.20 Others may want such procedures, but encounter discrimination and barriers to entry into the healthcare system, along with financial, employment, and insurance hurdles, according to a study published in Sexual Research and Social Policy.21
The following states require surgery to update the gender marker on a driver’s license:
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Nebraska
- Oklahoma
Other Proof of Gender Change Required
Some states have vague language that doesn’t explicitly mandate gender confirmation surgery to change the gender on your driver’s license, but instead requires statements from physicians, court orders, or other documentation. For example, in Arizona, a licensed physician must sign a statement verifying that the person is “irrevocably committed to the gender-change process.”
These states do not explicitly ask for proof of gender confirmation surgery but still require proof of gender change. See the above chart to find out exactly what your state requires, in addition to or instead of gender confirmation surgery.
- Alaska22
- Colorado (for minors only)
- Delaware
- Indiana
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
No Proof Required
The states below let people change their genders on their licenses without proof of transition. Rather, individuals can simply work with their state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to update their information.
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
States That Have No Policy
These states do not have active policies either way, which makes it difficult or impossible for transgender residents to understand how to change their licenses.
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- South Dakota
Many states are currently legislating their policies, and requirements are changing rapidly. Check with the Movement Advancement Project for the most recent updates to your state’s gender marker change policy.23
In Alabama and Mississippi, individuals can apply for an amended birth certificate with an updated gender marker, which may allow them to change the gender marker on their driver’s license. Individuals in these states often report working with a lawyer due to the complexity and lack of clarity around requirements and procedures.
States That Do Not Allow Gender Marker Changes on Driver’s Licenses
These states do not allow residents to update their gender identity on legal documents.
- Florida
- Kansas
- Tennessee
- Texas
Conclusion
Most states allow residents to change their gender markers, but with varying degrees of difficulty and documentation. Unfortunately, many states have created more stringent requirements for name and gender marker changes. We’ll update this list with legislative changes as they come.
Senior Writer & Editor
A seasoned journalist and content strategist with over 10 years of editorial experience in digital media, Aliza Vigderman has written and edited hundreds of articles on the site, covering everything from plan coverages to discounts to state laws. Previously, she was a senior editor and industry analyst at the home and digital security website Security.org, previously called Security Baron. She has also contributed to The Huffington Post, SquareFoot, and Degreed. Aliza studied journalism at Brandeis University.
Citations
Arizona. VoteRiders. (2024).
https://www.voteriders.org/pride/arizona/Proposed Emergency Rule – Gender Information Required to be Displayed on an Arkansas Driver’s License or State-Issued Identification Card. STATE OF ARKANSAS Department of Finance and Administration. (2024, Mar 7).
https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FAssembly%2FMeeting+Attachments%2F045%2F26367%2FExhibit+B.01+-+DFA+Proposed+Emergency+Rule+-+Gender+on+DL+and+ID+Cards.3.7.2024.pdfName & Gender Change Guide. Arkansas Transgender Equality Coalition. (2024).
https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/resources/ARTECGuide-FINAL.pdfDMV to Offer REAL ID Driver License and ID Cards January 22. California Department of Motor Vehicles. (2028, Jan 11).
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/news-and-media/dmv-to-offer-real-id-driver-license-and-id-cards-january-22/Motor Vehicle Fees. Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. (2017, Jan 3).
https://dmv.de.gov/Common/DMVFees/index.shtmlPROCEDURE FOR ESTABLISHING OR CHANGING GENDER DESIGNATION ON A DRIVER LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD. GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. (2024).
https://dmv.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dmv/publication/attachments/DC%20DMV%20Form%20Gender%20Self-Designation%20English.pdfUpdate/Change License Information?. Georgia Department of Driver Services. (2024).
https://dds.georgia.gov/georgia-licenseid/existing-licenseid/how-do-i-update-licenseLGBTQIA+ Rights. ACLU of Idaho. (2024).
https://www.acluidaho.org/en/know-your-rights/lgbtqia-rightsAmending Your Driver’s License or Identification Card. Bureau of Motor Vehicles Indiana. (2024).
https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/#genderFees and license types. Iowa Department of Transportation. (2024).
https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverslicense/fees-and-license-typeChanging Gender Designation. Maryland Vehicle Administration. (2024).
https://mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/Pages/changing-gender.aspxMissouri agency quietly made it harder to change gender marker on driver’s licenses. Missouri Independent. (2024, Aug 19).
https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/19/missouri-agency-quietly-made-it-harder-to-change-gender-marker-on-drivers-licenses/Missourians looking to change gender on driver’s license have more hoops to jump through. Springfield News-Leader. (2024, Aug 20).
https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/2024/08/20/missouri-drivers-license-gender-identification-form-removed/74864508007/Lawsuit: DOJ quietly changed policy for changing gender markers on driver’s licenses. Daily Montanan. (2024, Apr 18).
https://dailymontanan.com/2024/04/18/lawsuit-doj-quietly-changed-policy-for-changing-gender-markers-on-drivers-licenses/Name and gender marker changes: Learn how to update your name and gender marker in South Carolina. South Carolina Legal Services. (2022, Jun 9).
https://sclegal.org/name-and-gender-marker-changes-learn-how-to-update-your-name-and-gender-marker-in-south-carolina/Petition for Name or Sex Change (Gender Marker Change) – Adult. Utah Courts. (2024).
https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/name-change/sex-change.htmlAbout 5% of young adults in the U.S. say their gender is different from their sex assigned at birth. Pew Research Center. (2022, Jun 7).
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/06/07/about-5-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-say-their-gender-is-different-from-their-sex-assigned-at-birth/How Many Adults and Youth Identify as Transgender in the United States?. Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. (2022, Jun).
https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-adults-united-states/National Estimates of Gender-Affirming Surgery in the US. JAMA Network Open. (2023, Aug 23).
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808707Gender Affirmation: Do I Need Surgery? Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2023).
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/gender-affirmation-do-i-need-surgeryBarriers to Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals. Sex Res Policy via PubMed Central. (2017, Aug 4).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5842950/Changing identification details. Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. (2024).
https://dmv.alaska.gov/credential-services/changing-identification-details/Identity Document Laws and Policies: Gender Markers on Driver’s Licenses. Movement Advancement Project. (2024, Sep 5).
https://www.mapresearch.org/img/maps/citations-id-drivers-license.pdf
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