Moving is a giant to-do list, and one task quietly touches almost everything else: telling the right people and organizations that your address has changed. Miss a few, and you end up with forwarded bills that arrive late, a tax refund mailed to your old house, or a renewal notice you never see. The good news is that a change of address is mostly a matter of working through a checklist once, in the right order.
This guide walks you through exactly who to notify when you move, how to file your official change of address with USPS, and how to make sure nothing important slips through the cracks. Keep it handy in the weeks around your move and check off each item as you go.
Start with your USPS change of address
Filing a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service is the single most important step, because mail forwarding buys you a safety net while you update everyone else. When USPS forwards your mail, letters sent to your old address get rerouted to your new one, so a bill or notice you forgot to update still reaches you.
You can file in one of three ways:
- Online at the official USPS site (usps.com/move). There’s a small identity-verification fee — about $1.25 as of 2026 — charged to a credit or debit card in your name.
- In person at any Post Office, which is free. Ask for the Mover’s Guide packet and fill out the change of address form.
- By phone, for a similarly small verification fee.
A word of caution: if you search online, you may land on third-party sites charging $40 or more to “process” your change of address. That is not the official service. Always start at usps.com/move so you pay only the small verification fee.
A few timing details worth knowing: forwarding can begin within about three business days, but it’s smart to allow up to two weeks. You can set the start date up to 90 days in the future, so filing a couple of weeks before your move is a good habit. A permanent change forwards most first-class mail for 12 months, which gives you a full year to update everyone directly. Treat that year as a countdown, not a substitute for updating your address at the source.
Update your government and identity records
Government agencies don’t always get their information from USPS, so you’ll need to notify them directly. These matter because they’re tied to your license, your vote, your benefits, and your taxes.
- Driver’s license and vehicle registration. Most states set a deadline. In Texas, for example, you’re required to update the address on both your driver’s license and every vehicle registration within 30 days of moving — you can do it online through the state’s change of address system or in person. Other states have their own windows, so check your state’s rules soon after you arrive.
- Voter registration. Update it so your polling place and mailed ballots are correct. In many states you can handle this at the same time you update your license.
- IRS and state tax agencies. The IRS uses your address for refunds and official notices. You can update it on your next return or by filing the IRS change of address form.
- Social Security, Medicare, or VA benefits, if they apply to you.
- Voter and jury records generally update when your license and registration do, but it’s worth confirming.
If you’re relocating to a new state, this is also the moment to research residency steps beyond address changes. Our utilities setup guide and related move-in resources can help you sequence those tasks around your first weeks in a new home.
Notify your financial accounts
Money-related mail is where an outdated address causes the most damage — think replacement debit cards, statements, and fraud alerts sent to a home you no longer occupy. Work through:
- Banks and credit unions — checking, savings, and any linked accounts.
- Credit card companies for every card you carry.
- Loan and mortgage servicers, including auto and student loans.
- Investment, retirement, and brokerage accounts.
- Insurance providers — auto, home or renters, health, and life. Your home or renters policy in particular needs your correct new address to cover the right property.
- Payroll and HR at your employer, so your W-2 and any mailed documents arrive correctly.
Update your utilities and home services
Some of these you’ll cancel at your old place and start fresh at the new one, rather than simply changing an address. The goal is no gap in service and no lingering bills at the home you left.
- Electricity, water, and gas. Schedule shut-off at the old address and turn-on at the new one. If you’re moving within Texas, remember the state’s deregulated electricity market means you choose your own retail provider in most areas — so setting up power is an active decision, not an automatic transfer. Our guide to setting up utilities breaks down the order and timing.
- Internet and TV. These often need scheduling well ahead of move-in, since installation windows fill up. See our internet and TV setup guide for how far in advance to book.
- Trash, recycling, and any HOA billing.
- Home security monitoring — transfer or set up a new plan so coverage starts on day one. Our home security overview covers what to consider.
Don’t forget subscriptions and everyday accounts
These rarely feel urgent, which is exactly why they’re easy to forget until a package ships to the wrong porch. Run through:
- Online shopping accounts — update your default shipping address everywhere you order regularly.
- Streaming, meal kits, and subscription boxes.
- Pharmacy and any mail-order prescriptions.
- Doctors, dentists, and veterinarians so records and reminders follow you.
- Memberships — gym, warehouse clubs, professional associations, magazines.
- Your employer’s directory and any work-related mail.
Tell the people in your life
Finally, share your new address with family and friends. A quick group message or a short list of contacts to update by hand covers most of it. If you send holiday cards or invitations, updating your personal address book now saves a scramble later.
A simple order that works
If you want a sequence rather than a pile of tasks, this order keeps things manageable:
- File your USPS change of address about two weeks before you move.
- Update government records — license, registration, voter registration, IRS.
- Notify financial accounts and insurance.
- Schedule utilities, internet, and home services around your move-in date.
- Update subscriptions, everyday accounts, and personal contacts.
Work top to bottom and the whole thing becomes an afternoon or two of steady checking-off rather than a source of stress.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to change your address with USPS?
Filing online at the official USPS site costs a small identity-verification fee — about $1.25 as of 2026 — while filing in person at a Post Office is free. Be wary of third-party websites that charge $40 or more for the same service; always use usps.com/move.
How long does USPS forward your mail?
A permanent change of address forwards most first-class mail for 12 months from your chosen start date. Temporary forwarding is available for shorter periods. Use that year to update your address directly with each account, since forwarding eventually ends.
How soon should I file my change of address before moving?
Filing about two weeks ahead is a good rule of thumb. You can set the forwarding start date up to 90 days in advance, and allowing a little lead time helps ensure mail begins rerouting right around your move-in day.
Do I have to update my address on my driver’s license?
Yes, and most states set a deadline. In Texas, you must update the address on your driver’s license and vehicle registration within 30 days of moving. Check your own state’s rules, since the timeframe varies.
Move in with nothing left behind
A change of address is really just a list — and lists are easy to finish when they’re all in one place. Want the rest of your move organized the same way? Grab our free move-in checklist to keep every task, from mail forwarding to your first night in the new place, on track.