Updated on February 13, 2025
Your to-do list can seem never-ending during a move as you try to juggle all of the responsibilities of moving and finding the right companies to help make your move happen. However, there is one to-do you will want to ensure is at the top of the list: changing your address.
You don’t want to miss important bills, checks, and deliveries while moving or risk identity theft because your mail is going to your old address. From the postal service to your favorite subscription service, you must ensure that all of them are informed so you don’t miss out on important information and items you paid for or become the victim of identity theft.
What Is the Process for Changing Your Address?
To change your address, update it with the USPS online change of address, visit a local post office, or fill out a change of address form. Notify essential contacts of your address change to ensure a seamless transition. Remember to update subscriptions, banking information, and official documents promptly.
How to Change Your Mailing Address When You Move
The primary way to change your mailing address and utilize mail services for mail forwarding your mail for a period of time is to contact your local post office or visit their website to learn more.
United States Postal Service
The first and most crucial step is updating your mailing address with the United States Postal Service on the official USPS website to avoid missing important mail and to set a specific start date. The fastest and easiest way to do this is to submit a change of address request online for a $1 processing fee, which may require a credit card. You can also go to your local post office and request a Mover’s Guide packet, which includes a change of address form.
While forwarding your mail may not catch every piece going to your old address, the USPS will forward as much mail as they receive to your new address for 12 months, including Priority Mail Express, giving you time to communicate your new address to everyone else. Magazines and periodicals are only forwarded for 60 days, so you will want to update your address with those subscriptions sooner rather than later to prevent a lapse in service.
Pro tip: When you change your address with USPS, you can often elect to change your voter registration automatically depending on where you are moving to and from.
Other Address Changes to Make When Moving
The USPS is a vital part of the address change process. Unfortunately, it isn’t a catch-all solution to ensure all your mail gets to your new home. There are many companies, agencies, etc., you will need to physically go to, call, or complete an online form to update your mailing and billing addresses. This process ensures that your mail is being sent to the correct address in the first place, rather than relying on mail forwarding to catch it and send it to the proper place.
Utility Companies
Depending on the distance of your move, utility changes may involve more than just changing your address. As you are making arrangements to update utility information for your new home, you may want to consider switching to online billing instead of receiving printed bills at your new address.
You will also want to ensure all your utilities, such as electricity, water, internet, etc., are ready to go at your new home the day you move in. Update your address and billing info with these new utility providers, financial institutions, and loan providers if you are moving long distance, or call your current providers if they stay the same in a local move.
Online Profiles and Storefronts
If you are a frequent online shopper and save your billing and shipping addresses with online sites, remember to change your contact information. Whether you frequently use Amazon to purchase everyday items or like to browse Etsy for gifts, update all of the online merchants you shop at with your new address.
Many sites utilize one-click purchasing, which forego the usual checking of billing and shipping addresses. That makes it imperative to do it before your move, especially if there is anything you purchase for your new home. You don’t want it sent to the folks moving into your old home!
Your Employer
Whether you are moving locally and staying with the same company, or you are moving long distance and working at a new company, be sure to notify your company’s HR department of the change. Even if your paychecks are directly deposited into your bank account, you’ll want to let your employer know about your change of address to ensure pay stubs, tax forms, benefits, and other vital documents go to the right place.
Insurance Companies
While this might seem obvious for something like home insurance that you will need to set up at your new address, there could be other things like life insurance, property insurance, and insurance providers that could be voided if your address isn’t updated. Car insurance companies especially need to be updated, as rates can change based on your vehicle's new location, and if the worst should happen, they could elect not to cover your claim because of an old address mixup.
Gather a list of all of the insurance companies and service providers you have policies with and contact them individually. Don’t forget any insurance you have through your employer as well - do not count on them to update your info with the insurance you have through the company.
The DMV
Check in with the DMV for a new driver's license with your updated info, especially if you are moving to a new state. Most states grant you a 30-day grace period to update your driver’s license after your move. This will also be an excellent time to update your plate and voter registration if you haven't already done so. Depending on the state you move to, you might need a front and back license plate on your vehicle to comply with state law.
Nobody enjoys going to the DMV, but it is a vital part of the updating process to be able to drive your vehicle legally on the street.
Other Government Agencies
Apart from the DMV, there are other government agencies you should update information with personally. First is the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you receive any form of social security benefits, those benefits might not get distributed correctly if the SSA doesn’t have the correct information on file. Identity theft should also be a big concern for everyone, and updating your address with the SSA can help safeguard against identity thieves filing false benefit claims under your old address.
Another agency to update is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), especially if you own a business or are self-employed. Updating the IRS with your new mailing address is vital if you want to ensure essential tax forms are sent to your location correctly (also provide another deterrent against identity theft, such as your social security number). If you need further incentive to update with the IRS, tax return disbursements might be held up if the IRS discovers you have moved and haven’t updated your information or reached out to their customer service for assistance.
Friends and Family
Of course, don’t forget to let all your friends and family know of your new address! One way to let important people in your life know you’ve moved is an invitation to a housewarming party. Invite neighbors, friends, and family to the party, and include your new address. If you have moved cross country, you can always consider a virtual housewarming to show off your new place.
Avoiding Issues of Identity Theft and Fraud When Changing Your Address
Unfortunately, there is a network of criminals who peruse online home listings that are public records and find recently sold homes and those who have sold (or even bought them) and mark them as potential targets for identity theft. These thieves will then attempt to check for mail or packages still being sent to the old address while the home is unoccupied and steal the mail or packages. You can employ some strategies to keep you and your identity safe.
Apply for a Mail Stop with the USPS
You can apply with the USPS online to put a hold on all mail deliveries to your address for up to 30 days, giving you ample time to set up and contact all of your vendors and companies to update your address. You can schedule this up to 30 days in advance or one day before your next mail delivery, making it super simple. The only caveat is that the mail hold occurs at the local USPS office, where your mail carrier will manage your held mail until your return, at your old home's USPS facility. If you are making a long-distance move and need to collect your mail, you might need to visit your local USPS office before your move to find your options for retrieving your mail post-move.
Sign Up with an Identity Theft Prevention Company
You can temporarily sign up with a company specializing in identity theft prevention to further protect yourself. These companies will monitor your identity and information online and alert you if any accounts or inquiries are made with your information, allowing you to stop the attempt before it goes any further. These companies can also offer additional services to monitor credit reports, 401(k)s, other investments, and more, alongside basic identity theft prevention.
For these services, you can check out companies such as LifeLock, Aura, Experian, and others. Many will allow you to pay by the month or a whole year for monitoring services.
Work with 1-800-PACK-RAT to Make Your Move Simpler
As we initially said, your to-do list for your move is extensive. 1-800-PACK-RAT knows and understands all of the ins and outs of a move, which is why we do everything we can to make moving and storage simple for our customers. Let us give you the peace of mind you need while providing the most flexible moving and storage solution available to you.
At 1-800-PACK-RAT, our portable moving and storage containers make any moving and storage needs a breeze. Here’s how it works: We will deliver a container to your front door that you can pack at your own pace. When you are ready, we will pick it up and deliver it to your new home or to one of our secure nationwide storage facilities for as long as you need, leaving the driving completely to us. No extra driving or rushing to do everything all in one day. This will save you valuable time you can spend on things like address changes for your upcoming local or long-distance move!
Give us a call today or go online for a free quote and see how we can make moving and storage simple for you!