Change of Mailing Address Checklist: Who to Notify & How to Do It

Go to USPS.com’s Mover’s Guide and submit your change of address request. It costs $1.10 to verify your identity online (this fee prevents fraud). Mail forwarding starts within 3 business days and lasts 12 months for first-class mail.

Important limitation: USPS forwarding covers most first-class mail but not all. Standard-rate mail (catalogs, advertisements) typically doesn’t forward.

Packages from some carriers don’t forward. And magazine subscriptions only forward for 60 days before being returned to sender.

This is a safety net, not a solution. Complete the full checklist below so you’re not relying on USPS to catch everything.

These are the highest-priority updates after USPS. Some carry legal deadlines.

• State DMV – Update your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Most states require this within 10–30 days of moving; check your specific state’s DMV website for the exact window and required documents. Driving with an address mismatch can result in fines during a traffic stop in some states.
• IRS – File Form 8822 to update your address with the IRS. If you moved mid-year, this ensures tax correspondence and any refunds reach you. You can also update your address when you file your next return, but the form is faster.
• Social Security Administration – Update online at gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Required if you receive Social Security benefits, SSI, or Medicare.
• Voter registration – Required to vote in your new district. Some states allow you to update voter registration simultaneously when you update your driver’s license; others require a separate form. Check gov for your state’s process.
• USCIS (non-citizens) – If you hold a green card or certain visa types, you must file Form AR-11 within 10 days of moving. This is a legal requirement under immigration law.
• Veterans Affairs – Update at gov if you receive VA benefits, healthcare, or disability payments.
• Passport – The State Department doesn’t require address updates on passports, but notify them separately if you have a pending passport application.

• Banks and credit unions – Update through online banking, the app, or in person. Include all checking and savings accounts, CDs, and safe deposit box records. Make sure your debit card billing address matches before your next online purchase.
• Credit cards – Update each card separately – they don’t share address data between issuers. A billing address mismatch is the most common reason online payments decline after a move.
• Mortgage or rent payment – Notify your current lender or landlord, and set up your new mortgage or rental payment at the new address if applicable, which is especially helpful to sort out before your apartment movers
• Investment and brokerage accounts – Update at each institution separately. Address on file determines tax document delivery (1099s, annual statements).
• Retirement accounts (401k, IRA) – Update through your employer’s HR portal and directly with the retirement plan administrator. Beneficiary designations are tied to these accounts – worth reviewing at the same time.
• Student loans – Update with your servicer(s) at gov and directly if you have private loans.
• PayPal, Venmo, Cash App – These store billing addresses separately from banks. Update each one.

All insurance types need address updates, but auto and home insurance are the most time-sensitive because premiums are calculated by location.

• Auto insurance – Update immediately. Your zip code determines your rate, and some insurers void coverage for accidents that occur while your address on file differs from where you actually live. Rates can change substantially after a move – request a new quote at the same time you update your address, and ensure it fits into your overall budget using a moving costs calculator.
• Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance – Your old policy likely doesn’t cover your new address. Get a new policy that starts on your move-in date, or arrange a transfer if your insurer covers the new location.
• Health insurance – Notify your insurer and check your network. Depending on your plan type, moving out of your coverage area may qualify you for a special enrollment period to select a new plan.
• Life insurance – Update your address to ensure policy correspondence and beneficiary communications reach you.
• Dental insurance – Particularly if you’re on a plan with regional network restrictions.

Schedule these before move day so there’s no gap in service when your movers arrive at the new property.

• Electricity and gas – Contact providers at both old and new addresses. Request a final bill at the old address effective on your move date; set up new service starting the day before you move in (so it’s active when you arrive).
• Water and sewer – Often managed by the municipality. Contact your city or county utility office.
• Internet and cable – Schedule disconnection at the old address and installation at the new one. Return rental equipment on your last day; failing to return it results in charges that go to collections faster than most people expect.
• Home security system – Cancel your current monitoring service or transfer it. Most security companies allow transfers without cancellation fees if you’re moving to a new home that uses compatible equipment.
• Garbage and recycling – Some municipalities require separate setup; others transfer automatically. Check with your new city or county.

Open your bank and credit card statements and go through every charge from the past three months. Every recurring charge is a service that has your address. This is the only reliable way to catch everything.

• Amazon (Prime membership, default shipping address, and any Prime-linked household profiles – these update separately)
• Streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, Apple) – billing address for payment validation
• Subscription boxes (meal kits, beauty boxes, pet supplies, clothing services)
• Gym memberships – check whether your chain has a location at the new address; if not, moving is often grounds for contract cancellation without penalty
• Costco or Sam’s Club warehouse membership
• Magazine and newspaper subscriptions – USPS forwards these for only 60 days, after which they return to sender
• Professional memberships and trade associations

• Primary care physician – request record transfer if you’re switching providers
• Dentist
• Specialists (cardiologist, therapist, dermatologist, etc.)
• Pharmacy – transfer prescriptions or notify your chain pharmacy of your new preferred location
• Pediatrician and children’s specialists if applicable
• Veterinarian – update pet records, and update your pet’s microchip registration at petmicrochiplookup.org

These are consistently forgotten but matter more than people realize.

• Google account – Update your home address in Google Maps. This flows through to Google Assistant, smart home devices (Nest, Google Home), and navigation defaults.
• Apple/iCloud – Update your address in Apple ID settings; it affects Apple Maps home, Apple Pay billing, and some App Store regional settings.
• Waze – Update your home address in the app separately from Google Maps.
• Navigation apps and car GPS units – update home location
• Food delivery apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, GrubHub) – update default delivery address
• Ride-sharing apps (Uber, Lyft) – update your saved home location

• Current employer’s HR – for tax withholding, W-2 delivery, and direct deposit records
• Professional licenses – many state-issued professional licenses (real estate, nursing, law, etc.) require address updates within a specific timeframe
• Business registration – if you own a business, update your registered agent address and state business filings
• LinkedIn and professional directory profiles
• Any professional associations that mail correspondence or invoices

Send a brief email or text to anyone who might send mail or visit: family, close friends, neighbors, and anyone you’re connected with professionally who might need to reach you by mail. A quick group message handles most of this in one step.