Key points
Visit the U.S. Postal Service website to change your address two weeks before moving.
Mail will be forwarded to your new address for 12 months for free.
Remember to update your address with the DMV, IRS, banks and other vital services.
Changing your address permanently is a different process than a temporary address change and shouldn’t stop at the post office. You can either change your address in person at the post office or use its online service. When you make that address change, your mail will be forwarded to your new address for free for a year.
“We always encourage our customers to communicate directly with anyone that sends them critical mail,” said James McKean, senior public relations representative of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). That means updating your address with your bank, insurance companies, the DMV and other essential services.
This process facilitates a smooth transition. You won’t miss important correspondence pertaining to your health, finances or other vital concerns — not to mention the fun deliveries such as cards from family or your next package.
With whom do you need to update your address?
When moving, you should change your address with the USPS, on your driver’s license and with other services, including your bank and insurance providers.
Keeping your address updated with relevant parties prevents you from missing important correspondences. Here are the entities with which to update your address and how to do it.
United States Postal Service
Department of Motor Vehicles
Internal Revenue Service
Voter registration
Financial institutions
Social Security
Billing address
Health insurance and doctors’ offices
Vehicle insurance
Renters insurance
Your employer
Changing your address with USPS is as easy as filling out a form online. Provide your name, current address, new address and other details, including the date you want mail forwarding to begin.
After submitting this information, USPS verifies your identity by charging $1.10 to a credit or debit card. It can take a couple weeks for your request to process. Once it does, your mail will begin forwarding on the date you provided.
Update the address on both your driver’s license and your vehicle registration with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in your state. This process varies from state to state. Some states allow you to change your address online while others may require you to visit a DMV office in order to update your documents.
If you plan to move to another state, you will need to visit a DMV office in that state to apply for a driver’s license with your new address. Check the DMV website for the steps and documents needed to complete this process.
Whether you need to update your address with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) depends on when you move. If you move before submitting taxes, you don’t need to take action. Simply use your new address on your tax return.
If you move after filing taxes, you should notify the IRS about your address change using Form 8822. Fill out this document and mail it to the provided address. This way, correspondence from the IRS, including potential tax return checks, will reach your new mailbox.
Update your voter registration when submitting your change of address form with USPS. During this process, you will be asked whether you would like to update your voter registration. You may also be able to update your voter registration while getting an updated driver’s license at the DMV.
Another way to update your voter registration is to visit your state’s voter registration website. When moving from one state to another, the process may involve submitting a new registration rather than updating your existing registration.
Contact each of your financial institutions to update your address. Think bank accounts, credit card companies and investment accounts. Giving these companies your new address lets them get in contact with you with critical banking information.
Many financial institutions offer the option to update your address within your customer portal. Look for the settings or personal information section of each website. If this process is not clear, you can also call to speak with a customer service representative.
Update your address with the Social Security Administration if you are currently receiving any benefits. This is easily done through your online account. However, certain benefit types may require a phone call to update this information.
After updating your address with your financial institutions, use your new billing address when making purchases or payments online. If you frequent online retailers such as Amazon, proactively update your billing and shipping address so your next package makes it to your door. Head to account settings on the retailer’s website to make this change.
Medical claims are billed accurately by keeping your address updated with both your insurance company and your doctor. If you only update your address with one or the other, you may run into issues getting claims covered. Do this by phone or through your customer portal.
Inform your vehicle insurance company of your address change. This is usually possible online, but you can also call to speak with a customer service representative. Keep in mind that moving can impact your car insurance rate because insurers evaluate the safety of your area when calculating your rate.
If you are moving to a new rental, don’t forget to update your renters insurance. In many cases, you will be able to transfer an existing renters insurance policy to a new address. Contact your insurance company to find out your options.
Finally, inform your employer that you moved. This usually involves contacting your Human Resources department. They will need to update relevant paperwork including tax and insurance documentation.
When should you update your address when you’re moving?
Changing your address is one chore that you can check off your list before you move. “It’s best practice to request mail forwarding at least two weeks prior to you moving to ensure proper identity verification and processing of your change of address request,” McKean said. This lead time helps catch mail sent around the time you’re moving.
To update your address with other services like your bank or insurance company, you can wait until after you move. However, don’t wait too long to avoid missing important communications that may be coming your way.
What is the easiest way to update your mailing address?
USPS makes updating your address easy. All you need to do is fill out an online change of address form and submit a nominal fee for identity verification. USPS takes care of the rest including automatically forwarding mail from your old address to your new one.
Post office vs. online
While you can always visit your local post office, the best way to change your address with USPS is to submit a request online. Not only will your request be processed faster, but you can enter your information accurately. Additionally, you won’t need to spend time driving to the post office or waiting in line.
McKean recommends the online process. “Online allows the customer to submit the change without going into a post office,” he said. “Since the [change of address] is filed electronically, it is also entered into our forwarding systems in a timelier manner, with better data quality as we are able to communicate with the customer as they are entering the information.”
How do you get your mail forwarded to your new address?
When you apply for a change of address with USPS, your mail will automatically be forwarded to your new address for a period of 12 months for free. You can also purchase extended forwarding that can last up to 18 months longer at the time you submit your change of address request or any time while your mail is still being forwarded. If you provide USPS with an email address, you will be notified a month before your forwarding ends.
While mail forwarding is a useful safeguard, McKean emphasized that it should not be used in lieu of updating your address with anyone who might send you mail. “USPS mail forwarding systems will only redirect mail if the mailer requests forwarding,” he said. “While the mailer will get notification of the move, the customer may miss out on receiving mail important to them.”
What’s next?
The good news is that you’ll be able to do most of the work to change your address online. Head over to the USPS website to get started before your move. “USPS recommends using the online system for filing your change of address,” McKean said.
Then, once you’re settled in your new place, visit the customer portal for your banks, insurance companies and other vendors. The DMV may get you out of the house, but you can look forward to a brand-new photo on your license.
Before the process of changing your address even begins, streamline your move by hiring one of the best moving companies.
Julia Kindred, Contributing WriterHomefront
Learn more about Julia Kindred
Julia Kindred is a contributing writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She has experience writing in an array of industries including tech, healthcare, higher ed and business services. Regardless of the topic, her approach to writing is always human-centered, aiming to connect people with ideas that will improve their lives. Julia studied marketing and studio art at the University of Richmond and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Chatham University. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, son, and little brown dog.
Alyssa Trostle, EditorHomefront
Learn more about Alyssa Trostle
Alyssa Trostle is an editor at USA TODAY Homefront. Having read dozens of warranty booklets from every vehicle manufacturer and over 100 sample contracts from third-party providers, Alyssa is an expert in the auto categories of warranty and shipping categories. Alyssa earned an MFA in creative writing with a concentration in creative nonfiction from Chatham University, which honed her skills in writing and editing both creative and professional content. In her spare time she enjoys reading contemporary fiction and following Pittsburgh sports.
