Change of Address Checklist: Who to Notify
Most people need to tell about 40 places when they move, and the post office is only the first one. Choose your situation below to get the list for you, tick off each one as you go, and print it. We can't change your address for you: the official forms are linked from the list.
Start with your mail. The official place to forward your mail is the Postal Service's own site: Official USPS change of address (usps.com). We can't change your address for you, and we never ask for yours. Beware of look-alike sites that charge extra fees.
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Who to notify
Government
Start with the post office, then the offices that have legal deadlines.
Money and work
Insurance
Utilities and home
Health
Subscriptions and shopping
Work and school
Personal
How to change your address, in order
- Choose your situation. Say whether you rent or own, and whether you have a car, kids in school, pets or benefits.
- File the USPS change of address. Use the official USPS site to forward your mail. We cannot do this for you.
- Work through the list. Update each account and tick it off. Government and money first, then insurance, utilities and subscriptions.
Give each place your new address and the date it starts. Some accounts need a letter or a phone call, and some, like a driver's license, need you to go in person or upload a document. Keep the confirmation emails in one folder until the first bills arrive at the new address.
What to do first
Do the things with deadlines first: the post office (so mail follows you), your state's driver's license and vehicle registration, and your employer's payroll. Then banks and cards, which often send security letters to the old address. Subscriptions and shops can wait until the week after the move, but a few minutes spent on the ones that ship things will save you a lost package.
A note about look-alike sites
Search results for “change of address” include sites that look official and charge a fee to submit the form for you. The Postal Service's own form is the one linked above; it asks you to confirm your identity with a small card charge, and the official page shows the current amount. This site is independent and never files anything on your behalf.
Questions people ask
Who do I need to notify when I move?
Start with the post office, then the offices with legal deadlines (driver's license, vehicle registration, voter registration), then your bank and card accounts, insurers, employer, utilities, doctors and any subscriptions that ship to you. The list above has about 45 items and shortens to match whether you rent or own and whether you have a car, kids in school, pets or benefits.
How do I forward my mail when I move?
Through the United States Postal Service's official site: Official USPS change of address (usps.com). We can't forward your mail or change your address for you, and this site does not collect addresses. Be careful of look-alike sites that charge extra fees for the same form.
How long does mail forwarding take?
Typically a week or so after you file for the first forwarded mail to arrive, which is why people file a week or two before they move. The post office describes its own timing and fees on its site, and timing can change, so check the official page for your move before you rely on a date.
Does the USPS change of address cost anything?
The official online form typically charges a small identity-verification fee, charged to a card, and the official site shows the current amount. Be careful of other sites that charge more for the same form, and always start from the official page linked on this site.