5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise
Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.
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Moving to a new home comes with a variety of tasks, one of which is changing your address. When you move, you’ll need to change your address in a few different places, like your car insurance policy and vehicle registration. Not changing your address can lead to issues with insurance claims, utility services, and other things.
Check out this change of address checklist to make sure you’re updating your address in all the necessary places after your move.
When you move, you’ll need to notify all the organizations and companies that keep your address on file. This includes government agencies, utility companies, banks, insurance companies, law firms, healthcare providers, and your employer. You should also provide your new address to your friends, family, and other important people in your life.
You should contact some companies and organizations immediately after moving. For example, you should notify the DMV as soon as possible to update the address on your car registration. You should also contact your insurance company right away. Your home address can affect the amount of car insurance you’re legally required to carry and your premium.
Here’s a checklist of companies, organizations, and agencies that need your new address.
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1. Government agencies and organizations
Depending on your situation, a handful of government agencies may need to know when you change your address. These are some of the most important agencies that will need your new address as soon as possible:
United States Postal Service (USPS): To avoid mail delays, you should change your address with the USPS. Fill out the online form, enter your new and old address, and choose the start date you want mail forwarding to begin.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): The change of address process for the DMV is different in every state. You should visit your state’s DMV website to learn how to change your address on your vehicle registration and driver’s license.
Internal Revenue Services (IRS): To update your address with the IRS, you can provide your new address when you file your next tax return. You can also call the IRS, send a written letter, or submit form 8822to change your address.[1]
Social Security Administration (SSA): If you receive Social Security benefits, you need to change your mailing address with the SSA. You can change your home address by logging into yourSocial Security account online. Click on the “My Profile” tab to input your new address. You can also call the SSA at 1 (800) 772-1213 to change your address.[2]
Voter registration: In most states, you can change your address for voting online. Visit Vote.gov and choose your state from the drop-down menu. Then, navigate to your state’s election website to find your voter information and change your home address.
2. Utility companies
You must notify your utility companies when you change your address. Otherwise, you could face issues with your services and billing. Here are some of the most important utility companies that will need your new address after you move:
Gas, water, and electric: Contact the companies that provide your gas, electric, and water services and request to change your address. If you’re moving outside the company’s service area, you might need to find different service providers.
Internet, cable, and phone: Notify your internet, cable, and phone providers before or as soon as possible after you move. You might be able to transfer your services to the new home if your current providers service your new area. But keep in mind that your costs might change.
3. Financial and legal institutions
After you move, it’s important to change your address with banks, financial institutions, and legal groups that you work with. Changing your address will ensure all your account statements and correspondence go to the correct place. If you don’t change your address, you might not receive important mail, like letters from lawyers or credit card statements.
Depending on the organization, you can change your address online. For example, you can probably update your address for your credit card company and bank accounts if you have access to an online customer portal. For professional services, like an accountant or lawyer, you may have to contact them directly to update your information.
Here’s a list of some of the financial and legal institutions that will need your new address:
Accountants
Banks
Credit card companies
Credit unions
Investment services
Lawyers
Loan providers
Tax advisors
4. Insurance companies
You must notify your insurance companies of a home address change. This includes the following types of insurance policies:
For some insurance policies, your home address matters more than others. For example, your address will affect the amount of car insurance coverage you need to carry. For property insurance, the residence specifications, such as the age and size of the home, will also affect the cost and coverage needs.
Good to Know
Changing your home address with an insurance company is usually a simple process, and you can likely submit the change request online. But keep in mind that moving can affect your personal coverage needs, so it’s a good idea to speak with an agent to make sure you’re still adequately covered in your new location.
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5. Health services
You need to update your new address with your healthcare professionals soon after you move. This is especially important if you receive statements from your doctors or dentists in the mail. To change your address with your doctors, call their office or stop by the office in person. Also, update your new mailing address with every doctor your family sees, including pediatricians if you have kids.
6. Mail and online subscription services
Don’t forget to change your mailing address with the mail and online subscription services you have. This is important for any products automatically sent to your house, like prescriptions, household products, and clothing rental services. You also need to change your address on mail-based subscriptions, like catalogs, magazines, and newspapers.
7. Employer
Right after you move, notify your employer of your new address. Your employer needs your current address for tax purposes and employee benefits, like a 401(k). Moving to a different state can also have implications for the company’s payroll and insurance policies, so make sure to notify them as soon as possible (or even before you move).
Change of address checklist FAQs
Moving can be hectic, so using a change of address checklist can help you stay organized. Here’s some more information about changing your address after moving.
What’s the easiest way to change your address for everything?
There isn’t a single service that will automatically change your address for everything. But it’s usually easiest to change your address online if it’s an option. Start by updating your address online, and then make calls to the companies or organizations that can only be contacted over the phone.
Who do you notify when you change your address?
The person to notify when you change your address depends on the organization or company. For example, you should contact an insurance agent to update your address with your insurance companies. You should notify your employer’s HR department to change your address with your job. For doctors, call the office and ask the receptionist to change the address on file.
What do you need to change when you move?
You must change your address for all your important accounts when you move. Depending on your situation, this can include insurance companies, utility companies, lawyers, healthcare professionals, accountants, credit card companies, online subscriptions, and government agencies like the IRS and DMV.
What steps should you follow to update your address with the post office?
To change your address with the post office, complete the official USPS change of address form online. Provide your contact information, as well as your old and new addresses. Then, you can select the date you want mail forwarding to begin. The USPS charges a $1.10 verification fee, or you can complete the change of address at your local post office for free.[3]
When should you inform your employer of a change of address?
You should give your new address to your employer as soon as possible. If you share your new address before you move, you can likely avoid any potential delay in receiving physical paychecks or important documents, like a W-2.
Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.
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