Handled Moving Guide: An introductory guide to moving with tips and action items
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A complete list of everyone to notify when you move.
Financial institutions
Your bank. Especially if you get paper bills, it makes sense to start sending sensitive material to your new address as soon as possible.
Lenders and investment services. Notify your loan and credit card issuers, plus any investment services you use.
Government organizations
The U.S. Postal Service. If you haven’t already, fill out the handy online form to have any mail sent to your old address forwarded for a year.
Tax agencies. Notify the IRS via their online form, and check with your state tax agency as well.
The Social Security Administration. If you receive benefits, it’s wise to change your address as soon as possible. Do it online, or call 1-800-772-1213. Also notify Medicare, Medicaid, and any other state or federal programs you receive assistance from.
The DMV. Are you moving across state lines? You might have to update your registration or even get a new driver’s license. Access a helpful DMV guide to interstate moves here, and make sure you update your address with your state DMV even if you’re just moving across town.
Voter registration. Look up your state guidelines for registering to vote. In some states, your vote won’t count unless you register with your new address well ahead of voting day.
Insurance
Car insurance. Most providers allow you to change your address online. Order new insurance cards while you’re at it.
Health insurance. If you have health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace—or Medicaid and Medicare—you’ll want to update your address ASAP. You might have to change insurance providers as well, depending on where you’re moving to.
Home/renters’ insurance. Contact your company to transfer your insurance to your new place, and check to see whether items are insured during your move, too. If not, consider insurance options from your moving company.
Online services and subscriptions
Retail. If you’re a regular online shopper, your Amazon Prime address was probably the first one you updated. Make sure your address with any other retail services (like Costco, for example) is up to date, especially for recurring orders and payments.
Streaming services. You’ll need to update your billing address for any services you pay for, including Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify.
Payment services. Again, update your billing address for services like Paypal and apps like Venmo.
Magazines and other subscription services. It might be handy to use a subscription-tracking app, like Trim or Truebill, to check off all your subscriptions at once (and cancel the unnecessary ones in the process).
Personal contacts
Your employer. If you’re moving because of a job change, you’ve got this one in the bag. Otherwise, let your employers know you’ve moved for tax purposes and so you receive the annual holiday card.
Your healthcare providers. Let the doc and dentist know you have a new address so they can send the bill to the right place—and so they can get in touch when it’s time for little Johnny’s next checkup.
Your family and friends. Amidst all the billing addresses and government agencies, it’s easy to forget to let your loved ones know you’ve changed domiciles. Reach out with a text or group email (BCC, please!).
Your children’s school. If you are moving to a different school district, collect any records from your children’s school for safekeeping and have the old school send records to the new one.
Your veterinarian. You might need to transfer your pet’s documents to a new vet, depending on how far you’re moving.
Clubs, organizations, and churches.
Utilities
Phone, cable, and internet. Set a cancellation date—and set up new service—as soon as you have your new address and move-in date set. Update your billing address with your mobile provider, too.
Electric and gas. Perhaps even more important than internet is getting electric and gas set to start at your new address. Again, set up those start and end dates as soon as your move-in date is on the calendar.
Other utilities. Even if you’re a renter, you may be on the hook for sewer, water, and recycling/garbage disposal fees. Make sure you know what you’re paying for, and contact your new city to get these utilities set up.
