Filing a change of address with USPS takes about ten minutes online, and you should do it about two weeks before you move. That single step forwards most of your first-class mail to the new place for 12 months, which buys you time to update accounts you forgot about. But mail forwarding is a safety net, not a substitute for actually changing your address with banks, employers, and the DMV.

This checklist walks through exactly when to file, what USPS forwarding does and does not cover, and the full list of people and companies you need to notify so nothing important slips through the cracks.

When to file your change of address

The sweet spot is about two weeks before your move date. File too early and your mail starts arriving at a place you haven’t moved into yet. File the day you move and you’ll likely miss a few pieces while the system catches up.

When you fill out the form, USPS asks for a start date for forwarding. That start date matters more than the date you submit. You can submit the request today and set forwarding to begin on a future date, which is what most people should do. Mail forwarding usually kicks in within about 3 to 7 business days from your chosen start date, so give yourself a small cushion.

If you’re moving for a temporary period, say a six-month work assignment, USPS also offers a temporary forwarding option. You set both a start and end date, and after it ends your mail goes back to the original address. For a permanent move, choose the permanent option.

How to file with USPS, step by step

There are three ways to do this. The online route is fastest for most people.

  1. Online. Go to the official USPS Change of Address page (moversguide.usps.com). You’ll pay a small identity-verification fee, usually around $1 to $2, charged to a credit or debit card whose billing address matches your name. That fee exists to cut down on fraudulent address changes, so be wary of any third-party site charging $20 or $40 for the same service.
  2. In person. Pick up a free PS Form 3575 at any post office, fill it out, and hand it to a clerk. No fee this way, though you trade a couple of dollars for a trip to the counter.
  3. By phone. Call 1-800-ASK-USPS if you’d rather talk to someone. Identity verification still applies.

One warning that trips people up: only use the official usps.com domain. Plenty of look-alike sites rank in search results and charge inflated fees while doing the exact same thing you can do for a dollar. If a site asks for $25 to forward your mail, close the tab.

What mail forwarding actually covers

Forwarding is not all-or-nothing, and it helps to know the categories so you aren’t surprised when something doesn’t show up.

  • First-class mail and priority mail: forwarded free for 12 months. This is most of your bills, personal letters, and cards.
  • Periodicals (magazines and newspapers): forwarded free for 60 days only. After that you need to update the address with each publisher directly.
  • USPS marketing mail (advertising): generally not forwarded unless the sender pays for it. Honestly, losing the junk mail is a feature, not a bug.
  • Packages: Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express are forwarded, but ground packages and media mail rules vary. For anything you really care about, update the shipping address with the retailer.

The 12-month clock is the part to remember. Forwarding ends after a year, so treat that window as your deadline to get every account permanently updated. Anything you miss will start being returned to sender or, worse, delivered to whoever lives there now.

The full list of who to notify

USPS forwarding buys you time, but the real work is telling everyone directly. Here’s the list I’d work through, grouped so you can knock out a category at a time.

Government and legal

  • State DMV, for your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Most states require this within a set window after moving, often 30 days.
  • Voter registration, which you can usually update at the same time as your license or online.
  • IRS, using Form 8822, plus your state tax agency.
  • Social Security Administration, if you receive benefits.
  • The U.S. Postal Service itself (the change of address you already filed handles this).

Financial

  • Banks and credit unions
  • Credit card companies
  • Mortgage or loan servicers
  • Investment and retirement accounts
  • Insurance: auto, home or renters, health, life

Everyday accounts

  • Employer (for payroll and your W-2)
  • Utility companies at both addresses
  • Phone, internet, and streaming services
  • Pharmacy and doctors’ offices
  • Schools or daycare
  • Subscription boxes and meal kits
  • Online retailers where you have a saved default address (Amazon catches people every time)

A small trick: for two or three weeks before you move, glance at every piece of mail that lands in your box. Each sender is someone you probably need to notify. It’s a surprisingly complete to-do list that builds itself.

Special situations worth planning for

Moving as a family

USPS lets you file a family change of address if everyone shares the same last name. If family members have different last names, each person needs their own form. So for blended families or roommates, file individually.

Roommates and shared addresses

If you’re leaving an apartment but a roommate stays, file an individual change of address, not a family one. A family filing would forward everyone’s mail, including the person staying put, which causes a real mess.

P.O. boxes

If you’re closing a P.O. box, you can forward from it the same way. Just make sure to formally close the box with the post office so you’re not still paying the rental fee.

Businesses

Running a business out of the address? You can file a business change of address too. Don’t forget to update your address with your state’s business registration, your bank, the IRS, vendors, and anywhere your address appears on invoices or your website.

A simple timeline to follow

If you like a schedule, here’s a clean one.

  1. Three to four weeks out: Make your master list of accounts to update. Gather logins.
  2. Two weeks out: File the USPS change of address online with a future start date matching your move.
  3. One to two weeks out: Update banks, insurance, employer, and subscriptions. These take effect immediately and protect your most sensitive mail.
  4. Moving week: Confirm utilities are scheduled to start at the new place and stop at the old one.
  5. First week after moving: Update your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and voter registration. Watch for any forwarded mail that reveals an account you missed.
  6. Within a few months: Double-check that nothing is still being forwarded, which means a sender you haven’t updated yet.

While you’re lining up these dates, it’s also a good time to book your movers if you haven’t. If you want a sense of what your move might cost before you commit, you can request a free quote from Moverly and compare it against any other estimates you’ve gathered.

Common mistakes that cause headaches

  • Treating forwarding as permanent. It expires after 12 months. Anything not updated by then gets returned or misdelivered.
  • Paying a third-party site. The official fee is a dollar or two. Higher charges mean you’re on the wrong site.
  • Forgetting periodicals. Magazines only forward for 60 days, so update publishers early.
  • Skipping the DMV deadline. Many states fine you for not updating your license and registration on time.
  • Missing saved addresses in apps. Amazon, food delivery, and pharmacy apps quietly keep your old address as the default.

FAQ

How much does a USPS change of address cost?

Filing online costs a small identity-verification fee, typically about $1 to $2, charged to a card matching your name. Filing in person with PS Form 3575 is free. Any site charging much more than a couple of dollars is a third party, not USPS.

How long does USPS forward your mail?

First-class mail is forwarded for 12 months. Magazines and newspapers are forwarded for only 60 days. Use that 12-month window to permanently update your address with every account, because forwarding stops once it expires.

How far in advance should I file my change of address?

About two weeks before your move is ideal. You can submit the form earlier and set a future start date, since forwarding usually begins within 3 to 7 business days of the start date you choose.

Will forwarding cover my packages?

Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express are forwarded, but rules differ for ground shipments and media mail. For anything important, update the shipping address directly with the retailer rather than relying on forwarding.