The boxes are unpacked, the beds are made, and then a month later the car tax bill shows up at the old house. We hear some version of that story from customers every season. After moving families across Hartford County and Western Massachusetts since 2011, we've learned that the move isn't really finished until your new address is on file everywhere that matters.
The good news: updating your address is mostly a two-afternoon job if you work from a list. So we built one. Below is every person, agency and company we tell our customers to notify, grouped so you can knock them out in batches, with the Connecticut and Massachusetts deadlines that tend to catch people off guard.
If you're still in the early planning stage, start with our complete Connecticut moving checklist for the week-by-week timeline, then come back here when it's time to tackle the paperwork.
1. Government agencies: start here
These are the ones with legal deadlines, so we always tell customers to handle them first.
- USPS mail forwarding. File at USPS.com or in person at the post office. Online filing carries a small identity-verification fee (about $1.25 when last checked), while filing in person is free. Forwarding generally runs for 12 months. Submit it about two weeks before move day so nothing slips through.
- Connecticut DMV (license, ID and registration). Connecticut is strict here: you have 48 hours after moving to update your address, and you can do it online in a few minutes. Your registration address is also what the DMV shares with your town tax collector, so skipping this step is how car tax bills end up at the wrong house.
- Massachusetts RMV. Moving to or within Western MA? State law gives you 30 days to update your license and registration, online, by phone or in person.
- IRS. The IRS does not pick up your new address from the post office. File Form 8822 or simply use your new address on your next return. Processing can take four to six weeks, so don't wait until tax season.
- Social Security Administration. If you receive benefits, update your address through your my Social Security account.
- Voter registration. In Connecticut you can update your voter registration during the same online DMV transaction. In Massachusetts, re-register in your new town.
- Town hall and assessor. If you own property, tell the assessor's office where to send real estate and personal property tax bills.
- Veterans Affairs, Medicare, Medicaid or state benefits, if they apply to you.
- Passport office, only if you have an application in progress.
Moving here from out of state? You'll be transferring a license, not just updating one. Our guide to relocating to Connecticut walks through what newcomers should expect, and our long-distance moving guide for CT and MA covers the interstate side.
2. Money and insurance: protect your accounts
A statement sitting in your old mailbox is an identity-theft risk, so we put financial accounts right after the government list.
- Banks and credit unions, including any accounts you rarely use
- Credit card companies. A mismatched billing address can get online purchases declined
- Mortgage lender or landlord, for both the old and new home
- Auto loan, student loan and personal loan servicers
- Investment, brokerage and retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, pension administrator)
- Payroll and payment apps like PayPal, Venmo and your employer's direct-deposit system
- Auto insurance. Rates are set by ZIP code, and your policy must reflect where the car is garaged
- Homeowners or renters insurance. Start the new policy on move day, not after it
- Life, health, dental and vision insurance
- Tax preparer or accountant
One more insurance note: coverage for your belongings while they're on the truck is a separate question from your homeowners policy. We break that down in interstate moving insurance explained. And if you're still comparing movers, our guide to verifying a mover's license in Connecticut is worth five minutes before you hand anyone a deposit.
3. Utilities and home services: schedule, don't just notify
For utilities, the goal is a clean handoff: service ends at the old place the day after you leave and starts at the new place the day before you arrive. Nobody wants to unload a truck in the dark.
- Electric and gas (in our area, usually Eversource, or a municipal utility in some towns)
- Water, sewer and trash pickup, often billed through the town
- Internet, cable and phone. Book installation two to three weeks out; providers fill up fast in summer
- Home security and alarm monitoring
- Heating oil or propane delivery, common across rural Hartford and Tolland County homes
- Lawn care, snow removal, pest control and cleaning services
- Storage units. Update your contact address so access codes and bills reach you
Timing a gap between closings? Our climate-controlled storage in Enfield can hold everything until the new place is ready, and our moving and storage service means one crew handles both legs. Busy season also affects install dates, so it helps to know the best time to move in Hartford County before you lock in a date.
4. Work, health, school and everyday accounts
This is the long tail, and it's where most people miss something. Work through it with your email inbox open; anything that sends you a receipt probably has your address.
Work and business
- Employer and HR for your W-2, benefits and payroll
- Clients, vendors and professional licensing boards if you're self-employed
- Business registrations, if your home is your business address. Relocating an office too? See our office relocation checklist for Connecticut businesses and our commercial moving services
Health care
- Doctors, dentists and specialists, and request records if you're switching providers
- Pharmacies, including mail-order prescriptions
- Veterinarian, plus the microchip registry for your pets
School and family
- Current and new schools. Request records transfers early; many districts need proof of residency to enroll
- Daycare, activities and youth sports leagues
- Colleges for students living away from home. For more on helping kids through the transition, see moving with kids: tips for families
Subscriptions and shopping
- Amazon and other online retailers (update the default shipping address so packages don't go to your old porch)
- Meal kits, pet food and other recurring deliveries
- Magazines and newspapers. Periodicals forward for a shorter window than first-class mail
- Streaming and app stores, which tie billing addresses to your card
- Loyalty programs, memberships and gyms
- Charities and alumni associations you give to
People
- Family and friends. A quick group text with the new address saves a lot of lost holiday cards
- Your emergency contacts and anyone holding a spare key
Helping a parent move into a smaller home or senior living? There's usually a second set of accounts to update on their behalf. Our senior moving services and our guide to downsizing from a house to an apartment in CT can take some of that weight off. Executors handling an estate will also find our guide to storage during probate in Connecticut useful for the in-between period.
When to do each update
You don't need to do everything at once. Here's the order we recommend to our customers:
- 3 to 4 weeks before: Schedule utility shutoff and setup, book internet install, notify schools
- 2 weeks before: File USPS mail forwarding, update banks, credit cards and insurance
- Move week: Update employer, doctors, pharmacy and recurring deliveries
- Within 48 hours (CT): Connecticut DMV license, ID and registration
- Within 30 days (MA): Massachusetts RMV license and registration
- First month: IRS, voter registration, subscriptions, friends and family
- Ongoing: Check forwarded mail weekly and update every sender it reveals
That last item is our favorite tip. Every piece of forwarded mail with a yellow sticker is a sender you forgot. Update it on the spot and, well before forwarding expires, your mail will be coming straight to the new house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a USPS change of address update my address everywhere?
No. It only forwards mail. The DMV, IRS, banks and most companies need to be notified separately.
How long do I have to change my address with the CT DMV?
Connecticut requires you to update your license and registration within 48 hours of moving. Massachusetts allows 30 days.
How soon should I file mail forwarding?
About two weeks before move day. You can set a future start date so forwarding begins the day you move.
What's the most commonly forgotten update?
In our experience, it's the car registration, which affects where your Connecticut motor vehicle tax bill goes, followed closely by recurring online orders.
Let us handle the heavy lifting
You've got enough paperwork to deal with. Let us take the move itself off your plate. From local moving across Enfield and the rest of our service area, to long-distance moves out of state, our family-owned crews treat your home like our own. Want the boxes done too? Our full-service packing and boutique Princess Packing™ service have you covered.
For day-of advice, read our moving day tips from professional movers. When you're ready, request your free estimate or call us at 1-888-553-4503. We usually respond in 20 minutes or less.