Is mail forwarding the same as a change of address?

They are two parts of one process. The change of address records your move with USPS, and forwarding is the temporary rerouting of mail still addressed to your old home.

How long does USPS forward mail?

Forwarding is temporary and the period depends on the class of mail and the type of request. Check the current terms on the USPS change of address and mail forwarding pages before relying on a date.

Do I have to pay to change my address?

USPS runs the official service itself. Filing online involves a small identity verification charge set by USPS, and third party sites that charge more are not required.

Does changing my address with USPS update my bank or the DMV?

No. Only the Postal Service is notified. Every bank, insurer, employer, subscription and government agency has to be updated separately.

Mail Forwarding vs. Change of Address: What's the Difference?

What’s the difference between mail forwarding and changing your address, you ask? Well, nothing, really. They’re essentially the same thing.

You change your address with USPS to ensure that mail is forwarded from your old address to your new one. Then you change your address with everyone else to ensure you mail gets to the right place after USPS’ forwarding ends (one year).

To say it in another way, in order to forward your mail, you must change your address with USPS. They are the same thing.

Now, you can choose to only forward for a specific amount of time (let’s say six months), in which case you aren’t changing your address permantly. Nevertheless, this is the only distinction, and it does not apply to most people who move.

Learn more about how to change your address with USPS online.

Change of address and forwarding, side by side

	Change of address	Mail forwarding
Purpose	Records your new address with USPS	Reroutes mail sent to the old address
Duration	A one time record of the move	Temporary, and it varies by mail class
Who needs it	Anyone moving home or business	Anyone who expects mail at the old address
What it affects	How USPS handles mail for your name at the old address	Where eligible pieces physically land
What it does not update	Banks, employers, insurers, subscriptions, DMV, voter registration	The sender's own records, so the same mail keeps going to the old address

Forwarding periods, eligible mail classes and fees are set by USPS and change from time to time. Check the official pages below for the current terms before you count on a date.

Does USPS change your address automatically?

No. Nothing happens until someone files the request, either online through the official USPS change of address service or in person at a Post Office. Mail carriers do not create the record for you, and a forwarding order does not tell your bank, your employer or your state motor vehicle agency anything at all.

Who else needs your new address

Bank, credit union, credit cards and any lender
Employer and payroll, plus retirement and brokerage accounts
Health, auto, renters and home insurance
Doctors, dentists, veterinarian and pharmacy
State motor vehicle agency and voter registration
Tax authorities, schools, and any subscription that ships physical goods

Work through it alongside the moving checklist, and see changing your address online and changing your address for the step by step versions.

Common mistakes after moving

Filing the request too late, so the first weeks of mail chase you
Filing an individual request when the whole household moved, or the reverse
Assuming forwarding covers every kind of mail, including packages from every carrier
Paying a third party site a fee for what the Postal Service handles directly
Letting forwarding lapse before updating the senders that matter

Carriers other than USPS keep their own records. See license and registration for the motor vehicle side of the move.

Frequently asked questions

Is mail forwarding the same as a change of address?: They are two parts of one process. The change of address records your move with USPS, and forwarding is the temporary rerouting of mail still addressed to your old home.
How long does USPS forward mail?: Forwarding is temporary and the period depends on the class of mail and the type of request. Check the current terms on the USPS change of address and mail forwarding pages before relying on a date.
Do I have to pay to change my address?: USPS runs the official service itself. Filing online involves a small identity verification charge set by USPS, and third party sites that charge more are not required.
Does changing my address with USPS update my bank or the DMV?: No. Only the Postal Service is notified. Every bank, insurer, employer, subscription and government agency has to be updated separately.

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