Tips & Seasonal 4 min read
Change-of-Address Checklist for DC, MD & VA Movers
DC, Maryland, and Virginia each have their own deadlines for licenses and plates, and they are short. This checklist puts everything in order, starting two weeks before you move.
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Two weeks before: USPS
File a permanent change of address with the Postal Service about two weeks before your move.
- Filing online at usps.com costs $1.25, charged to a card to verify your identity.
- Filing in person at a post office is free. Bring photo ID.
- First-class mail is forwarded for 12 months. After that, mail is returned to the sender with your new address for six more months.
- Marketing mail is generally not forwarded, and USPS does not tell senders that you moved. You still have to update each account yourself.
- Sites that charge large fees to file a change of address are not USPS. Use usps.com only.
Two weeks before: utilities and internet
Stop service at the old address the day after you move out, and start service at the new one the day before you move in. Order internet early, since installation appointments can take a week or more.
- Washington DC: Pepco for electricity, Washington Gas, and DC Water
- Montgomery County, MD: Pepco, Washington Gas, and WSSC Water
- Arlington, VA: Dominion Energy, Washington Gas, and Arlington County for water, sewer, and trash
- Renters insurance: update the address on your policy before move-in day. Many buildings ask for proof.
After you move: license and vehicle deadlines
If you crossed a state line, these clocks start the day you move in.
- Moving to DC. Convert your driver's license and register your vehicle within 60 calendar days. DC requires you to convert your license before you register the car, and the car has to pass a DC inspection.
- Moving to Maryland. Get your license, and title and register your vehicle, within 60 days. Titling inside the 60 days can earn a credit against Maryland's excise tax for tax you paid in your last state.
- Moving to Virginia. Register your vehicle with the DMV within 30 days and get your license within 60 days. Then register the vehicle with your county or city. Arlington's deadline is 30 days.
- Moving within the same state. Update your address with the DMV or MVA. Virginia requires it within 30 days.
Work and money
Tell your employer right away if you moved between DC, Maryland, and Virginia. You owe income tax to the place you live, so your withholding needs to switch to your new state.
- Employer payroll and HR
- Banks and credit cards
- Car insurance, which has to match the state where the car is registered
- Health insurance and any retirement accounts
- The IRS, with Form 8822 or on your next return
- Voter registration at your new address
Everyone else
These are the ones people forget until something goes missing.
- E-ZPass. Update your address, and your plate number once you have new plates.
- Doctors, dentist, pharmacy, and the vet
- Amazon and other shopping accounts, including the default shipping address
- Subscriptions, meal kits, and anything that ships on a schedule
- Schools and childcare
- Pet licenses. Arlington, for example, licenses dogs.
The order to do it in
Deadlines were last checked in October 2026 against DC DMV, the Maryland MVA, the Virginia DMV, Arlington County, and USPS. Confirm on each agency's site before you go.
- 2 weeks before. USPS, utilities, internet, and renters insurance.
- Move week. Employer, banks, and shopping accounts.
- First 30 days. Virginia vehicle registration with the DMV and your county, if you moved to Virginia.
- First 60 days. Driver's license in DC, Maryland, or Virginia. Vehicle registration in DC or Maryland.
- After new plates arrive. Car insurance, E-ZPass, and any parking permits.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When should I change my address?
File with USPS about two weeks before the move, and set utilities to switch on your move date.
How long do I have to update my driver's license?
60 days in DC, Maryland, and Virginia if you moved from another state. Vehicle registration is 60 days in DC and Maryland and 30 days in Virginia.
Will USPS forward all my mail?
First-class mail is forwarded for 12 months. Marketing mail generally is not. Update senders directly so nothing slips through.
Does a USPS change of address update my license or voter registration?
No. Those are separate, and each has its own deadline.
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