The Ultimate Checklist for Changing Your Address

When you’re moving house, remembering who needs your new address is one of those jobs that sounds easy until you actually sit down to do it. The Man has helped countless Melburnians haul couches, plants and mystery garage boxes across the city, and we’ve seen how often this one slips through the cracks.

Use this checklist to stay organised and avoid playing detective with missing letters, surprise bills or an annoyed VicRoads.

The Big Ones

These ones are easy to forget, but some of them matter the most. They’re also the easiest ones to tick off early, so we suggest making these changes before you move, giving you less to worry about after.

Australia Post (Mail Redirection)

Your future self will thank you for sorting this before you move.

A quick redirection keeps your mail following you instead of piling up at your old place where anyone nosy enough might be tempted to flip through your bills.

Do this:

• Set up a temporary or long-term redirection online with Aus Post.
• Update any subscriptions that still send physical mail.

Australian Electoral Commission

No one wants election season creeping up with your enrollment stuck in your old suburb. Forgetting to fix this up can even lead to fines!

Do this:

• Update your details on the electoral roll as soon as you move.
• Make sure everyone in your household is updated too, especially teenagers who have just enrolled.

Australian Tax Office

The ATO likes to know where everyone lives so the great economic machinery of Australia keeps humming along.

Do this:

• Update your address through MyGov or directly with the ATO.
• Confirm linked services show the right details.

VicRoads: Licence and Vehicle Registration

The clock starts ticking once you move, as you only have 14 days to update your address before you risk being fined. If you forget to update your details and receive an infringement after this period, you can end up in a pickle.

Do this:

• Update your license address directly through Vic Roads.
• Ensure your vehicle rego is also updated.
• Vic Roads will send you a new address label to stick on your license; make sure you do this!
• If you have moved from interstate, complete everything within the three-month window.

Local Council

This is potentially easy to forget, but make sure you do let your council know. You don’t want to be stuck paying rates after you’re no longer in the same property. 

Do this:

• Notify your old and new councils.
• Check local bin days, hard rubbish rules and recycling spots.

Utilities and Essential Household Services

If you want lights, water, hot showers and Wi-Fi when you arrive, these need attention early.

Electricity, Gas and Water

Nothing says chaos like arriving at your new home and discovering someone forgot to flick the switch.

Do this:

• Organise disconnection at the old place and connection at the new one.
• Give or arrange meter readings where required.

Internet and Phone Providers

NBN appointments can book out quickly, so the earlier you sort this, the less time you spend hotspotting off your mobile.

Do this:

• Transfer your service or book an installation date.
• Check if you need to return any modems or equipment.

Insurance and Financial Institutions

If you ever need to make a claim or get a bank card replaced, the last thing you want is an outdated address delaying matters.

Home, Contents, and Car Insurance

Your cover level may change with your new suburb, so this is more important than it looks.

Do this:

• Update every insurance policy you hold.
• Double-check if new premiums apply.

Banks and Credit Unions

A simple address change helps protect you from fraud and ensures new cards reach the right letterbox.

Do this:

• Update your address across all accounts.
• Check for incoming cards or documents.

Mortgage Lender and Finance Providers

They must have the right details for statements and future correspondence.

Do this:

• Notify your lender.
• Update any buy now, pay later accounts as well.

Health, Education and Professional Services

These aren’t legally urgent, but very handy to update sooner rather than later.

GP, Dentist, and Healthcare Providers

Referrals, reminders, and test results all rely on accurate details.

Do this:

• Tell your GP, dentist, physio and specialists.
• Decide if you will stick with your current providers or switch closer to home.

Schools and Childcare

Schools need up-to-date residential info for pick-ups, emergencies, and enrollment boundaries.

Do this:

• Notify the school or childcare centre.
• Update parent portals and emergency contact platforms.

Vets and Pet Registries

If your pet goes wandering, the microchip registry needs the right address to get them back home.

Do this:

• Update the microchip registry.
• Check registration requirements for your new council.

Work, Memberships, and Personal Contacts

Congrats! You’ve made it to the final round of admin before settling into your new place properly.

Employer and Payroll

HR will need the right address for tax and employment records.

Do this:

• Update your details with HR or through your staff portal.
• While you’re at it, update your details on your Superannuation Fund account, too.

Toll Road Accounts

If you use Linkt, make sure the address matches your rego information.

Do this:

• Update your toll account details.

Memberships, Subscriptions and Deliveries

Meal kits, wine clubs, gym memberships, sports teams, loyalty programs. All of it.

Do this:

• Update any service that bills or delivers to you.

Friends and Family

Surprisingly easy to forget after dealing with dozens of official updates. Just don’t tell them that!

Do this:

• Share your new address so birthday cards and Christmas treats land in the right letterbox.

Quick Change of Address Checklist

Here’s the roundup of where you need to look to update your address when moving.

• Australia Post
• Australian Electoral Commission
• ATO
• VicRoads
• Local council
• Electricity, gas, and water
• Internet and mobile providers
• Insurers
• Banks and lenders
• GP, dentist, and specialists
• Schools and childcare
• Vets and microchip registry
• Employer
• Toll accounts
• Memberships and subscriptions
• Friends and family

FAQs

How early should I start updating my address?

The sweet spot is two to four weeks before moving day. Utilities and internet are the ones to sort first because they control how comfortable your first night will be. Just make sure that your actual moving date is clear—you don’t want crossed wires leaving you without connection at your current address before you’re ready to leave!

Which address updates are the most important?

Australia Post, VicRoads, the AEC, and your utilities. They are either legal requirements or essential for everyday functioning.

Do I need to update every single subscription?

If it posts you something or uses your location for billing, the answer is yes.

Can I schedule mail redirection before I move?

Yep, You can set it up in advance and choose the exact start date.

What happens if I forget to update VicRoads or the ATO?

You can miss important notices from both, which can snowball into bigger issues. VicRoads has time limits you need to meet too. Best to avoid any confusion and get these ones sorted early.

Got a big move coming up? Book Man With a Van: Melbourne’s most-trusted removalist service since 2001.