Your First 30 Days in a New State: License, Registration, Voting, and Taxes

Week one: change of address and the basics

Start with your mail, because almost every other errand asks for proof of your new address.

• File a change of address with the Postal Service. You can do it online with identity verification or in person at a Post Office with photo ID. According to USPS, standard mail forwarding lasts 12 months, and you should allow 7 to 10 business days for a request to take effect, so file before you move if you can
• Tell the IRS. The IRS asks you to notify it when your address changes so refunds and letters reach you. It has a change of address form, Form 8822, for this
• Update your employer, banks, and credit cards. Payroll needs your new state for tax withholding
• Update Social Security or Medicare if you receive benefits
• Start a folder of residency proof. A signed lease or closing statement, a utility bill, and a bank statement at the new address will be requested again and again

Our change of address checklist lists everyone else to notify, and our guide to setting up utilities at a new home covers power, water, and internet.

How soon do you need a new state drivers license?

Every state sets its own deadline for new residents, and the clock usually starts when you establish residency, not when you get around to it. Some states allow a few months. Others give you only days or a few weeks. Look up the rule on your new state's DMV or driver services website before you move. Do not rely on what a neighbor remembers.

Georgia shows how short the window can be. The Georgia Department of Driver Services says you must apply for a Georgia driver's license within 30 days of becoming a resident.

To get a new state drivers license, expect to bring:

• Your current out-of-state license
• Proof of identity, such as a certified birth certificate or valid passport
• Proof of your Social Security number
• Two documents showing your new address
• Proof of any name change, such as a marriage certificate

If you want a REAL ID-compliant license, the document list is stricter, so read it closely. Many offices work by appointment and book up weeks out. Reserve a slot as soon as you have an address. Testing rules for license transfers vary by state, so check your state's site to see whether you need a vision, knowledge, or road test.

How to register a car in a new state

Registration has its own deadline, separate from the license, and it is sometimes shorter. The usual order of steps:

1. Move your car insurance first. Call your insurer before or right after the move. Coverage requirements and rates are set state by state, and most states want proof of a policy written for that state before they will register the car
2. Get any required inspection. Depending on the state and county, that may be a safety inspection, an emissions test, or a check of the vehicle identification number
3. Gather the paperwork. Title or lienholder information, current registration, proof of insurance, your ID, and proof of address
4. Pay the fees and taxes. Costs vary widely. Some states charge a flat fee, and others charge a tax based on the vehicle's value
5. Return or recycle your old plates if your former state requires it, and cancel the old registration

If you have a loan or lease, call the lender early. When the lender holds the title, the new state has to request it, and that can take a while. To register a car in a new state in one visit, check the state's list and bring everything on it.

Georgia is again a useful example. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, vehicles must be registered within 30 days of the date you moved, you need a valid Georgia license or ID before you can register, and residents of certain metro Atlanta counties need an emissions inspection first.

How to register to vote after moving

Your voter registration does not follow you across state lines. You need to register in the new state, and each state sets its own deadline ahead of an election.

The easiest time to register to vote after moving is at the license office. Most states offer voter registration when you apply for a driver's license or state ID. Many also let you register online or by mail, and the federal site vote.gov points you to your state's official page.

Once you are registered, find your polling place and check your state's ID rules for voters. If an election is close, look up the registration deadline first and work backward from it.

State taxes after moving: what to expect

A move in the middle of the year usually means two states have an interest in that year's income. These are the general points to know about state taxes after moving. Your own situation needs a CPA or tax professional, since rules vary by state.

• Part-year returns. If both states tax income, you will typically file a part-year resident return in each, splitting income by when and where you earned it
• Withholding. Confirm that your employer has stopped withholding for the old state and started for the new one
• Residency. States use their own tests to decide who is a resident. Your license, voter registration, and where you actually live all serve as evidence, which is another reason to finish this list promptly
• Property taxes. If you bought a home, ask the county about homestead exemptions and their filing deadlines
• Records. Keep your moving paperwork, lease or closing documents, and the date you arrived

Moving somewhere without a state income tax changes some of this. See moving to a state with no income tax for what changes and what does not.

Health insurance, schools, and pets

Health coverage. Plans and provider networks are often tied to a state or region. Tell your employer's benefits office about the move, or if you buy your own plan, report the move to the marketplace promptly. According to KFF, a permanent move can qualify you for a 60-day special enrollment period on HealthCare.gov if you had qualifying coverage for at least one day in the 60 days before the move.

Doctors and prescriptions. Request records from your old providers, choose new ones in your network, and transfer prescriptions before you run low.

Schools. Enrollment usually requires proof of address, a birth certificate, immunization records, and transcripts. Ask the district what it needs. Our guide to moving with kids has more on the transition.

Pets. Find a veterinarian, update microchip records and tags, and ask your city or county about pet licensing and rabies vaccination rules.

A simple plan for your first 30 days in a new state

Adjust the order if your state's deadlines are tighter. The point is to get through your first 30 days in a new state with one list and one folder.

If you are still planning the move itself, Allpoints is a family-owned, licensed and insured mover that has served customers nationwide since 1999. See our long-distance moving service, use our moving checklist, or request a free quote.