Setting up internet when you move
Book internet two to three weeks before you move, and check what reaches the new address before you decide to transfer your plan.
Check which providers serve your new address first. If your current provider serves it, compare its transfer price with new-customer offers from others. Schedule installation or activation for move-in day, cancel or transfer the old service for the day after you leave, and return rented equipment to avoid fees.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. It doesn't change what we recommend.
Moving internet checklist
- 3 to 4 weeks before: check providers at your new address. Note fiber options, 5G home internet and prices.
- 2 to 3 weeks before: decide whether to transfer your service or switch. Book installation, or order self-setup equipment, for move-in day. Installation slots fill up at the start and end of each month.
- 1 week before: confirm the appointment and whether someone needs to be home.
- Moving day: keep the old service until you leave. Pack the modem and router where you can find them.
- After you move: return rented equipment within the deadline, and check the final bill.
Transfer or switch?
If your provider serves the new address, a transfer keeps your account and email. But your current price may be higher than the new-customer offers you would get by switching. Before you transfer, compare offers at the new address. Existing customers can also ask for the new-customer price when they move; some providers agree.
If you switch, you can usually cancel the old service without a fee if you have no contract. If you have one, ask about a moving exception; some providers waive the fee when you move outside their area. See how to negotiate your internet price.
Avoid paying twice
- Schedule the new service to start on move-in day and the old one to end the day after you leave.
- Ask for a prorated final bill so you don't pay for a full month you won't use.
- Return equipment and keep the receipt. Unreturned modems and routers are often billed at full price.
No internet yet? Stay online in the gap
If installation is a few days after move-in, use your phone's hotspot, or a short-term internet option with no contract.
Help with the move itself
If you're still booking movers or a truck, Moving Place compares moving companies and quotes in one place.
Questions
How far in advance should I set up internet before moving?
Two to three weeks. Some providers let you schedule activation weeks earlier; installation slots fill up around the start and end of each month.
Can I take my internet with me when I move?
Yes, if your provider serves the new address. Compare its price with new-customer offers there first.
Do I have to pay a fee to cancel internet when I move?
Not if you have no contract. With a contract, ask about a moving exception before you pay the fee.
What do I do with my modem when I move?
If you rent it and are switching providers, return it to avoid a charge. If you own it, check that the new provider supports it.