Do Internet Companies Charge a Fee to Relocate My Service?

When you’re settling into your new home, unexpected moving expenses are the last thing you want—especially for something as important as internet. But depending on your service provider, your internet relocation fees could include a transfer fee, an activation fee, an installation fee, or even an increase in your monthly equipment fee.

Avoid these unexpected relocation fees by getting answers to all these questions before you move:

• Will my internet provider charge me to move my service?
• Is my internet service available at my new address?
• Do I have to pay an early termination fee when I move?
• Should I take my old internet equipment with me?

Keep reading to learn how to find answers to each of these questions.

You can check if your current internet provider is available at your new address by entering your zip code in the tool below. If your current service provider isn’t among them, check out our list of internet service providers we recommend to find one that will work for your new home.

Many internet service providers (ISPs) offer different plans for different locations. This could be great news if you’re moving from a small town to a big city—cities often have newer and faster internet networks than rural areas.

But if you’re leaving the city for a quieter country life, you might find that you have only a fraction of the download speeds you’re used to.

And new residential developments—in the country and city alike—may not have included internet infrastructure in the construction plan. Ask your contractors ahead of time to avoid an unpleasant surprise upon move-in day.

Whether or not you have to pay an early termination fee when you move depends on your internet contract. Unfortunately, just leaving the boundary of your internet provider’s network won’t stop the company from charging you an early termination fee.

But if you’ve already fulfilled the contract terms of your service—or if you have a no-contract internet plan—you won’t have to pay an early termination fee. After you've got termination for your old internet service all figured out, use our guide to finding internet for your new home to pick a new provider.

Early termination fees vary by your ISP and internet plan. But usually, providers charge a lump sum fee based on how many months you have left in your contract. This fee often ranges from $10–$20 per remaining month on your contract. Call your internet provider to get an exact amount.

If you’re renting equipment from your internet provider, give them a call to see if you should take it to your new address. Your provider may use different internet technology where you’re moving, and your old equipment may not be compatible with it.

And if your internet provider wants you to return the equipment, make sure to give it back on time. Otherwise, you might face expensive unreturned equipment charges that no one needs on top of moving company fees and such.

• Search High-Speed Internet Providers by Zip Code
• Switching Internet Service Providers
• Best Internet Service Providers When You Move
• High Speed Internet Deals and Discounts

• How Much Should I Be Paying for High-Speed Internet?
• How Much Internet Speed Do I Need?
• What’s the Best Room to Put Your Router In?

1. AT&T, "Moving? Get AT&T Services at Your New Address." Accessed September 30, 2020.
2. CenturyLink, "Moving to a New Home?" Accessed September 30, 2020.
3. Cox Communications, Inc., "Move Your Services in as Little as Five Minutes." Accessed September 30, 2020.
4. MediacomCable, "Service Commitment Agreement." Accessed September 30, 2020.
5. Spectrum, "Moving Soon? Don't Forget Your Spectrum Services." Accessed September 30, 2020.
6. Verizon, "Move into Your New Home with Fios." Accessed September 30, 2020.
7. Xfinity, "Move in a Minute." Accessed September 30, 2020.