How to Check if a Mailing Address is Valid?

If you have ever been a recipient of mail or even received a package that was sent to an invalid address, you know how frustrating it can be. There are several reasons why an address could be deemed invalid. Some of these are simple typos that are made when an address is entered into a form or website. Others are more intentional, such as customers who don’t want to receive mailers and instead add a fake address to keep their privacy.

The ideal way to avoid such issues would be to perform an address validation before it goes out for mailing. Many providers of address verification software will parse, standardize and check the address against a database that dictates the official standards. This process is important, as it will correct any mistakes in formatting that could cause an error in the final printed or mailed address.

Once an address has been parsed and standardized, it will be ready for the next step in the process. At this point, the provider will check it against the official database of the governing postal authority, such as USPS. This will confirm if the address is in the correct format and also if it matches other relevant information such as the city, state and zip code. If an address is deemed invalid, the reason will be given to the user so they can take steps to correct it.