Transferring Your Life to a New City: The Complete Admin Checklist Nobody Writes About

Texas has 27 separate things you need to update, transfer, or register when you move here. I counted. And that number goes up if you have kids, pets, or a vehicle registered in another state (so basically everyone).

Every relocation guide on the internet tells you to “explore your new neighborhood” and “try local restaurants.” That’s great. But nobody writes the actual checklist of administrative tasks that will ruin your month if you forget them. The DMV line doesn’t care that you found a great taco spot.

I’ve helped hundreds of people relocate to Austin over the past 19 years, and the pattern is always the same. People handle the big stuff (house, job, moving truck) and then get blindsided by the boring stuff. The utility deposit they didn’t know about. The 30-day vehicle registration deadline they missed. The homestead exemption they forgot to file that cost them $3,500 in extra property taxes.

So here’s your moving to a new city checklist. Not the fun stuff. The admin stuff. The stuff that actually matters.

Utilities: Getting the Lights On (and the AC Running)

Start this two weeks before your move date. In Texas specifically, the electric market is deregulated in most areas, which means you pick your electricity provider. This confuses everyone who moves from a state where you just call “the power company.”

Electric power. If you’re moving to the Austin metro, Austin Energy is your provider and it is NOT deregulated (they’re the only option). But if you’re in unincorporated Travis County, Williamson County, or Hays County, you’ll use PowerToChoose.org to compare plans from dozens of providers. Pedernales Electric Cooperative covers a huge chunk of the Hill Country including Bee Cave, Lakeway, and Dripping Springs, and they’re also not deregulated. So step one is figuring out which provider actually serves your address.

Water and wastewater. This depends entirely on where you live. City of Austin has Austin Water. The Hill Country communities often use local utility districts (MUDs, WCIDs, or PUDs). Some rural properties are on wells and septic. Your title company or real estate agent should tell you exactly which water provider serves your property. If you’re on a well, get that water tested before you move in.

Natural gas. Texas Gas Service covers most of the Austin area. Set up service at texasgasservice.com or call them. Pretty straightforward.

Trash and recycling. Inside Austin city limits, trash pickup is included in your utility bill. Outside city limits you’ll need to set up private trash service. Texas Disposal Systems and Waste Connections are the big ones in the Hill Country. Budget $30 to $50 a month.

Internet. Check availability before you close on the house. Seriously. Some Hill Country properties only have satellite internet and if you work from home that matters a lot right. AT&T Fiber, Spectrum, and Google Fiber cover different parts of the metro. Hargrave and GVTC serve some rural Hill Country areas. I’ve seen buyers close on a house and then discover their only internet option is Starlink (which, ok, Starlink is actually pretty decent now, but still). Check out our remote worker relocation guide if you’re working from home.

The Great Address Change: Everything That Needs Your New Address

This is the one that takes forever because the list is longer than you think.

USPS mail forwarding. Do this first. Go to usps.com/move and set up mail forwarding. It costs $1.25 for identity verification and takes about 7 to 10 business days to kick in. Forwarding lasts 12 months. Set this up at least two weeks before your move. This buys you time to update everything else.

Then work through this list. I know it looks long. It is long.

Financial accounts:

• Bank accounts (checking, savings, investment)
• Credit cards (all of them, not just the one you use)
• Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, HSA)
• Student loan servicers
• Mortgage company (yes, even if you just closed on the new house)

Insurance:

• Auto insurance (more on this below)
• Homeowners or renters insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Umbrella policy

Government:

• IRS (file Form 8822 or update when you file your return)
• Social Security Administration
• VA benefits (if applicable)
• State tax agencies from your old state (tell them you left)

Subscriptions and online accounts:

• Amazon (shipping address AND billing address)
• Pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, etc.)
• Streaming services
• Food delivery apps
• Professional memberships
• Gym membership (cancel or transfer)
• Magazine and newspaper subscriptions

Other:

• Employer HR department
• Kids’ school records
• Frequent flyer programs
• Your accountant and attorney

I tell my clients to block out an entire Saturday afternoon for this. Put on a podcast, open a spreadsheet, and just grind through it. Trying to do one or two a day for weeks is how things get missed. I learned that the hard way after I forgot to update my own insurance address for three months after we moved. Not my finest moment.

Vehicle: The Texas DMV Gauntlet

This is where a lot of new Texans get tripped up because there are multiple deadlines and they’re all different.

Driver’s license: 90 days. You have 90 days from establishing residency to get your Texas driver’s license. The good news is that if you’re surrendering a valid out-of-state license, the 30-day Texas residency requirement is waived. So you can go to DPS basically as soon as you get here. I’d recommend going early because (and I say this with love) the Texas DPS is not known for short wait times. Book an appointment online. Do not just walk in unless you enjoy spending your Tuesday morning in a plastic chair.

Vehicle registration: 30 days. This one’s tighter. You have 30 days from when you move here to register your vehicle in Texas. Go to your county tax office (not the DPS, different building, different line, different headache) with your out-of-state title or registration, proof of Texas insurance, and a completed Form 130-U from TxDMV.

Vehicle inspection. Here’s some good news. As of January 2025, Texas eliminated mandatory safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles. You’ll still pay a $7.50 replacement fee at registration. But if you live in Travis County or Williamson County (which covers most of the Austin metro), you DO still need a passing emissions inspection. That hasn’t gone away.

Insurance update. Update your auto insurance to a Texas policy before you register. Texas requires minimum liability coverage of 30/60/25 ($30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 for property damage). If you’re coming from a state with lower minimums, you’ll need to bump your coverage up. If you’re coming from a state with higher minimums (looking at you, Michigan), your rates might actually go down.

Healthcare: Finding Your New Medical Team

Don’t wait until someone has a 102-degree fever to figure out where your new doctor is.

Primary care physician. Call your insurance company and get a list of in-network providers in your new area. Or use their online directory. Start this process early because good PCPs often have 4 to 6 week waits for new patients. If you moved from out of state, your old doctor can usually do a one-time virtual visit to bridge the gap.

Dentist and optometrist. Same drill (no pun intended). Get established before you have an emergency. Austin has no shortage of dentists but the good ones book out.

Transfer prescriptions. Your current pharmacy can transfer prescriptions to a new location. You can also ask your doctor to send new prescriptions to any Texas pharmacy. If you use mail-order pharmacy through your insurance, just update your shipping address. Some controlled substances have quirks with interstate transfers, so handle those early.

Know your emergency options. Before anything happens, know where the nearest ER and urgent care are. Save the addresses in your phone. In the Hill Country, Baylor Scott & White in Lakeway, St. David’s in Bee Cave, and the Dell Seton network are the main systems. Urgent care centers are everywhere along Highway 71 and 620.

Specialists. If anyone in your household sees specialists (allergists, dermatologists, orthopedists, whatever), get those referrals started immediately. Specialist wait times in Austin can be 8 to 12 weeks. That’s not a typo.

Insurance: More Than Just the Minimum

Moving across state lines usually means touching every insurance policy you own. This is not the fun part but skipping it can get expensive fast.

Homeowners insurance. If you bought a home in Texas, your lender required this at closing. But you should actually read the policy right. Texas has some specific considerations, especially hail coverage, wind coverage, and flood insurance (which is separate and NOT included in standard homeowners policies). Our homeowners insurance guide breaks down the real costs.

Auto insurance. As mentioned above, Texas minimum is 30/60/25. But honestly the minimums are pretty low for 2026 medical costs. Most agents I work with recommend at least 100/300/100 if you can swing it. Uninsured motorist coverage is also smart here.

Health insurance. If you changed employers as part of the move, you’ll have a qualifying life event that lets you enroll in the new employer’s plan outside of open enrollment. If you’re self-employed, changing states is also a qualifying event for the marketplace. Don’t let coverage lapse.

Umbrella policy. If you own investment property or have significant assets, make sure your umbrella policy is updated to reflect your new state. Some policies have state-specific endorsements that need updating.

Schools: Enrollment, Immunizations, and the Stuff That Can’t Wait

If you have school-age kids, this section matters more than any other section in this article.

Enrollment timing. Most Texas school districts allow you to enroll as soon as you have proof of residency (a lease, closing documents, or a utility bill). Don’t wait until the week before school starts. The earlier you get in the system, the better your chances of getting into the programs and campuses you want. This is especially true in districts like Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD, and Dripping Springs ISD where some campuses have transfer caps.

Immunization records. Texas requires a specific set of immunizations for school enrollment. The big ones: DTaP, polio (IPV), MMR, Hepatitis A (two doses), and Varicella. The full list is on the Texas DSHS website. Get your kids’ immunization records from your old pediatrician before you move. If you’re missing any, your new Texas pediatrician can catch them up. Kids can be provisionally enrolled if they’ve had at least one dose of each required vaccine and are on schedule for the rest.

School records. Request transcripts and records from the old school. Most districts handle this electronically now but some still want paper copies. Include IEP or 504 plans if applicable. Texas is required to implement existing IEPs from other states for at least 30 days while they evaluate.

School supply lists. Every Texas school publishes supply lists by grade level, usually in June or July. They’re specific down to the brand of dry erase marker. Don’t go buying 200 folders before you know what the new school requires.

Voter Registration: Your New Texas Voice

Texas requires you to register at least 30 days before any election you want to vote in. If you’re moving from another state, you’ll need to submit a new voter registration application through VoteTexas.gov.

You can fill out the application at VoteTexas.gov, but Texas does not have fully online voter registration. You must print, sign, and mail the form. You can also register in person at your county voter registrar’s office. Travis County, Williamson County, and Hays County all have registration offices. The form takes about 5 minutes to complete.

One thing to note: you should cancel your voter registration in your previous state yourself. There is no automatic interstate cancellation system. Being registered in two states simultaneously is not illegal, but voting in two states is. Handle the cancellation with your old state’s election office.

Pets: Your Four-Legged Residents Need Admin Too

Yes, even your dog has paperwork.

New veterinarian. Get your pet’s medical records from your current vet before you move. Find a new vet in your area and schedule a wellness visit within the first month. This establishes the relationship so you’re not scrambling during an emergency at 11pm on a Saturday. If you have a pet with chronic conditions, get enough medication to cover the transition.

Microchip address update. This is the one everyone forgets. If your pet is microchipped (and they should be), update the address and phone number in the microchip registry. The chip is useless if it’s still linked to your old address in Portland. Check which registry your chip is with at AAHA’s Universal Pet Microchip Lookup.

City registration. The City of Austin requires dog and cat registration. It’s $15 for altered pets, $50 for unaltered. Most surrounding cities (Bee Cave, Lakeway, Dripping Springs) don’t require pet registration, but your HOA might have breed or size restrictions worth checking. Our moving with pets guide covers the full breakdown.

Financial Housekeeping

Bank address. Update it. Your bank sends tax documents and fraud alerts to the address on file. If that’s your old address, you’ll miss important stuff even with mail forwarding (some banks send things via services that don’t forward).

Find a local branch. If you use a national bank, no big deal right. But if you have accounts at a regional bank from your old state, think about whether you want to transfer to a local bank or credit union. A lot of people keep an account at a national bank and add a local credit union for convenience.

Estate documents. Here’s one that almost nobody thinks about. If you moved from another state, your will, power of attorney, and healthcare directive may need updating. Estate laws vary by state. Texas is a community property state which means property ownership works differently than in most states. A 30-minute consultation with a Texas estate attorney is worth it. Not urgent, but put it on the 90-day list.

Accountant and tax professional. If you moved from a state with income tax to Texas (which has no state income tax, you’re welcome), you may need to file a partial-year return in your old state. A Texas-based CPA can help with the transition and make sure you’re not overpaying. Also update your W-4 with your employer since you won’t have state withholding anymore. That’s more take-home pay starting immediately.

Texas-Specific Items: The Stuff Nobody From Out of State Knows About

These are the uniquely Texas things that trip up new residents. I see it constantly.

No state income tax. Texas doesn’t have one. If you moved from California, New York, Illinois, or any other income tax state, update your W-4 with your employer. You’ll have more take-home pay immediately. But (and this is a big but) Texas makes up for it with property taxes. Which brings us to…

Homestead exemption. FILE THIS IMMEDIATELY. I cannot stress this enough. If you bought a home in Texas and it’s your primary residence, file your homestead exemption with the county appraisal district. For 2026, the standard school district exemption is $140,000 off your assessed value. On a $500,000 home at the average Travis County rate, that saves you roughly $3,500 per year. You can file as soon as you close. The deadline to get it on the current year’s tax bill is April 30. Don’t wait. Do it the week you move in.

Our homestead exemption guide walks through the entire process.

Property tax calendar. Texas property taxes work on a calendar year. The appraisal district sets your value in April/May, you can protest in May/June, and the tax bill arrives in October (due January 31 of the following year). If you close on a house mid-year, taxes are prorated at closing. But you’re still responsible for the full bill when it comes due. Some people get surprised by a $12,000 tax bill in October because they assumed their escrow account had it covered (sometimes it doesn’t, especially in the first year). Check with your lender.

Toll roads. Austin has a lot of them and they’re all electronic (no cash booths). Set up a TxTag account at txtag.org before you start driving around. Without a TxTag, you’ll get billed by mail at higher rates. The 183A, 290 Toll, 45, and MoPac Express lanes all use electronic tolling.

The Timeline: When to Do What

Ok, lets put this all in order. Because doing these things in the right sequence actually saves you time.

Two weeks before the move:

• Set up USPS mail forwarding
• Set up electricity and gas at new address
• Schedule internet installation
• Request school records and immunization records for kids
• Request pet medical records from current vet
• Start comparing Texas auto insurance quotes

Moving week:

• Confirm utilities are active at new address
• Set up trash service (if outside city limits)
• Update auto insurance to Texas policy
• File homestead exemption with county appraisal district
• Enroll kids in school

First two weeks:

• The Great Address Change Saturday (block 4 hours, update everything)
• Register to vote in Texas
• Set up TxTag account for toll roads
• Schedule new vet appointment for pets
• Update microchip address for pets
• Find new primary care doctor, dentist, and specialists
• Transfer prescriptions to local pharmacy

First 30 days:

• Register your vehicle at the county tax office
• Get emissions inspection if in Travis or Williamson County
• Update W-4 with employer (no more state income tax withholding)
• File partial-year tax return with old state (if applicable)

First 90 days:

• Get your Texas driver’s license at DPS
• Schedule an estate planning consultation if you changed states
• Review and update all insurance policies
• Verify homestead exemption was processed

The One Thing I Wish Everyone Did

Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing, had this concept he called “margin of safety.” The idea is that you build in a buffer for things going wrong. I think about that every time someone relocates.

The biggest mistake I see is people treating the move-in date as the finish line. It’s not. It’s the starting line for about six weeks of administrative catch-up. The people who handle it best are the ones who expect it, plan for it, and knock it out systematically instead of reactively.

And honestly, the real reason I wrote this is because I got tired of sending individual emails to clients with bits and pieces of this information. Now I can just send them this link. (Efficiency. Benjamin Graham would approve.)

If you’re planning a move to Austin or the Texas Hill Country, the admin stuff is the easy part. The hard part is finding the right house in the right neighborhood at the right price. That’s where I come in.

Plan Your Relocation

Lets talk about your move. I’ve been helping people relocate to the Austin area since 2007 and I know every neighborhood, every school district, and every HOA that’s going to be a problem before you find out the hard way. The administrative checklist, you can handle. The real estate strategy, that’s what I do.

Want the complete picture? Check out our complete guide to moving to Austin for neighborhoods, costs, and everything else. Or read our long distance move cost breakdown for the real numbers. Be safe, be good, and be nice to people.