Moving to Austin: The First 30 Days Checklist (and the Homestead Exemption That Saves Thousands)
Texas deadlines: vehicle registration within 30 days, driver’s license within 90 — and unlike most of Texas, Austin’s electricity isn’t a marketplace: city-owned Austin Energy is your only option. No state income tax sweetens the move; property taxes take it back — which is why the homestead exemption filing is the single most valuable item on this list for buyers. Here’s the sequence.
The 30-Day Timeline
| When | Task | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Before/Day 1 | Electric | Austin Energy (city-owned — no provider shopping here, unlike Dallas) — one City of Austin utility account also covers water/trash |
| Day 1 | Gas (if applicable) | Texas Gas Service |
| Day 1 | Internet | Google Fiber, AT&T Fiber, or Spectrum — Austin is one of the best fiber markets in the country |
| Week 1 | Trash | Austin Resource Recovery on the city account — you pick cart size and pay accordingly (smaller cart = smaller bill); compost cart included citywide |
| Week 1–4 | Vehicle registration — 30-day deadline | Out-of-state cars need a Texas inspection first (emissions in Travis County), then register at the county tax office; safety inspections were eliminated statewide in 2025 but emissions remain in metro counties |
| Within 90 days | Texas driver’s license | DPS appointment — book early, Austin-area DPS offices run long |
| Week 2 | Voter registration | Texas closes registration 30 days before an election, no same-day — paper/mail or at the DPS visit; do it with the license |
| At purchase / by April 30 | Homestead exemption (homebuyers) | File free with Travis Central Appraisal District — cuts taxable value and caps annual increases at 10%; this is worth thousands over time |
| Month 1 | A/C reality check | Your AC runs 9 months a year here — get a tune-up before your first summer, and bookmark Austin HVAC pricing |
Utilities Cheat Sheet
| Service | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electric + water + trash | City of Austin (one account) | Austin Energy, Austin Water, Austin Resource Recovery combined billing |
| Gas | Texas Gas Service | Where homes have gas |
| Internet | Google Fiber / AT&T / Spectrum | Genuine fiber competition — shop it |
The Austin/Texas-Only Quirks Worth Knowing Early
- No state income tax — but property taxes bite back (effective rates among the nation’s highest), which is why the homestead exemption and annual protest season (appraisal protests, spring) are local sports worth learning
- The grid is its own topic: after the 2021 freeze, Austinites take winterization seriously — frozen pipe rules apply in a city that’s psychologically unprepared for ice
- Foundation watch: Central Texas clay moves — if you bought, read the foundation early-warning signs and our Austin foundation guide; watering the foundation in August is normal here, not satire
- Texas’s contractor licensing gap (no GC/roofer license) makes vetting on you — the 5-minute routine matters more in TX
- Arriving by truck? Austin moving rates — and peak season here is brutal May–August
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the deadline to register my car in Texas? 30 days from the move: emissions inspection (Travis County) first, then the county tax office with proof of insurance (TX-issued). The driver’s license gives you 90 days — most people batch both at week 3–4.
Can I choose my electricity provider in Austin? No — Austin Energy is the city-owned monopoly, unlike Dallas/Houston’s deregulated market. Upside: one combined city bill and decent green-energy programs; downside: no rate shopping.
What is the homestead exemption and when do I file? A property-tax break on your primary residence: reduces taxable value and caps assessment growth at 10%/year. File free with the county appraisal district after closing (general deadline April 30) — skipping it is the most expensive Texas-newcomer mistake.
Is there really no state income tax in Texas? Correct — no state income tax on wages. Budget reality: property taxes and summer electric bills are where Texas collects instead.
When does voter registration close in Texas? 30 days before any election, with no same-day option — the least forgiving deadline in this guide. Register by mail or when you do the DPS license visit.
Last updated: June 11, 2026. Sources: TX DMV/DPS new-resident rules (30/90 days); Travis Central Appraisal District (homestead); Austin Energy/Resource Recovery; TX Secretary of State (30-day voter cutoff); 2025 TX inspection law change. Deadlines change — verify with official sites.