Moving brings a pile of paperwork with clocks attached. Here are the Texas ones, in the order they come due, with links to the official pages. Checked October 2026.
Your car
Register your vehicle in Texas
You have 30 days from the time you move to register your vehicle. Go to your county tax assessor-collector office with proof of insurance, proof of ownership and Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration). The base registration fee is $50.75 plus $1 for TexasSure; counties add their own fees, and a new-resident tax may apply. TxDMV: New to Texas
Pass an emissions test, if your county requires one
In DFW, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant counties require a passing emissions inspection before registration. Safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles ended January 1, 2025.
Meet Texas minimum insurance
At least $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident for injuries, and $25,000 for property damage.
Renew on time
Texas lets you renew up to 90 days early. Use the registration window calculator to see your dates, and add the expiry to Forgor so it never sneaks up.
Your license
Get a Texas driver license
You can drive on a valid license from another state for up to 90 days after you move. To switch, bring proof of identity, Texas residency, citizenship or lawful presence, your Social Security number, and Texas registration and insurance for each vehicle you own. Register the car first. Texas DPS: Moving to Texas
Your home
File the homestead exemption, if you bought
It takes $140,000 off your home's value for school taxes, and it isn't automatic. If you buy after January 1, you can still get it for the part of the year you owned the home. Find your deadline and appraisal district with the homestead calculator.
Check your appraisal notice
If the value looks high, the protest deadline is May 15, or 30 days after the notice is mailed, whichever is later.
The ones that repeat
Most of these come back every year: registration, the appraisal notice, insurance renewals, the passport you'll need for the next trip. A calendar entry gets buried; a to-do app makes them pile up and go red. Forgor keeps them on one household list, nudges the right person once, early, and rolls each date forward on its own. Our Texas homeowner checklist covers the house side in more detail.
A guide, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with TxDMV, Texas DPS and your county.