Moving to Texas comes with two deadlines that matter most: register your vehicle within 30 days, and get a Texas driver license within 90 days. The order matters too, because you need Texas registration before you can get the license. This guide walks through each step, what to bring and what it costs in 2026.
Step by step
Get Texas car insurance
Every vehicle registered in Texas needs liability insurance of at least $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. Insurers must also include personal injury protection (PIP) unless you reject it in writing. Switch your policy to your Texas address before you register; you will need the insurance card.
Pass an emissions test, if your county requires one
Texas no longer requires annual safety inspections for most passenger vehicles, but 18 counties still require an emissions test before registration. They include the counties around Houston (Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston), Dallas–Fort Worth (Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton and others), Austin (Travis, Williamson), El Paso and, since November 1, 2026, Bexar (San Antonio). Tests are done at DPS-certified stations, including many repair shops and quick-lube shops.
Register your vehicle within 30 days
Go to your county tax assessor-collector’s office (not the DPS) with your insurance card, proof of ownership such as your previous state’s title or registration, a completed Form 130-U (Application for Texas Title and/or Registration) and your emissions test result if required. Titling the vehicle in Texas is optional for new residents, but registration is not.
Get your Texas driver license within 90 days
You can drive on a valid out-of-state license for up to 90 days. Apply at a Texas DPS driver license office; book an appointment online, since walk-in service is limited. If your out-of-state license is valid, or recently expired and you are 18 or older, you do not take the written or driving tests, but you must surrender your old license. Bring proof of identity, two proofs of Texas residency, your Social Security number, and proof that every vehicle you own is registered and insured in Texas.
Register to vote
Texas does not offer online voter registration. You can register while applying for your driver license at DPS, or print the application from the Secretary of State’s website and mail it to your county voter registrar. Your application must be received at least 30 days before an election to vote in it. If you later move to another Texas county, you must register again in the new county.
File your homestead exemption, if you buy a home
Once you own and live in a home as your main residence, apply to your county appraisal district for the homestead exemption. It removes $140,000 of value from school taxes and caps yearly increases in taxable value at 10%. The regular deadline is April 30. See our Texas tax guide for the details.
Set up electricity
If you move to an area with retail electric choice, including most of the Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth areas, you pick your own provider and plan. The state’s official comparison site is Power to Choose. In Austin, San Antonio and other cities with a city-owned utility, you sign up with that utility instead.
What registration costs
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base registration fee (passenger car or light truck) | $50.75 |
| TexasSure insurance verification fee | $1.00 |
| New-resident tax (vehicle you already own) | $90 |
| Inspection replacement fee and emissions fee | Varies by county |
| County local fees | Varies by county |
State fees from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. If the state you came from charged less sales tax than Texas’s 6.25% on a recent purchase, you may owe the difference instead of the $90 new-resident tax. Ask your county tax office for the exact total.
Who does not have to register a vehicle in Texas
- Active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces.
- Nonresident full-time students at Texas colleges and universities.
Both groups can keep their vehicles registered in their home state. Military members and their families should check with their installation for driver license rules.
Checklist
- Texas auto insurance card for every vehicle
- Emissions test, if your county requires it
- Vehicle registered at the county tax office (within 30 days)
- Texas driver license or ID card from DPS (within 90 days)
- Voter registration with your county
- Homestead exemption filed, if you bought a home
- Electricity provider chosen, or account opened with the city utility
- Mail forwarded through USPS and your address updated with the IRS, banks and employer
Your money after the move
Texas has no state income tax, so your paycheck will usually go up if you are moving from a state that taxes wages. Ask your employer to stop withholding your former state’s income tax from your first Texas paycheck. If you moved partway through the year, you may need to file a part-year resident return in your old state for the months you lived there. Estimate your new take-home pay with our Texas paycheck calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to register my car after moving to Texas?
30 days from the date you move. Register at your county tax assessor-collector’s office.
How long can I drive in Texas with an out-of-state license?
Up to 90 days after you move. After that you need a Texas driver license.
Do I have to take a driving test to transfer my license to Texas?
Not if your out-of-state license is valid. Adults 18 and older with a recently expired out-of-state license are also exempt. You will take a vision test and surrender your old license.
Does Texas require a vehicle inspection?
Not a safety inspection, for most passenger vehicles, since 2025. Vehicles registered in 18 counties, including the Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, El Paso and San Antonio areas, still need an emissions test.
Can I register to vote online in Texas?
No. Register through DPS when you get your license, or mail a printed application to your county voter registrar at least 30 days before an election.
Last updated: November 5, 2026.
Sources
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles: New to Texas
- Texas DMV: Bexar County emissions testing begins November 1, 2026
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Moving to Texas, a guide to driver licenses and IDs
- Texas Insurance Code §1952.152: Personal injury protection coverage
- TexasLawHelp.org: Voter registration basics
- Texas Secretary of State: VoteTexas.gov
- The Texas Tribune: How to apply for the Texas homestead exemption
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power to Choose