The DFW moving checklist: your first 90 days in Texas
Licenses, car registration, electricity, homestead. The to-dos new Texans ask about most, in order.
Published 2026-10-15 · 4 min read · Source: Editorial (DREI). Verify with TxDMV, Texas DPS and your county.
Moving to North Texas comes with a handful of Texas-specific to-dos. Here's the order most people tackle them in. Requirements change, so confirm each one on the official site linked below.
Before you arrive
- Pick your area by commute first. The Where Should I Live? tool ranks areas by drive, budget and priorities.
- Choose an electricity plan. Most of DFW is in a deregulated market, so you pick a retail provider (see our electricity guide).
- Set up water and trash with your city, and internet with a provider that serves your address.
First 30 days
- Register your vehicle with your county tax assessor-collector. New residents have 30 days (txdmv.gov).
- Get your vehicle inspected if required before registering. Check current rules for your county.
- Get a TollTag or other toll account. North Texas toll roads are mostly cashless (see our toll roads guide).
First 90 days
- Get your Texas driver license. New residents have 90 days (dps.texas.gov).
- Register to vote at your new address.
- If you bought a home, file your homestead exemption with the county appraisal district.
General information only. Always confirm current requirements on the official state and county websites.