Austin guide

What should you do in your first 30 days in Austin?

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This article is part of our Moving to Austin guide.

Last updated October 19, 2026

In your first 30 days in Austin, take care of the legal deadlines first, then learn how to get around, then start meeting people, and finish by setting up the services you’ll use for years. Texas gives new residents 30 days to register a car and 90 days to switch to a Texas driver license, so week 1 is paperwork. Weeks 2 and 3 are for the city itself: the bus, the trail around Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs Pool and a busy fall event calendar. Week 4 covers a doctor, a free library card and voter registration.

Register your car30 daysafter moving, TxDMV, 2026
Texas driver license90 days, $33Class C, 8 years, Texas DPS, 2026
Local bus fare$1.25$2.50 daily cap, CapMetro, Oct 2026
Barton Springs (adult)$5resident; $9 non-resident, City of Austin, 2026

What should you do in week 1?

Week 1 is about deadlines and safety. If you haven’t finished the moving checklist yet, start with our Austin moving checklist.

  1. Get an emissions inspection, then register your car. TxDMV gives you 30 days after you move. In Travis County you need a passing emissions inspection from a state-certified station before you register. Texas dropped the yearly safety inspection for most private cars on January 1, 2025, but emissions testing still applies here. Most cars now pay a $7.50 inspection replacement fee at registration.
  2. Bring the right papers to the tax office. The Travis County Tax Office asks for your inspection report, your out-of-state title or latest registration, proof of insurance that meets Texas minimums ($30,000/$60,000/$25,000), a photo ID and Form 130-U. The first registration has to be done in person. Base state registration is $50.75 plus fees. TxDMV says the vehicle tax for new residents can be $90, or the difference between Texas sales tax and what you paid in your old state.
  3. Then book a Texas DPS visit. Your old license works for up to 90 days. DPS says to register your vehicles before you apply. A Class C license costs $33 and lasts eight years.
  4. Set up utilities. Most of Austin buys power from Austin Energy, the city-owned utility, so there’s no provider to shop for. City of Austin Utilities bills electric, water and trash together. Its residential page lists a $200 deposit, which you can waive with a letter showing 12 months of on-time payments from your old utility, or by keeping autopay and paperless billing on for 12 months.
  5. Buy renters insurance. State law doesn’t require it, but many landlords do. The Texas Department of Insurance says your landlord’s policy won’t cover your things. NerdWallet’s September 2026 analysis puts the Austin average at about $136 a year, or roughly $11 a month. Most policies also exclude flooding, which needs a separate policy.
  6. Sign up for Warn Central Texas. It’s the free regional alert system for Travis and nine nearby counties. It sends texts, calls or emails about severe weather, floods, evacuations and boil-water notices. You can add your home and work addresses at warncentraltexas.org.

How should you learn to get around in week 2?

Spend week 2 learning the bus and trying the city’s two best-known outdoor spots. For the full picture, read how public transit works in Austin.

CapMetro and the Umo app

A local bus ride costs $1.25 and a MetroRail or express ride costs $3.50. Download Umo, CapMetro’s fare app, or get a free reloadable card at the Transit Store or a participating H-E-B. Both cap your fares: after two rides in a day, the rest of the day is free, and after 17 capped days in a month, the rest of the month is free. That works out to $41.25 a month for local service. Tapping a contactless bank card on the bus gets you the daily cap but not the monthly one. Fares go up on January 10, 2027, when a local ride becomes $1.50.

The Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake, with restrooms and water fountains along the way. Before you go, check The Trail Conservancy’s detour page. I-35 construction has closed the east-side pedestrian crossing for about a year starting February 2026. The south shore boardwalk at I-35 also has limited access through early 2027. To cross the lake on that end, use South Congress or the bridge at Pleasant Valley.

Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs is a spring-fed pool in Zilker Park. It’s open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Thursday, when it closes for cleaning from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adult admission is $5 for Austin residents and $9 for non-residents. You can buy tickets online, in the ATXSwims app or at the gate. Heavy rain can close it with little warning. In 2026 it closed for flood cleanup from June 15 to June 23. Check the city’s parks closures page before you go.

How do you meet people in week 3?

Austin is easier to settle into once you have a few regular places and faces. Try these:

  • Neighborhood associations, which you can find in the city’s Community Registry by searching your ZIP code. Listings include contacts and meeting times. Not sure which area fits you? Read our neighborhoods guide for newcomers, or browse buildings by area on our sister site, AustinApartmentBuildings.com.
  • Rec leagues, including the city’s adult basketball, flag football, softball and indoor volleyball. Adult soccer runs through community groups.
  • Free events, like the three on the fall calendar below.
Event2026 datesCostGood to know
Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, Circuit of the AmericasOctober 23–25TicketedExpect heavy traffic in southeast Austin all weekend, even if you aren’t going.
Viva la Vida Festival and Parade (Día de los Muertos), Mexic-Arte MuseumSaturday, October 24, noon–6 p.m.FreeAt East Fourth Street and Congress Avenue. The parade starts at noon.
Texas Book FestivalNovember 14–15FreeAuthor talks and book tents downtown.

What should you set up in week 4?

  • Find a primary care doctor now, before you need one. Use your insurer’s directory, and book a new-patient visit early, because the first opening may be weeks away. Ask if the office treats allergies. That will matter by December.
  • Get an Austin Public Library card. It’s free if your address is in the City of Austin or its extraterritorial jurisdiction. You need a photo ID and proof of address, such as a utility bill from the last 60 days, which you can bring to a branch or upload with an online application. If you’d rather not go in, adults can apply online for an eCard, which covers digital resources only and takes two to three business days. Addresses outside the eligible areas pay $120 a year.
  • Register to vote. You’ll need to be a U.S. citizen, a Travis County resident and 18 by Election Day. Texas doesn’t have full online registration. You fill out the form online, print it, sign it, and mail it or drop it at a tax office. You can also register at DPS while you get your license. The deadline for the November 3, 2026 election was October 5, so if you arrive now, register for the next one. Registration takes effect 30 days after the county gets your form.

What local tips do newcomers wish they’d known?

  • Cedar fever is real. Mountain cedar (juniper) trees release pollen from December through February. It can feel like a cold, with itchy eyes, a scratchy throat and lots of sneezing, and it hits people who never had allergies before. Keep windows closed, change your air filter and shower before bed.
  • Plan around I-35. TxDOT’s Capital Express Central project is rebuilding I-35 through central Austin, and the main segments are scheduled to run through 2033. Check ctxgo.com for closures before late-night or weekend drives. Our guide to whether you need a car in Austin covers other options.
  • Respect the heat, even in fall. October afternoons can still be warm, and summer is long and hot. Carry water on the trail, go out early or at dusk, and never leave pets or kids in a parked car. See what the weather is like in Austin.
  • Take flood alerts seriously. Central Texas floods fast. If a road is underwater, turn around. Your Warn Central Texas signup covers this.

For everything else about settling in, go back to our moving to Austin hub.

Frequently asked questions about your first 30 days in Austin

How long do I have to register my car after moving to Austin?

Thirty days. In Travis County you need a passing emissions inspection first. Then you register in person at the county tax office.

Do I have to choose an electricity provider in Austin?

Not in most of Austin. Austin Energy is the city-owned utility, and City of Austin Utilities bills electric, water and trash together. Some suburbs work differently.

Is the Austin Public Library card free?

Yes, if your address is in the City of Austin or its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Bring a photo ID and recent proof of address to any branch.

Can I register to vote online in Texas?

Not fully. You fill out the form online, then print, sign and mail it or drop it off, or you can register at DPS when you get your license.

Sources

Go Big City Team
Author: Go Big City Team

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