Austin guide

How do you move to Austin? A step-by-step checklist

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This article is part of our Moving to Austin guide.

Last updated October 19, 2026

To move to Austin, start about eight weeks out: set a budget, pick an area, sign a lease, then set up utilities and book movers before you drive in. After you arrive, Texas gives you 30 days to register your car (after a Travis County emissions test) and 90 days to get a Texas driver license, which costs $33. Rents are on your side right now: Zumper puts the average Austin 1-bedroom at $1,305 a month, down 10% from a year ago. This checklist puts every step in order.

Avg. 1-bedroom rent$1,305down 10% YoY, Zumper, Oct 2026
Register your car30 daysafter moving, TxDMV
Texas driver license90 days$33 for ages 18–84, Texas DPS
City utility deposit$200waivable, City of Austin Utilities

What should you do 8 weeks before moving to Austin?

Two months out is for money and location. Get those right and the rest is logistics.

  1. Set a housing budget. Zumper’s October 18, 2026 data shows an average of $1,305 for a 1-bedroom and $1,650 for a 2-bedroom. Both are well below last year. Austin added nearly 97,000 market-rate apartments from 2020 through mid-2026, and that flood of supply pushed rents down and concessions up (The Close, citing RealPage, September 2026). Our Austin cost of living guide covers the rest of the budget.
  2. Price the move itself. Get at least three quotes for movers or compare truck rental costs. Our guide to the cost to move across the country explains what drives the price.
  3. Save for move-in costs. Plan for a security deposit, first month’s rent, application fees and the $200 city utility deposit if you can’t get it waived (more below).
  4. Choose two or three areas. Decide what matters most: commute, transit, walkability or price. Start with our list of the best Austin neighborhoods for newcomers.
  5. Check whether you are actually moving to Austin. Round Rock, Pflugerville and other suburbs have different utilities and, in some cases, a different county. The steps below assume an address inside the City of Austin in Travis County.

What should you do 4 weeks out?

One month out, lock in the apartment and the move date.

  1. Search and tour. Tour by video if you can’t visit. To compare large complexes by size, year built, amenities and pet policy, use our sister site, AustinApartmentBuildings.com, a free directory of Austin’s 197 largest apartment buildings.
  2. Ask about specials. In July 2026, 37% of stabilized Austin apartments offered concessions, averaging a 15.2% discount (The Close, citing RealPage). Ask what the effective rent is after any free weeks.
  3. Read the lease. Texas leases must include a flood disclosure. Ask about the flood history if a unit is near a creek. Our guide to how renting works in Austin covers deposits and fees.
  4. Book movers or a truck. Summer and month-end dates fill first. Get the booking confirmed in writing.
  5. Reserve the elevator and loading dock. Many apartment buildings require a move-in reservation, a certificate of insurance from your movers, or both. Ask the leasing office where a truck can park and how long it can stay.

What should you do 2 weeks out, and how do you set up utilities?

Do this about two weeks before your move-in date. Austin is different from Dallas or Houston: you can’t shop for an electric provider. Austin Energy is the city-owned utility, and City of Austin Utilities bills electric, water, wastewater, trash and recycling on one account.

  1. Start City of Austin Utilities service. Request service online through the utility’s customer care site, by phone at 512-494-9400, or at a walk-in center. There is a $20 start fee for electric or water and $15 for solid waste.
  2. Deal with the deposit. New residential accounts pay a $200 deposit. You can avoid it with a letter from your current electric, gas or water utility showing no late payments or disconnections in the last 12 billing cycles. You can also sign up for both autopay and eBill and stay enrolled for 12 straight billing cycles. Request the letter from your old utility now.
  3. Start gas if your unit has it. Natural gas in Austin comes from Texas Gas Service. Schedule service through the “Schedule Service” page on its website. Many apartments are all-electric, so ask the leasing office first.
  4. Order internet. Look up your exact address with each provider. Large buildings often have one preferred provider or a bulk deal built into the rent. Book installation for your first day if you work from home.
  5. Get renters insurance if your lease requires it. Most large complexes do.

How do you handle moving week in the Texas heat?

Austin heat is a real planning factor from June through September. Under the 1991–2020 normals, Camp Mabry averages 29 days a year at 100°F or hotter, and August brings almost half of them (KXAN). In 2011, the city hit 90.

  1. Load and unload early. Start at sunrise and aim to finish by late morning.
  2. Bring water and shade. Pack a cooler and take breaks. Watch for heat exhaustion in everyone, including helpers.
  3. Protect heat-sensitive items. Move medicine, electronics, candles, vinyl records and plants in your air-conditioned car, not the truck.
  4. Confirm the AC works before move-in day. Ask the leasing office to set it running.
  5. Keep pets out of the truck and the car. A parked vehicle heats up fast.
  6. Do a move-in inspection. Photograph every wall, floor and appliance before you unpack. You’ll want proof when you ask for your deposit back.

For more on summers, freezes and flash floods, read what the weather is like in Austin.

What do you need to do after arriving in Austin?

The order matters. Texas DPS asks new residents for proof of Texas vehicle registration for each car they own when they apply for a license, so do the car first.

  1. Get a Texas insurance policy. Your car needs at least the state minimum coverage before you register it.
  2. Pass an emissions test. Travis County is one of 17 Texas counties that require one (18 once Bexar County joins on November 1, 2026). Texas ended the yearly safety inspection for most private cars on January 1, 2025, but the emissions test stays (FOX 7 Austin).
  3. Register your car within 30 days. Go to the Travis County Tax Office with your insurance card, proof of ownership and Form 130-U. State registration is $50.75 plus $1 for TexasSure. There is also a new-resident fee, which TxDMV says can be $90, plus county fees.
  4. Get your Texas driver license within 90 days. Book an appointment with Texas DPS. Bring proof of identity, citizenship or lawful presence, Texas residency, your Social Security number and your new registration. A license for ages 18 to 84 costs $33 and lasts eight years.
  5. Register to vote. You must register in the county where you live, and registration takes effect 30 days after the county accepts it. The deadline for the November 3, 2026 election was October 5, 2026, and it has passed. If you just moved to Travis County, register now for future elections. If you were registered in another Texas county, you may qualify for a limited ballot during early voting at the main early voting site (VoteTexas.gov).
  6. Download the Umo app. Umo is CapMetro’s fare app. Local buses cost $1.25, and paying with Umo or a reloadable card caps your spending at $2.50 a day. You can also tap a contactless card or phone wallet on every bus (since February 2026). Fares rise to $1.50 in January 2027. See how public transit works in Austin.

What are the key deadlines for new Austin residents?

TaskDeadlineCostSource
Emissions test, then vehicle registrationWithin 30 days of moving$50.75 + $1 TexasSure, new-resident fee (can be $90), county feesTxDMV
Texas driver licenseWithin 90 days of moving$33 (ages 18–84)TxDMV, Texas DPS
Voter registration30 days before an election; Oct 5, 2026 deadline for Nov 3 has passedFreeVoteTexas.gov, Travis County Tax Office
City of Austin UtilitiesBefore move-in$200 deposit (waivable) + $20 start feeCity of Austin Utilities

Once the paperwork is done, use our guide to your first 30 days in Austin to settle in, or go back to the Moving to Austin hub.

What else should you plan for before moving to Austin?

Our Moving Guides cover the parts of a move that work the same way in every big city:

Frequently asked questions about moving to Austin

Can I choose my electricity provider in Austin?

No, not for most addresses inside the city. Austin Energy is the city-owned electric utility, and you start service through City of Austin Utilities.

How do I avoid the $200 Austin utility deposit?

Send a letter from your current utility showing 12 billing cycles with no late payments or disconnections. Or enroll in both autopay and eBill and keep them for 12 straight billing cycles.

Do I need a safety inspection to register my car in Austin?

Not for most private cars, since Texas ended those inspections on January 1, 2025. Travis County still requires a passing emissions test before you can register.

When do I get my apartment security deposit back in Texas?

Your landlord has 30 days after you move out to refund it or list deductions, as long as you give a forwarding address in writing (Texas Property Code 92.103). Texas does not cap deposit amounts.

Sources

Go Big City Team
Author: Go Big City Team

More Austin questions

Back to the Austin guide →
Cost of livingHow much does it cost to live in Austin?One adult needs about $49,300 a year to cover basics in Austin. Here's what rent, taxes, utilities, car costs, transit and groceries really cost, and how Austin compares with other big cities.Updated Oct 23, 2026Cost of livingDo you need a car in Austin?Most Austin newcomers need a car, but car-light living works Downtown and near MetroRapid. Here is what traffic, I-35 construction, tolls, ownership costs, Texas registration rules and robotaxis mean for you.Updated Oct 23, 2026RentingHow does renting an apartment in Austin work?Renting in Austin in 2026 means falling rents, frequent move-in deals and a few Texas rules to know, from application fees and deposits to flood notices, utilities and avoiding scams.Updated Oct 22, 2026Getting aroundHow does public transit work in Austin?A plain guide to Austin public transit in 2026: CapMetro buses and Rapid lines, the Red Line train, Pickup, airport bus, fare capping, 2027 fare increases, bikeshare and light rail plans.Updated Oct 21, 2026

Next step: see the full Moving to Austin guide for rent, costs, transit, weather, jobs and neighborhoods in one place.

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