Moving to Austin From Out-of-State: A Guide For Newcomers

You’re moving to Austin! How exciting. Coming from out-of-state, you probably have a lot of questions – which is why we compiled this guide! We’ve moved to Texas from out-of-state twice and have helped numerous clients from other states settle here. Here are some lessons we’ve learned along the way:

1. Vehicle Registration. We definitely recommend having a car in Austin. If you are bringing your car from out-of-state, you’ll need to get it registered in Texas. We would suggest doing that before getting your Texas driver license because you will need to show proof of your Texas vehicle registration at your driver ID appointment. You will also need to show proof of car insurance and show that your vehicle has passed the state emissions test. There are lots of places that offer testing ("Sticker Stop" is a chain that does this) and it should be around $20-30 per vehicle. There is a 30-day grace period between moving to Texas and registering your vehicle. More info is available from the Texas DMV and Travis County Tax Office.

2. Getting a Texas Driver License. Make your appointment now! There is a 90-day grace period to get a Texas driver's license. Appointments in their online system often book out 3 months in advance, so go ahead and reserve yours now. If you need a Texas ID earlier, every morning they release 'day-of' appointments around 7am. We’d suggest logging on to the site around 6:45am and refreshing the appointment page - sometimes there are last minute cancellations. The actual appointment should go pretty smoothly as long as you bring all your paperwork. More info is available from the Texas DPS.

3. Texas Favorites. The local grocery store is HEB (we would consider it similar to Ralph’s, Giant, Safeway, Star Market, or Kroger, although many Texans we know insist it is at least one step up from these!). There are also numerous Whole Foods Markets around Austin, with the headquarters downtown at 6th and Lamar (fun fact: during the winter months they usually have an ice skating rink on the roof!). Central Market (owned by HEB) is somewhere between HEB and WFM in terms of quality and pricing. Do not be surprised if you see lots of Texas shaped things in the grocery store (Texas shaped waffle maker, Texas shaped block of cheddar cheese, etc.) - the state pride is impressive! If you’re planning a road trip within Texas, make sure to check out Buc-ee’s, another Texas classic.  

Texas Shaped Colby Jack Cheese. Image: HEB

4. Driving. Red light cameras were outlawed in Austin several years ago. Traffic moving 10-12mph+ over the speed limit is not uncommon.

5. The Texas U-Turn. The highway system here uses extensive feeder roads. To turn around, you’ll need to exit the highway but stay in the left lane of the feeder road, which will become the U-turn lane. If Google Maps says something like, “slight left toward [service road] then slight left onto [service road],” you’ll probably be making a U-turn. If you’re on the feeder road trying to make a true left turn, be careful you don’t accidentally end up in the U-turn lane! It can take some time to become familiar with the system if you’re used to clover leaf interchanges.

A diagram of the Texas U-turn. Image: Wikipedia (They have an entire article on it!)

6. Pollen. Seasonal allergies are common here. If you have a garage at your new home, we would suggest parking your car(s) in it since the pollen can turn them yellow quite quickly! Garages are also great protection from the occasional hail/ice storm we get. Similarly, we would recommend a pool cover if you have an outdoor pool otherwise the pollen can turn it green.

7. Heat. The summers get HOT but we’ve been sunburned just as badly in November as in April. Good sunglasses and a supply of sunscreen are a must!

8. Packing Your Pantry. We recommend limiting the amount of food you pack – in fact, bringing none would be ideal. We say this having seen and unpacked:

·       A container of Hershey cocoa powder whose lid came off during transit and spilled all over wedding china packed in the same box.

·       Coconut oil that leaked out of its jar and coated everything else in the box. It also soaked through the bottom of the box and into the boxes below it.

·       A half-eaten bag of Cinnamon Toast Crunch that came unrolled and emptied itself into a box of medical supplies.

·       A 16oz jar of white vinegar with one tablespoon left in it.

If you do want to bring food with you, we recommend first cleaning out your pantry to remove expired or nearly empty packages. Pack dry goods and liquids separately, and keep all foods packed separately from your dishes or other kitchen utensils so cleanup is easier if things spill.

We hope you found these insights useful! Moving is stressful, especially when you’re moving from out-of-state. If you want to lighten your load, we can set up your new home in Austin for you. Learn more about our unpacking + organizing services.

What else would you like to know before you move to Austin from out-of-state? Leave us a note in the comments section below!