Your First 90 Days in Austin
A comprehensive guide to fully settling into Austin life during your first three months. From completing all required state transfers to exploring Hill Country day trips and finding your favorite taco spot, this checklist ensures you are fully established as an Austinite by the end of your first quarter.
Complete all vehicle and license transfers if not already done
Verify that your Texas driver's license and vehicle registration are all completed. As of January 2025, Texas no longer requires a separate vehicle safety inspection for non-commercial vehicles (HB 3297). A $7.50 inspection replacement fee is included in your annual registration. The driver's license deadline is 90 days from establishing residency, and vehicle registration is due within 30 days. If you missed the earlier deadlines, prioritize completing these immediately to avoid fines.
- 💡 If you missed the 30-day vehicle registration deadline, complete it as soon as possible — late fees accumulate monthly.
- 💡 Keep your registration paperwork together in your glove box — a separate vehicle inspection is no longer required as of January 2025 (HB 3297).
- 💡 Your Texas driver's license serves as your primary ID for voting, banking, and other official purposes.
- 💡 Update your insurance policy to reflect your new Texas address — rates may change based on your Austin zip code.
Review Austin Energy budget billing options
After a month or two of electric bills, review Austin Energy's Budget Billing program, which averages your electricity costs over 12 months to provide predictable monthly payments. This can be especially helpful in smoothing out the high summer bills that come with Austin's intense heat.
- 💡 Budget Billing averages your annual usage into equal monthly payments — no more surprise $300+ summer bills.
- 💡 Austin Energy also offers the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) for income-qualified residents — discounts up to 10% on your bill.
- 💡 Review your usage patterns in the Austin Energy online portal to identify opportunities to reduce consumption.
- 💡 Consider a smart thermostat (Nest, Ecobee) — Austin Energy sometimes offers rebates on energy-efficient devices.
- 💡 Keeping your thermostat at 78 degrees in summer and using ceiling fans can significantly reduce your bill.
Check flood insurance needs (Flash Flood Alley)
Central Texas is known as Flash Flood Alley, and Austin experiences severe flash flooding from intense rainstorms. Check whether your property is in a FEMA flood zone and consider flood insurance even if it is not required by your mortgage lender. Standard homeowners insurance does NOT cover flood damage.
- 💡 Austin sits in Flash Flood Alley — the area between I-35 and the Balcones Escarpment is particularly prone to sudden, devastating flooding.
- 💡 Use the City of Austin's FloodPro tool to check your property's flood zone status and flood history.
- 💡 Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers is available even outside designated flood zones.
- 💡 Properties near creeks like Onion Creek, Shoal Creek, and Williamson Creek have experienced catastrophic flooding events.
- 💡 Flash floods can develop in minutes during heavy rainstorms — learn the 'Turn Around, Don't Drown' rule.
Attend ACL, SXSW, or local festivals (depending on season)
Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, and experiencing a major festival is a rite of passage for new residents. South by Southwest (SXSW) takes over the city in March, Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) fills Zilker Park in October, and dozens of smaller festivals happen year-round.
- 💡 SXSW (March) combines music, film, and interactive/tech conferences — many events are free or accessible without a badge.
- 💡 ACL Music Festival (October) spans two weekends in Zilker Park — buy tickets early as they sell out fast.
- 💡 Austin Trail of Lights (December) is a beloved holiday tradition at Zilker Park with over 2 million lights.
- 💡 Pecan Street Festival (May and September) on Sixth Street features local arts, crafts, and live music.
- 💡 Check do512.com for a comprehensive calendar of events, shows, and festivals happening across the city.
Explore Hill Country day trips
One of the greatest perks of living in Austin is easy access to the Texas Hill Country, a stunning region of rolling hills, vineyards, swimming holes, and charming small towns. Several excellent day trip destinations are within 30 to 90 minutes of Austin.
- 💡 Fredericksburg (90 minutes west) is a German heritage town with over 50 wineries, great restaurants, and Main Street shopping.
- 💡 Wimberley (45 minutes southwest) offers Blue Hole, Jacob's Well, and a charming town square with local shops and galleries.
- 💡 Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (90 minutes west) features a massive pink granite dome for hiking — make reservations, as it often fills to capacity.
- 💡 Gruene (near New Braunfels, 50 minutes south) has Gruene Hall (oldest dance hall in Texas) and Guadalupe River tubing.
- 💡 Hamilton Pool Preserve (45 minutes west) has a stunning natural grotto and waterfall — reservations required.
- 💡 Dripping Springs (25 minutes southwest) has become the 'Wedding Capital of Texas' and has excellent breweries and distilleries.
Join professional networking groups
Austin's booming tech and startup scene makes professional networking easy and rewarding. Whether you work in tech, creative industries, healthcare, or any other field, there are active networking groups and meetups to help you build your professional network.
- 💡 Austin Young Chamber of Commerce is geared toward professionals in their 20s and 30s and hosts regular networking events.
- 💡 Built In Austin (builtinaustin.com) is the go-to resource for Austin's tech community — job listings, events, and company profiles.
- 💡 Meetup.com has hundreds of active Austin groups covering tech, entrepreneurship, creative industries, and more.
- 💡 Capital Factory is Austin's largest startup incubator and hosts regular community events, panels, and demo days.
- 💡 Austin Technology Council connects tech professionals and companies across the ecosystem.
Review property tax bills and protest if needed
Travis County and Williamson County have some of the highest property tax rates in Texas. When your property tax appraisal arrives (typically in April), review it carefully and consider filing a protest if the appraised value seems too high. Property tax protests are very common in Austin and can save hundreds or thousands of dollars.
- 💡 Property tax appraisal notices arrive in April — you have until May 15 (or 30 days after the notice, whichever is later) to file a protest.
- 💡 Filing a protest is free and can be done online through TCAD's website.
- 💡 Bring comparable sales data for similar homes in your neighborhood to support a lower valuation.
- 💡 Many Austin homeowners use protest companies (Five Stone, Texas Protax) that work on contingency — they only charge if they save you money.
- 💡 Even if you think your appraisal is fair, filing a protest often results in at least a small reduction through informal hearings.
Set up home security and learn Austin PD resources
Set up a home security system and familiarize yourself with Austin Police Department resources for non-emergency reporting. Austin PD offers online reporting for many non-emergency crimes, which saves you time and helps the department track neighborhood crime patterns.
- 💡 Austin PD online reporting is available for theft, criminal mischief, hit-and-run, and other non-emergency property crimes.
- 💡 For emergencies, always call 911. For non-emergencies, call 311 or use the Austin 311 app.
- 💡 Ring, SimpliSafe, and ADT are popular home security options — many Austin neighborhoods also have private security patrols.
- 💡 Check CrimeMapping.com or SpotCrime.com to review crime statistics in your specific neighborhood.
- 💡 Consider joining your neighborhood's community watch program if one exists.
Find your favorite taco spot (it's mandatory)
In Austin, finding your go-to taco spot is not optional — it is a cultural requirement. Austin's taco scene is legendary, with hundreds of options ranging from no-frills street tacos to creative fusion concepts. Breakfast tacos, in particular, are a way of life in this city.
- 💡 Breakfast tacos are an Austin institution — Veracruz All Natural, Tacodeli, and Torchy's Tacos are popular starting points.
- 💡 The best tacos often come from trucks and trailers — explore East Austin, South First, and South Congress for hidden gems.
- 💡 Locals debate endlessly about the best tacos — ask your coworkers and neighbors for their recommendations.
- 💡 Tuesday is Taco Tuesday at many restaurants with special deals — explore a new spot every week.
- 💡 Do not sleep on the authentic taqueria scene along East Riverside, Oltorf, and North Lamar.
Consider flood insurance for Hill Country and creek-adjacent properties
If your property is in the Hill Country areas west of Austin or near any creek, river, or low-water crossing, carefully evaluate your flood risk. Even properties not in FEMA flood zones can experience devastating flash flooding in Central Texas. Review both NFIP and private flood insurance options.
- 💡 Properties in Bee Cave, Lakeway, and Dripping Springs may face different flood risks than central Austin properties.
- 💡 Private flood insurance can sometimes offer better coverage and lower rates than the NFIP — compare both options.
- 💡 If your property has a low-water crossing on its access road, understand that you may be unable to reach your home during flash flood events.
- 💡 The Barton Creek, Bull Creek, and Onion Creek watersheds are particularly flood-prone areas.
- 💡 Ask your insurance agent about both building coverage and contents coverage for flood policies.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I protest my property taxes in Austin?
When you receive your property appraisal notice (typically in April), you can file a protest with the Travis County Appraisal District (TCAD) online at traviscad.org by May 15 or within 30 days of the notice, whichever is later. First, you will have an informal hearing where you present evidence that your property is overvalued — comparable sales data is the most effective tool. If the informal hearing does not resolve your dispute, you can escalate to a formal hearing before the Appraisal Review Board. Many Austin homeowners protest every year, and even a modest reduction in appraised value can save hundreds of dollars annually.
Is Austin in a flood zone?
Parts of Austin are absolutely in flood zones, and the entire Central Texas region is known as Flash Flood Alley due to its unique combination of thin soil, steep terrain, and intense thunderstorms that can dump enormous amounts of rain in short periods. The city has multiple creeks and watersheds that are prone to rapid, dangerous flooding. However, not all of Austin is flood-prone — many neighborhoods on higher ground have minimal flood risk. Always check the City of Austin FloodPro tool and FEMA flood maps for your specific property address before purchasing a home.
What is the best time of year to move to Austin?
The most comfortable weather in Austin is during the fall (October-November) and spring (March-April). Summer (June-September) brings extreme heat with temperatures frequently exceeding 100 degrees, which makes moving physically miserable and also means high electricity bills from day one. Winter is mild but December through February brings Cedar Fever allergy season, which can make your first months uncomfortable. If you have flexibility, October is ideal — the weather is beautiful, ACL Festival gives you a great introduction to Austin culture, and you settle in before cedar season begins.