Moving to DFW

Moving to Dallas Checklist: A Step-by-Step Guide for Out-of-State Movers

By Mollyn Kwande · October 13, 2026

Moving to Dallas from out of state? This moving to Dallas checklist covers everything in order: choosing an area, the apartment search, electricity and internet, moving week, and the Texas driver license and vehicle registration deadlines in your first 90 days.

Moving to Dallas from another state is exciting, and there is a lot to remember. This moving to Dallas checklist walks you through the timeline I share with my own clients, from the first research to your first week in Texas. Print it, save it, and tick things off as you go.

8 to 12 weeks before your move

• Decide your budget. Include rent or mortgage, utilities, internet, renter’s or homeowner’s insurance, car insurance and tolls.
• Choose two or three areas. Start with where you will work and how long a commute you can live with. My DFW Neighborhood Guide covers Uptown, Downtown, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Irving and Las Colinas, Prosper, Anna, Fort Worth, Arlington and Grand Prairie.
• Research schools if you have children. Texas school districts do not always follow city limits, so check by address and compare campuses on TXschools.gov.
• Get moving quotes. For interstate moves, check that the mover is registered with the federal motor carrier safety agency (FMCSA) and look up its USDOT number.
• Gather documents: pay stubs or an offer letter, ID, pet vaccination records, and previous landlord references. Newcomers without U.S. credit history should ask about alternatives such as a larger deposit or a guarantor.

4 to 8 weeks before

• Start the apartment search. Most DFW communities only hold units 30 to 60 days ahead. An apartment locator can save you time; in DFW, locators are typically paid by the apartment community. (I explain the industry in How Apartment Locators in Dallas Work.)
• Tour by video if you cannot visit. Ask to see the actual unit, the view, the parking, and the walk to the mailroom and trash.
• Read the lease carefully. Note the move-in date, fees, pet rules, and early-termination terms.
• Book the movers and confirm the delivery window.
• Buying? Get pre-approved by a lender and interview a local buyer’s agent. In Texas, a buyer representation agreement is generally required in writing before an agent shows you homes.

2 to 4 weeks before

• Set up electricity. In much of DFW (including Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano and Arlington), you choose your own retail electricity provider. Compare plans on the state’s official site, PowerToChoose.org, and read the Electricity Facts Label. Some areas, such as cities with municipal utilities or electric co-ops, are not open to choice.
• Arrange water and trash with your city (often included or billed by the apartment), and internet service.
• Get renter’s insurance; most apartments require proof before move-in.
• Forward your mail with USPS.
• Plan your drive or flight, and think about where your car will be parked and charged.

Moving week

• Confirm keys, access codes and the move-in inspection time with the leasing office.
• Reserve the elevator or loading area if you are moving into a high-rise.
• Pack a first-night box: sheets, towels, chargers, medicines, snacks, a shower curtain and toilet paper.
• Do a move-in inspection and photograph every scratch or stain. Return the inventory form to the office on time.

Your first 30 to 90 days in Texas

• Driver license: new residents must get a Texas driver license within 90 days of moving, through the Texas Department of Public Safety. Book early; appointments fill up.
• Vehicle registration: register your car in Texas within 30 days of becoming a resident. You will need a passing vehicle inspection first (where required) and proof of Texas insurance, then visit your county tax office. See the Texas DMV “New to Texas” page.
• Toll tag: DFW has many toll roads. Getting a TollTag from NTTA usually costs less than being billed by mail.
• Voter registration: update it with your county elections office.
• Find your people: a church, a gym, a library card, a neighborhood group. Belonging is what turns an address into a home.

Weather and safety basics

North Texas summers are hot, so check that the air conditioning works on move-in day and consider how much shade your parking gets. Spring brings severe storms and occasional hail. Sign up for your city’s emergency alerts, and learn where to shelter in your building. Winter is usually mild, but brief ice storms can close roads.

Small things newcomers often miss

• Texas has no state income tax, but property taxes are relatively high and are built into rents and mortgage payments.
• Many apartment communities charge monthly pet rent as well as a pet deposit.
• Ask whether the rent includes valet trash, pest control, or a technology package, and add those to the monthly total.
• Distances are long: map your grocery store, pharmacy, and doctor before you sign.

Need a hand?

This checklist is a lot to carry on your own. I help people moving to Dallas choose the right area, plan the apartment search, join video tours, and coordinate move-in so the first week feels calm. Tell me about your move and I will send you a personal plan.

Sources

1. Texas Department of Public Safety, Moving to Texas
2. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, New to Texas
3. Public Utility Commission of Texas, Power to Choose
4. FMCSA, Protect Your Move
5. Texas Real Estate Commission, trec.texas.gov (buyer representation agreements, effective January 1, 2026)

Kwanamo Relocation is a relocation consulting firm, not a licensed brokerage. Rules, prices and services change. This post was last reviewed October 2026. It is general information, not legal or financial advice.