Moving from Colorado to Texas
Moving from Colorado to Texas covers about 964 miles — a mid-distance interstate move. Whether you drive a rental truck or hire movers, this checklist keeps every step on track.
Generate My ChecklistCO vs TX at a Glance
Income Tax
Sales Tax
Time Zone
You'll be changing time zones
Distance
Moving Cost
Professional move, 2–3 BR home. Summer +20–30%.
What This Move Means for You
Modest cost-of-living shift
Overall costs in Texas are about 11% lower than in Colorado — enough to notice on housing, but not a dramatic change.
No state income tax in Texas
Texas charges no state income tax, versus a top rate around 4.4% in Colorado. For most movers that means a meaningful bump in take-home pay.
Higher property taxes
Texas's effective property tax rate (1.4%) is higher than Colorado's (0.5%). If you plan to buy, weigh the extra annual cost into your budget.
A much warmer climate
Texas averages 20°F warmer than Colorado. Lighten your wardrobe, plan for air conditioning, and pace outdoor tasks on moving day.
Before You Leave Colorado
File Form DR 0104 with Schedule DR 0104PN
You are a part-year resident if you move out of Colorado to make your home somewhere else. Colorado taxes the income you earned while you lived here. It also taxes income from Colorado sources after you leave. File a part-year return if you must file a federal return or you owe Colorado tax. Attach the DR 0104PN to the DR 0104. The rate for tax year 2025 is a flat 4.4 percent.
Source: Colorado Department of Revenue, Individual Income Tax Guide (January 2026)Plan for 2 percent withholding if you sell a house after you move out
If you sell Colorado real property for more than $100,000 as a nonresident, the closing agent may withhold tax. The amount is 2 percent of the sales price or the net proceeds, whichever is less. There is an exception for a house that was your principal residence just before the sale and could qualify for the federal home sale exclusion. To use it, sign that affirmation on form DR 1083.
Source: Colorado Department of Revenue, Form DR 1083 (2025)Return or recycle your Colorado plates
When you no longer need the Colorado plates, return them to your county motor vehicle office. You can also recycle them with a service that takes metal. You may be able to use personalized plates on another vehicle. Ask your county motor vehicle office.
Source: Colorado DMV, License PlatesComplete a release of liability if you sell the vehicle
If you sell your vehicle before the move, complete a Release of Liability. You can do it through Colorado DMV online services.
Source: Colorado DMV, Vehicle RegistrationExpect mail ballots until your county knows you moved
Your county clerk mails you a ballot until it receives information that you moved out of state. You can have only one residence for voting. Withdraw your Colorado registration on the Secretary of State website. You can also mail the withdrawal form to your county clerk. Then register to vote in your new state.
Source: Colorado Secretary of State, Voter Registration FAQsAfter You Arrive in Texas
Get a Texas driver license within 90 days
You can drive on a valid, unexpired out-of-state license for up to 90 days after you move here. This covers licenses from another US state, a US territory, or a Canadian province. If you hold one of those, you surrender it at the office and skip the knowledge and skills exams. The application asks for proof of current Texas registration for every vehicle you own. Register the car before you apply for the license.
Source: Texas DPS, Moving to TexasRegister the vehicle within 30 days
Register at your county tax assessor-collector office, not at a state agency. Bring your insurance card and proof of ownership, such as the title or registration from your previous state. You do not have to title the vehicle here, but a first-time registrant still completes Form 130-U. The state fee is $50.75 plus $1 for the TexasSure insurance verification program. Your county adds its own charges.
Source: TxDMV, New to TexasCheck whether your new county requires an emissions test
Since January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles no longer need a safety inspection before registration. Emissions testing is a separate rule, set county by county. These counties require a passing emissions inspection first: Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson. Commercial vehicles still need a passing commercial inspection everywhere in the state.
Source: TxDMV, Register Your VehicleBudget for the $90 new resident tax
Tax Code Section 152.023 charges a flat $90 on a vehicle you bought outside the state and brought in. It applies only if the vehicle was already registered in your name somewhere else. Pay it to the county tax assessor-collector when you title or register. It is due within 30 calendar days of the vehicle first being used here. You get no credit for sales tax already paid to another state. If the vehicle was never registered in your own name, the flat $90 does not apply. You owe motor vehicle use tax instead, on the purchase price or on 80 percent of the standard presumptive value.
Source: Texas Comptroller, Motor Vehicle Tax Guide: New Resident TaxLiability minimums are 30/60/25
State law requires at least $30,000 of injury coverage per person, $60,000 for everyone injured in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage. The Department of Insurance warns that these minimums will not cover a multi-vehicle accident you cause or a totaled car that belongs to someone else. You pay the rest yourself. If you still owe money on the car, the lender will require collision and comprehensive coverage.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guideFile the residence homestead exemption with the county appraisal district
Texas has no state property tax. Property is assessed and taxed locally, so this form goes to the appraisal district in the county where the property is. File Form 50-114, generally between January 1 and April 30 of the year you are claiming. School districts must give a $140,000 exemption on a residence homestead. Any taxing unit may add a local option exemption of up to 20 percent of appraised value, with a $5,000 minimum. If you buy after January 1, you can qualify for the applicable part of that tax year right away. This works only if the previous owner did not already take the same exemption for that year.
Source: Texas Comptroller, Property Tax ExemptionsYour Moving Timeline
8 Weeks Before
At about 964 miles (~17.5 hours), you can drive a rental truck or hire movers — compare both. If you drive, plan an overnight stop and factor in fuel and lodging.
4 Weeks Before
Notify your utility providers, update your address with USPS, and begin packing non-essential items.
1 Week Before
Confirm with your movers, finish packing, clean your home, and prepare a moving day essentials bag.
Moving Day
Supervise loading, do a final walkthrough of your old home, and hand over the keys.
After the Move
Update your driver's license at the Texas DMV, register to vote in TX, and set up your new utilities.
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Climate Comparison
Colorado
Semi-arid and alpine with cold winters, abundant sunshine, and warm summers.
Texas
Diverse climate from humid subtropical in the east to arid desert in the west.
Utilities & Cost of Living
Colorado
Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is it from Colorado to Texas?
The driving distance from Colorado to Texas is approximately 964 miles — about 17.5 hours of driving at highway speeds.
How much does it cost to move from Colorado to Texas?
A professional interstate move from Colorado to Texas typically costs between $2,500 and $5,000, depending on the size of your home and time of year.
- Summer moves (May–September) tend to cost 20–30% more.
What is the cost of living difference between Colorado and Texas?
Colorado has a cost of living index of 101.8 versus 90.7 for Texas (US average = 100).
- Overall, Texas is about 11% lower than Colorado.
How do property taxes compare between Colorado and Texas?
Colorado's effective property tax rate is about 0.5%, versus 1.4% in Texas.
- On a typical home that difference raises your annual holding costs, so factor it in if you plan to buy.
How soon do I need to update my driver's license after moving to Texas?
After establishing residency in Texas, you have 90 days to update your driver's license at a Texas DMV office.
- Vehicle registration is a separate transaction with its own deadline, which in most states differs from the license deadline — confirm both with the Texas DMV before you go.
What is the climate like in Texas?
Texas has diverse climate from humid subtropical in the east to arid desert in the west.
- The annual average temperature is 65°F, with about 30 inches of precipitation per year.
- Average monthly electricity bills run around $164.