Moving from Virginia to Texas
Moving from Virginia to Texas covers about 1,581 miles — a mid-distance interstate move. Whether you drive a rental truck or hire movers, this checklist keeps every step on track.
Generate My ChecklistVA 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 8% lower than in Virginia — 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 5.75% in Virginia. 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 Virginia's (0.78%). If you plan to buy, weigh the extra annual cost into your budget.
Before You Leave Virginia
Surrender the plates before you cancel the insurance
Do not cancel your Virginia insurance before you surrender your Virginia plates. If you want to cancel the policy, wait until you have coverage from another insurer. You can surrender the plates to DMV online. DMV also asks you to mail the plates back after you register the car in your new state. Mailing them is not required, but it prevents fraudulent use of the plates.
Source: Virginia DMV, Leaving VirginiaClaim a refund and stop the local car tax
You may be eligible for a refund if six full months or more remain on your registration. Mail the Vehicle Registration Refund Application (FMS 210) with your plates. Also notify the Commissioner of the Revenue or Director of Finance in the locality you are leaving. This stops the locality from assessing personal property tax on your vehicle. If the vehicle is leased, tell the leasing company you moved.
Source: Virginia DMV, Leaving VirginiaFile Form 760PY for the year you move
You are a part-year resident if you move out of Virginia during the year to become a resident of another state. Part-year residents usually file Form 760PY. You prorate your personal exemptions and standard deduction, and you subtract your non-Virginia income. If you lived in Virginia for 183 days or less that year, you can file as a nonresident on Form 763 instead. If you move out and return within six months, Virginia generally treats you as not having established residency elsewhere.
Source: Virginia Tax, Residency StatusRent from a house you kept means a Form 763 return
Income from the rental or sale of Virginia real estate is Virginia source income. So are wages for work done in Virginia. A nonresident with Virginia source income files Form 763. In the year you move, you may need two returns. File Form 760PY for the months you lived in Virginia. File Form 763 for Virginia source income you got after you moved. Interest from a Virginia bank account is not Virginia source income. Neither is a pension paid by a Virginia payer.
Source: Virginia Tax, Residency StatusAfter 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 1,581 miles (~28.5 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
Virginia
Humid subtropical with hot, humid summers and cold winters.
Texas
Diverse climate from humid subtropical in the east to arid desert in the west.
Utilities & Cost of Living
Virginia
Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is it from Virginia to Texas?
The driving distance from Virginia to Texas is approximately 1,581 miles — about 28.5 hours of driving at highway speeds.
How much does it cost to move from Virginia to Texas?
A professional interstate move from Virginia to Texas typically costs between $4,000 and $7,500, 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 Virginia and Texas?
Virginia has a cost of living index of 99.1 versus 90.7 for Texas (US average = 100).
- Overall, Texas is about 8% lower than Virginia.
How do property taxes compare between Virginia and Texas?
Virginia's effective property tax rate is about 0.78%, 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.