New to Houston
Houston - known as the energy capital of the world is the fourth largest city in the United States. Its bursting economy, job growth and low cost of living positions Houston as a popular international destination.
If you are new to the Houston area, there are a few things you might want to know before and after your move. The Greater Houston metropolitan area consists of eight counties: Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller. Texas does not have a state income tax, but it does have property taxes. We hope some of the resources listed below will help you in your journey to get settled. Welcome to Houston!
Government Websites
- houston.citysearch.com
Greater Houston Partnership - www.houstontx.gov
The City of Houston - http://www.houstonoem.org
City of Houston Office of Emergency Management - www.houston-texas-online.com
Chambers of Commerce - Greater Houston - www.visithoustontexas.com
Visitor and Convention Bureau - www.hcad.org
Harris County Appraisal District
Transportation
- www.ridemetro.org
The Houston Metro System - www.hctra.org
Harris County Toll Road Authority - www.fbctra.com
Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority - www.houstontranstar.org
Houston Traffic and Road Conditions - www.fly2houston.com
The Houston Airport System - www.portofhouston.com
The Port of Houston - www.drivetexas.org
Live TxDOT Highway Conditions
Auto Registration and Insurance
- Inspection certification
- Proof of liability insurance
- Vehicle odometer reading (if less than 10 years old)
- Original out-of-state title
- Proof of registration
- Proof of sales tax payment or current foreign or military ownership document
- Completed Form VTR 130-U
Every 12 months, the vehicle must pass a safety inspection.
Information for vehicles purchased out of state or country isTexas Law - Proof of Liability Insurance
Texas law states that anyone operating a motor vehicle in the state must establish financial responsibility for that vehicle, which most people do by buying automobile liability insurance.
Visit this for minimum requirements -
http://www.helpinsure.com/auto/frvp.html
Texas Driver's License
- Proof of Texas Registration
- Proof of liability Insurance (state law)
- A social security number
- And the out-of-state license
- Pass a vision only test
Texas Voter Registration
- Be a US citizen residing in Texas
- Be at least 18 years old on election day
- Not be a convicted felon (unless sentence, probation and/or parole are completed.)
- Not be declared mentally incapacitated by a court of law.
You can also register to vote when you apply for a license.
Texas Homestead Exemption
You may apply to get a tax break from your property taxes by filing a Homestead Exemption on your principal residence. Homestead exemptions remove part of your home's value from taxation, thus lowering your taxes.
The deadline for filing is up to one year after the delinquency date which is normally February 1st.
For more information on Texas Homestead Exemptions visit: http://www.hctax.net/Property/TaxBreaks.
For more information on Harris County property taxes - visit visit www.hcad.org.
- Fort Bend County Appraisal District - visit www.fbcad.org
- Galveston County Appraisal District - visit www.galvestoncad.org
- Liberty County Appraisal District - visit www.libertycad.com
- Montgomery County Appraisal District - visit www.mcad-tx.org
- Brazoria County Appraisal District - visit www.brazoriacad.org
- Waller County Appraisal District - visit www.waller-cad.org
- Chambers County Appraisal District - visit www.chamberscad.org