New Drivers in Texas
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) requires drivers to get a Texas driver’s license within 90 days of moving into the state. Military and full-time students, however, are exempt from this process. Applicants must bring the following documents to the DPS office: proof of social security number, proof of Texas vehicle registration*, proof of auto insurance with personal liability, and a valid out-of-state license. Any DPS office can serve you.
*Out-of-state automobiles must first pass a vehicle safety inspection and obtain an inspection of vehicle identification number. Inspections are available at state-approved service stations that do such inspections, usually while you wait. The station will provide you with a verification form that must be submitted to the county tax office along with an application certification of title. Title and registration fees are due at the county tax office at the time the application for title is made. Liability insurance is required before these services are provided.
Driver License Offices (www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license):
Boerne, 1415 E Blanco Rd, Ste 2, (830) 249-6335
New Braunfels, 3003 IH-35 South, (830) 625-0700
San Antonio, 7410 Huebner Rd., (210) 531-1000
Seguin, 1440 E Kingsbury, (830) 379-6802
Motor Vehicle Registration offices (www.txdmv.gov/motorists/register-your-vehicle) :
Boerne, 201 E San Antonio Ave, (830) 249-9343
Bulverde, 30450 Cougar Bend, (830) 387-7621
Castroville, 1312 Geneva, (830) 931-4040
San Antonio, 3370 Nacogdoches Rd, #160, (210) 335-6653
Seguin, 307 W. Court St., #102 (830) 379-2315
Utilities
Electricity and natural gas are provided by City Public Service Energy (CPS), a utility owned by the City of San Antonio. All of Bexar County and parts of surrounding counties obtain service from CPS. For more information, call (800) 773-3077, or log onto www.cpsenergy.com.
Water and wastewater is provided by the San Antonio Water System. Its’ service area includes most but not all of the City of San Antonio, several suburban municipalities and adjacent parts of Bexar County. For more information, call (210) 704-7297 or log onto www.saws.org.
Telephone and Cable
AT&T services most of the five-county metropolitan area with telephone and internet services. For more information, call (800) 464-7928 or log onto www.att.com.
GVTC services a 2,000 square mile area that includes the municipalities of Boerne, Bergheim, Bulverde, and Canyon Lake. For more information, call (800) 367-4882, or log onto www.gvtc.com.
Grande Communications provides residential customers with high-speed internet, local and long-distance telephone and digital cable services. For more information, call (210) 320-4600.
Spectrum (Time Warner Cable) services the broad metropolitan area with cable television and internet service. For more information, call (855) 243-8892, or log onto www.spectrum.com
Property Taxes
Because there is no personal income tax, property taxes are a major source of funding for local services. They help pay for police and fire protection, roadways and flood control projects, among other things.
Property taxes, administered by county appraisal districts, are ad valorem taxes. They are based on 100% of current market valuation. In addition to property taxes, appraisal districts collect for other entities. In Bexar County, for instance, that will include taxes for school districts, the County itself, the San Antonio River Authority, Alamo Community College District, the University Health System, municipally funded utility districts, and additional city taxes.
Public, Private and Parochial Schools
An integral part of any relocation information is “extreme” mention of schools in an area. Such is the case in Metro San Antonio Living where public schools play a major part. We have presented here a list of public, private and parochial schools, as well as school district offices. Choose either for your, and children’s needs and do give a call to find out where your children will take part in a particular school, naturally related to where you “settle your family.”
Retirement communities and Assisted Living facilities
Retirement communities are an important aspect of settling in a city. That is why we have presented a list of communities, one or more of which, we hope, satisfy your needs. The communities are spread out over a large metro area but with many of the communities providing transportation for its residents, getting around should be done with ease.
A Broad Base of Religion
It should not be surprising that in a U.S. city of nearly 1.5 million people, now the seventh largest in the United States, many religions are represented here. And such is the case for San Antonio where you should have little trouble getting connected to the religion of your choice. With thousands of houses of worship, we have compiled the phone numbers from various denominational executive offices for helping you find the place of worship you might like.
