New to Hillsborough County?

Every year thousands of people move to Hillsborough County. For recent arrivals, taking care of the following matters will help make the area feel like home:

• Get ready to roll: New residents planning to drive their car in Florida must have a Florida driver's license, a Florida-registered vehicle, and auto insurance. For details, check Hillsborough County's Tax Collector's Office.

• Register your children for public school: If you moved to Hillsborough County from another Florida county or from outside the state, here's how to register students for public school.

• Change your address: To let the U.S. Post Office know your new mailing address, fill out an online form or visit your local Post Office and ask for a Movers Guide. Let the IRS know your address has changed.

• Sign up for HCFL Alert: Be aware of emergencies and get other announcements with the County's mass notification system, HCFL Alert.

• File for a homestead exemption: If you bought a home, apply for a homestead exemption to save money on property taxes.

• Learn your evacuation zone: Type in your new address and the Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool (HEAT) will find your evacuation zone, and explain what it means.

• Sign up to vote: Here's how to register to vote in Hillsborough County. There are three ways: early voting, by mail, at your precinct on Election Day.

• Register a pet: Dogs, cats, and ferrets that are at least four months old must have Hillsborough County registration tags.

• Request water and sewer service: Start, stop, or transfer water/sewer service.

• Learn about trash and recycling: Find your schedule for pickups, and more.

Other things will come up, of course, but this list is a start. You also might want to go next door and meet your new neighbors.