Arizona
Vehicle Resource Center
Known for its stunning natural beauty, including the Grand Canyon and other beautiful desert landscapes, Arizona is a state to explore. The state is home to millions of vehicle owners, and all of them need to meet the same legal requirements. This means completing annual maintenance tasks, following the law, and more.
Ownership and Maintenance
Regular maintenance is required to own vehicles in the state of Arizona. Owners and drivers must renew their inspection, get emissions testing, maintain liability insurance, and renew their driver's license regularly to drive legally. This section covers all those requirements to simplify these steps.
Many Arizona residents must have annual emissions testing performed on their vehicles to be allowed to drive. Vehicles located in Phoenix and Tucson metro areas are required to have this testing done annually.
To get the testing, drivers must go to an approved testing location and speak with a mechanic to schedule the testing.
Get Arizona's Help Passing Emission Testing
Any vehicles that are required to pass emissions testing may qualify for support from the state to cover repair costs. After taking a vehicle to one of the approved emissions repair facilities, if the vehicle fails, the state may help pay for repair costs.
To learn if your vehicle qualifies for this state-run program, visit the ADEQ VVRP application at vvrp.myazcar.com. The site helps you learn if you qualify for up to $900 in state help to cover emissions system repairs. It's important to note that a $100 copay is required if approved for this state aid.
Each vehicle owner in Arizona must maintain proper liability insurance to protect the other drivers around them while using their vehicle. Liability insurance is meant to cover the costs of injuries and property damage that occur during accidents. Drivers caught operating their vehicle without the minimum required amount of liability insurance can face serious fines and potential legal issues.
Minimum Liability Coverage Amounts:
When working with an approved AZ insurance agent, it's essential to get liability coverage within those limits or higher. Some drivers opt to get higher limits, and many also include collision insurance to cover repair costs for their personal vehicles if they are found to be at fault for an accident.
Get more information about liability insurance requirements in Arizona by reading through the state's insurance page here.
Most vehicles in Arizona, other than brand-new options, must be renewed annually. Each year, a registration renewal notice will arrive in the mail. The notice lists the renewal cost and explains how to renew the registration.
Most vehicle owners opt to renew their registration online, and the process only takes a few moments. When renewing online, the VIN as well as license plate number may be required. Drivers should know where the vehicle is registered and should have their vehicle insurance information ready in case it's requested.
Along with an online renewal, it's possible to renew a registration over the phone by calling the MVD, through the mail by sending the renewal notice to the address provided, or in person by visiting an MVD office location.
AZ residents must renew their driver's licenses at least once every 12 years. The license renewal process can be completed online for some people, but only if they don't need an updated photo. Drivers must update their photo each time it becomes older than 12 years, which means that residents can only update their license online once every other renewal at best.
Drivers must renew their licenses the year they turn 65, and then they are expected to get an updated license once every five years.
Drivers should receive a renewal notice for their licenses when they're about to expire, but an expiration date is available on the license itself as well. Visit the ADOT government website to renew a license online, or go to a local MVD office for help with the renewal.
Here are the fees related to renewing important driving documents in Arizona:6
Driver's License
A licensed driver must pay between $10 and $25 to renew their license, depending on their age. Drivers between 16 and 39 years old must pay $25, drivers between 40 and 44 have a price of $20, drivers between 45 and 49 have to pay $15, and drivers older than 50 only pay $10 for renewal costs. More license costs are explained here.
Emissions Testing
Phoenix and Tucson area fees are different, but vehicle owners should expect to pay $12.25 in Tucson and $17.00 for OBD testing. There are numerous additional fees in Phoenix ranging from $16 to $25 and several $12.25 fees in Tucson that vehicles may require. Get all the specifics about these fees via the Arizona state emissions pricing sheet.
Registration
Renewing a vehicle's registration comes with a flat fee of between $4.50 and $9.00, as well as a $1.50 air quality fee, a $0.25 air compliance fee, and a variable fee that's approximately 2.80% or 2.89% of the assessed value of the vehicle for the year.
Buying & Selling
Anyone located in Arizona who is either buying or selling a vehicle should understand the process of selling a vehicle and transferring the paperwork over into the buyer's name. Going through this process is simple to do, but only with the right paperwork and information.
When selling a vehicle in Arizona, there are a few specific tasks to complete. Going through these steps removes any liability for paperwork and fees from the seller but can also help the seller get back some of the registration fees they've already paid.
The first thing a seller should do is help fill out the back of their vehicle title with all the required information, having the buyer fill in parts where needed. The title and any required lien release should be given to the buyer.
After the deal is made, the seller should pull off the license plate from the vehicle before allowing the buyer to take the vehicle away. The plate may be returned for disuse, or the MVD can assist the seller in transferring the plate to a new vehicle.
Finally, the seller should file a sold notice with the MVD office and request a registration credit to get some of their registration payment back.
The first thing any AZ car buyer should do is research a potential vehicle. Ask for the VIN and license plate of the vehicle and input that data into either a VIN search or license plate search from GoodCar. The service provides in-depth vehicle history, car accident history, open recall information, title brand information, and the specifications of the vehicle, including different features that could come with the vehicle. A quick search with one of these tools makes it clear which vehicles are worth purchasing and which should be avoided.
After the title is filled out fully, the buyer should request the seller fill out a Bill of Sale. The form should have the VIN, the year, the make, the model, and the body type of the vehicle. It should also include the sale price and the date of the sale, as well as buyer and seller information. Getting the Bill of Sale notarized is also a good idea for additional protection.
With the completed title and the Bill of Sale, the buyer can go to an MVD office and transfer the title and registration. This process is simple to complete, and a temporary registration will be provided after working with the MVD. It's important to note that vehicle purchases come with 5.6% sales tax charges on them, which the buyer will have to pay when registering the vehicle.
Titling and registering a vehicle in Arizona comes with several different fees. Titling the vehicle comes with a $4.00 flat fee. There is also a $1.50 Air Quality Research Fee and an $8.00 registration fee to be paid at the time of registering the vehicle. Finally, there is a vehicle sales tax that will cost approximately 6.6% of the vehicle's purchase value. Future vehicle registration comes with a vehicle use tax based on the depreciated value of the vehicle.
This fee information is readily available through the Arizona state website.
Laws and Regulations
Arizona drivers must know the laws that govern the road. These laws include things like seatbelt restrictions, DUI charges, window tint regulations, and more. Some of the most common laws to know are covered in this section.
AZ natives who ride with children regularly should understand the state's car seat laws. There are restrictions about what type of seat children can ride in depending on their age, height, and weight. The restrictions below make it clear which seat to use for each child:
Rear-Facing Car Seat
Children under 20 pounds must remain in a rear-facing car seat. All children under one year of age must also be in a rear-facing seat, but it's likely most of these children will remain under 20 lbs. as well.
Forward-Facing Car Seat
Any child between 20 and 40 lbs. in weight must be positioned in a forward-facing car seat at a minimum. Many parents choose to leave their child in a rear-facing seat past 20 lbs. until they reach the maximum weight listed on the seat before switching them to forward-facing.
Booster Seat
Children over 40 lbs and five years or older can rely on booster seats. These seats must be used until the child is taller than 4'9" or they are over eight years old.
See more details about child safety seat regulations on this Arizona legal website.
Tinting a vehicle's windows in Arizona is an excellent tool for keeping the interior cooler throughout the year. Window tint also serves as a privacy filter for anyone riding in the vehicle. There are restrictions on which tint can be applied to a vehicle in Arizona, and using tint that's too dark can result in legal action or tickets from law enforcement.
The front driver and passenger windows, as well as above the AS-1 line on the windshield, must have a tint that enables 33% of visible light to pass through or more. This regulation is true for the rear window of the vehicle as well, but rear side windows have no tint restrictions.
The tint regulations are explained well on this Arizona dealer page.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious offense in Arizona that must be avoided carefully. Drivers pulled over with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.08 or higher are said to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Commercial drivers must not exceed a BAC of 0.04, and underage drivers must not have any alcohol in their systems at all.
Drivers caught under the influence of drugs or alcohol face major fines, potential jail fines, and a license suspension. Penalties begin with 10 days or more of jail time as well as a minimum of $1,250 in fines, and they go up from there.
All the specifics of DUI penalties are available on this ADOT website.
New vehicles in Arizona purchased for personal use are covered by state Lemon laws. These laws protect the buyer's right to purchase a vehicle without defects. If a problem exists that's protected by the manufacturer's warranty, the buyer can demand the problem be fixed by the manufacturer.
According to the state's Lemon law, the consumer must notify the manufacturer, preferably by certified mail, that the problem exists. The manufacturer is then required to fix the issue in a reasonable number of attempts. As long as the buyer notifies the manufacturer of the issue before the manufacturer's warranty expires, the company is obligated to fix it.
Is it a Lemon?
A vehicle is a lemon if the manufacturer cannot repair the warranty-covered issue within four attempts. The vehicle can also be deemed a lemon if it is in for repairs by the manufacturer for more than 30 days cumulatively. If either case is met, the manufacturer must refund the purchase price of the vehicle or replace the vehicle with another of equal value.
Useful Things to Know
While this hub covers most of the need-to-know information for AZ car owners and drivers, this section gives resources to extra information that may be useful.
Arizona State MVD Office Locations
Most license plates, driver's licenses, and registration needs can be met by the staff members at an MVD office. Use the state's locator page below to find the nearest office location: Arizona State MVD Office Locator
Understand Arizona Car Crash Trends
According to values from 2021, Arizona is one of the top 15 most dangerous states to drive in, with 1.6 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled and a total of 1,180 deaths in 1,063 recorded traffic accidents throughout the year. This is far above the US average of 1.37 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and residents should take care before driving. To see the complete picture, check Arizona car crash statistics on GoodCar and learn more.
Arizona EV Charge Stations
Arizona is an excellent location for using electric vehicles. These vehicles must be charged at special charging stations that can be difficult to locate. Use this locator tool to find nearby AZ stations: Arizona EV Charging Station Locator charge spots locator
Get the Arizona Driver's Manual
Anyone attempting to pass Arizona's written test to obtain a learner's permit or to transfer an out-of-state license should read through the Arizona Driver's Manual online for all the most relevant information: Arizona Driver's Manual Online
Get the Latest Arizona Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Arizona vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN Check and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.