Moving to Phoenix From California: What Surprises People Most

Moving to Phoenix from California usually surprises people in a few predictable ways: a long, scheduled summer with about 111 days at 100 degrees or more, clocks that never change, a sales tax with a different name and structure, and a car registration fee that is figured on your vehicle's value. Most of it is easy once you know.

I help a lot of people who are packing up in Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area and the Inland Empire. The questions they ask me are almost always the same, so here is what I tell them, with the official sources I checked.

The Heat Runs on a Calendar

California has hot inland valleys, but Phoenix summer is its own thing. According to the National Weather Service in Phoenix, using 1991 to 2020 averages, the first 100 degree day arrives around May 2 and the last one comes around October 5. In that same period Phoenix averaged 111 days a year at 100 degrees or hotter, and about 21 days a year at 110 or above.

The upside is that the calendar is reliable. People who move here learn to run errands early, hike in the cooler months, and plan big outdoor projects for fall, winter and spring. That is also why late fall is such a good time to arrive. If you want to get outside right away, my post on fall hiking season in Phoenix is a good place to start.

Your Clocks Stop Changing

This one catches Californians off guard. The National Institute of Standards and Technology lists Arizona as one of the places that does not observe Daylight Saving Time, with the exception of the Navajo Nation. In 2026, Daylight Saving Time ends on November 1.

So here is the practical part for anyone with family, clients or a boss back in California: from spring to fall, Phoenix and California show the same time. From November to March, Phoenix is one hour ahead of California. I wrote more about this in Does Arizona Observe Daylight Saving Time?

Sales Tax Has a Different Name

In Arizona, what most people call sales tax is officially the Transaction Privilege Tax, or TPT. The City of Phoenix explains that TPT is a tax on the privilege of doing business in Arizona, and that it is imposed on the business, not the purchaser. Businesses usually pass it along at the register, so day to day it feels like the sales tax you are used to.

The rate you pay is a combination of state, county and city pieces, so it can change depending on which city you shop in. If you are comparing cities, it is worth looking at each city's own tax page. Arizona also has its own state income tax, and the rules are different from California's, so I always suggest a quick conversation with a tax professional before or right after you move.

Car Registration Is Based on Your Car's Value

When you move to Arizona and register your car for the first time, the Arizona MVD says you will need to visit them, and your vehicle may need an emissions test first. Your AZ MVD Now account will tell you whether yours needs one.

The part that surprises people is how the yearly fee is figured. Under Arizona law, the Vehicle License Tax starts with a value equal to 60 percent of the manufacturer's base retail price, and that value drops by 16.25 percent each year after. Newer cars cost more to register and the fee comes down as the car ages. My step by step guide to getting an Arizona driver license and registering your car walks through the rest.

Dust Storms Are a Real Driving Skill

Californians know fog and wildfire smoke. Arizona adds dust storms, mostly during the summer storm season. The National Weather Service in Phoenix gives clear advice when a Dust Storm Warning is issued: pull off the road. Once you are off the road, turn off your lights, set the emergency brake and take your foot off the brake pedal so your tail lights are not lit, since drivers behind you may follow your lights in the dust.

The Houses Look Different

After 20 years and more than 10,000 homes walked through, I can tell you what California buyers notice first: block walls around backyards, tile roofs, desert landscaping instead of lawns, and a lot more backyard pools. Many homes are single story, and garages tend to be part of the daily routine because shade matters for your car.

New arrivals also like that utilities are simple once you know who serves your address. My guide to setting up utilities in Phoenix covers APS, SRP, gas and water. If you are still deciding where to land, start with my Moving to Phoenix guide and the Phoenix cost of living page.

Questions People Ask

Is Phoenix in the same time zone as California?
Only part of the year. Phoenix stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, so it matches California from spring to fall and is one hour ahead from November to March.

How hot does Phoenix really get?
Hot, but on a schedule. National Weather Service averages show about 111 days a year at 100 degrees or more, usually from early May to early October.

Is Arizona sales tax the same everywhere?
No. Arizona's Transaction Privilege Tax combines state, county and city rates, so the total depends on the city where you buy.

Why is my first Arizona registration fee higher than I expected?
Arizona's Vehicle License Tax is figured from your car's value, starting at 60 percent of the base retail price and dropping 16.25 percent each year, so newer cars cost more to register.

Terry Day, REALTOR®, DeLex Realty, 10115 E Bell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.