New Arizona Resident Driver License and Car Registration

As a new Arizona resident, you get your Arizona driver license and register your car with ADOT's Motor Vehicle Division once you become a resident, and the Driver License Manual says to do it right away, not after a grace period. Bring your current license, your title and registration, and proof of insurance. Get an emissions test first if you live in the Phoenix or Tucson area.

I'm Terry Day, REALTOR® with DeLex Realty. I handle the housing side of a move. This checklist sums up, in general terms, what ADOT MVD and the Arizona Secretary of State publish. Rules change, so check each step on the official sites before you go.

When Arizona counts you as a resident

For vehicle registration and driving, Arizona law (A.R.S. 28-2001) treats you as a resident if you stay in the state for a total of seven months or more in a calendar year, wherever your legal home is. Other things also make you a resident, even if you're here for a shorter time, including:

• Taking a job in Arizona, apart from certain seasonal work
• Registering to vote in Arizona
• Enrolling children in public school without paying nonresident tuition
• Declaring Arizona residency to get resident rates on a state license or at a public college

ADOT's Driver License Manual says to get your Arizona license and registration right away once any of these applies. Snowbirds who stay part of the year should look at the seven-month rule closely. Registering to vote here also counts as becoming a resident for MVD purposes. If you're not sure where you stand, ask MVD or your own advisor. Tax residency is a separate question for your tax professional.

Step 1: Transfer your driver license or get an Arizona ID

ADOT's New to AZ page lists what to bring:

1. Your current driver license or ID card
2. Proof that you're authorized to be in the U.S.
3. Your Social Security number (you may need your Social Security card to verify a name change)

The full list of accepted documents is on ADOT form 40-5144, Arizona DL/ID Requirements. The page says MVD offices around the state take walk-ins and no appointment is needed. Some Authorized Third Party offices also handle driver licenses.

According to the manual, a current, valid out-of-state license can serve as secondary identification and may let you skip the written and road tests. Bring it with you. A vision screening may be part of the visit.

Standard license or Travel ID

The Arizona Travel ID is optional. It's the version TSA accepts at airport checkpoints for domestic flights. For a Travel ID, ADOT asks for two documents from a business, organization or government agency that show your current Arizona address. If you're closing on a home, your closing papers may help, but check what ADOT accepts before you go. People without an Arizona license apply in person at an MVD office or an Authorized Third Party driver license location.

After your visit, ADOT suggests activating your AZ MVD Now account. It's your personal online MVD account for future updates.

Step 2: Title and register each vehicle

The manual says to register a car from another state as soon as you become a resident. ADOT's out-of-state vehicles page lists:

• A completed, signed Title and Registration Application
• An emissions compliance form, only in the Phoenix and Tucson areas
• The out-of-state title, or the out-of-state registration if a lienholder holds the title
• A lien clearance, if one applies
• For a leased vehicle, a Power of Attorney from the lessor (the original, or a copy that meets ADOT rules)

If you have a loan or lease, call your lender or leasing company before your MVD visit and find out how they handle an out-of-state transfer.

Insurance

ADOT's vehicle services FAQ says every vehicle registered in Arizona has to be insured by a company licensed to do business in the state. Ask your agent to switch your policy to an Arizona one, and bring proof of insurance with you.

Step 3: Emissions testing, if your area requires it

ADOT's emissions page says testing is required in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. It's also required if you commute into those areas from somewhere else. Most vehicles registered outside those areas don't need a test. According to ADOT, you probably don't need one if your vehicle is:

• Five years old or less
• A 1966 model year or older
• Electric

If you do need a test, ADOT suggests getting it done before your MVD visit. The results go to MVD electronically. The state program site, myazcar.com, has a ZIP code lookup showing whether your address is in a testing area. It also explains the out-of-state exemption for a vehicle that stays outside Arizona for an extended time, which can help snowbirds who drive north for the summer.

Step 4: Voter registration (optional)

You don't have to register to vote to get a license. You can, though, fill out the voter registration part of your license application at MVD. The Arizona Secretary of State lists other ways to register to vote:

• Online through ServiceArizona EZ Voter Registration, if you have an Arizona driver license or ID card
• By mail, using the state form sent to your County Recorder
• In person at your County Recorder's office

Under A.R.S. 16-101, you must be a U.S. citizen, be 18 by the next general election, and have lived in Arizona for the 29 days before the election. The Secretary of State's registration procedures set the registration deadline at 29 days before Election Day. Arizona also requires proof of citizenship to vote a full ballot, which covers state and local races. An Arizona driver license number is one accepted form, and it's checked against MVD records.

To cancel your registration in your previous state, ask that state's election office how it's done. This is process information only.

Other move-in tasks people forget

• Set up USPS mail forwarding
• Update your address with banks, insurers and retirement plan administrators
• Ask your insurance agent about homeowners or condo coverage for your Arizona home
• In an age-restricted (55+) community, read the guest, parking and golf cart rules in the CC&Rs
• Remember to report any later change of address to MVD within 10 days

For the bigger picture, see my Retiring to Arizona checklist.

Questions people ask

How soon do I need an Arizona driver license after I move?
ADOT's Driver License Manual says to get your Arizona license and registration right away once you're a resident. Staying seven months or more in a calendar year, working here or registering to vote here all make you a resident.

What do I bring to transfer my license?
Bring your current license or ID, proof of authorized presence, and your Social Security number. ADOT form 40-5144 has the full list. For a Travel ID, add two documents showing your Arizona address.

Do I need an emissions test to register my car?
Only in the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas, or if you commute into them. Vehicles five years old or less, 1966 and older models, and electric vehicles are generally exempt. Check your ZIP on myazcar.com.

Can I register to vote when I get my license?
Yes. The license application has a voter registration section, but it's optional. Keep in mind that registering to vote in Arizona also makes you a resident for MVD purposes.

Does buying a home here make me a resident?
Not on its own under the MVD definition. Time in the state, work, voter registration and the other factors in A.R.S. 28-2001 are what count. Ask MVD or your advisor about your situation.

Related moves: Homes with RV garages in Arizona