How to register a car in Arizona

All vehicles in the state of Arizona must be registered in order to legally drive on the roads. Registration must be completed in person at the local Department of Road Transport (MVD).

If you are new to Arizona, you must register your vehicle as soon as you receive your residence permit. You are considered an Arizona resident if:

• Do your kids go to school in Arizona?
• Do you work in Arizona?
• Do you have an Arizona driver's license
• You stay in Arizona for seven months or one calendar year.
• Do you have a business in Arizona that transports goods or people
• Do you have a business in Arizona that operates or maintains vehicles
• You are registered to vote in Arizona

When registering a car, a number of documents are required. You will need proof of insurance that meets the minimum amounts. Vehicles must be covered at a minimum of: $15,000 per person, $30,000 in the event of a personal injury accident, $10,000 in the event of an accident resulting in property damage. In addition, everyone must complete an Emission Compliance Form.

Registering your vehicle

• Complete and submit an application for ownership and registration.
• Provide proof of Level I inspection, if applicable. This applies only to drivers who do not have a vehicle passport or registration certificate.
• Current registration or out-of-state ownership
• Bring proof of Arizona auto insurance.
• Driver's license or other photo ID
• Pay registration fees.

In Arizona, vehicles must be personally registered with the local Department of the Interior. In some cases, if you are buying a car from a dealer, the dealer can provide you with the necessary documents.

Once the vehicle is purchased from a dealer or private individual, you must apply for a three-day permit. This means that you can drive the vehicle for an emissions check, to the Ministry of the Interior for registration or for technical inspection.

Issuance of permit for 3 days

To obtain a 3-day permit, you must:

• proof of insurance
  
  
• Emission Compliance Form if you live in Phoenix or Tucson.

Once your vehicle is registered in Arizona, it is valid for one, two, or five years. If a car is exempt from emissions testing, you can register it for five years. Also, if you plan to transfer a license plate from an old vehicle to a newly purchased vehicle, you must do so within 30 days.

Military personnel stationed in Arizona who are not residents of the state are not required to register their vehicles. Depending on where you are located in Arizona, you may need to comply with emission laws.

Arizona has an ownership and registration fee for all vehicles in the state.

Title and registration fees

• Registration fee $8
• The 90-day registration fee is $15.
• A 3-day permit costs $1.
• The air quality survey fee is $1.50.
• The title fee is $4.

Vehicles in Arizona must be personally registered with the local Interior Ministry. Be sure to check your local emission law regulations so your vehicle can be inspected prior to registration.

Visit the Arizona DMV website to learn more about what you can expect from this process.