What is an Arizona License Plate?
The Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) issues all license plates and maintains vehicle registration records. Residents can register vehicles online through AZ MVD Now, by mail, or at any MVD office or authorized third-party provider location.
The standard Arizona license plate depicts saguaro cacti against a desert sunset backdrop with the caption “Grand Canyon State.” All registration documents and license plate tabs are sent directly by mail; MVD offices do not issue them on-site.
Types of License Plates in Arizona
- Standard license plates are issued at registration without additional fees, except for the basic registration fee. A replacement license plate costs $5 through the AZ MVD Now portal.
- Over 100 special designs support Arizona charities, universities, and organizations. Each has an initial fee of $25 and an annual renewal of $25, with $17 from the license plate fee going to support the sponsoring organization.
- Personalized messages on any license plate cost $25 annually through the MVD personalized license plate system.
- Veteran license plates cost $25 initially and $25 annually. “Purple Heart” recipients are exempt from vehicle tax and registration fees on one personal vehicle under ARS § 28-5802(C), and veterans with 100% VA disability receive the same exemption under ARS § 28-5802(A)(2).
- Historic license plates are available for vehicles at least 25 years old, with usage limited to exhibitions, parades, and similar events.
The full catalog of license plates is available on the MVD license plates page.
What Vehicles Require License Plates in Arizona?
Arizona law prohibits the operation of an unregistered motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer on any highway under ARS § 28-2153. New owners must apply for a title within 15 days of purchase under ARS § 28-2051. Fees are set in ARS § 28-2003.
- Passenger cars and light trucks have one rear license plate with an annual registration fee of $8. The Vehicle License Tax (VLT), calculated at $2.80 per $100 of assessed value for new vehicles, adds the majority of annual costs in addition to the fixed fee.
- $9 annually registers a motorcycle, also with one rear license plate.
- Non-commercial trailers weighing up to 10,000 pounds pay a one-time 20feeoninitialregistration(5 for renewal). Commercial trailers in the same weight category pay $8 annually. Over 10,000 pounds, the one-time fee increases to $245 at initial registration.
- Late registration incurs a penalty of $8 for the first month and $4 for each additional month, capped at $100 under ARS § 28-2162.
License Plate Rules in Arizona
- Arizona is a one-plate state. Motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, and semitrailers all have one license plate on the rear according to ARS § 28-2354(A). Two plates may be issued for vehicles with disability plates (one rear, one on a wheelchair carrier), but the standard requirement is one rear license plate.
- Each license plate must be clearly legible, securely fastened to prevent swinging, and mounted at least 12 inches from the ground according to ARS § 28-2354(B). The state name at the top must remain unobstructed according to subsection C. No covering, substance, electronic device, or electrochromatic film may be applied to the license plate if it obscures numbers, letters, tabs, or jurisdiction name from any angle according to subsection D.
Is Driving Around with No License Plate in Arizona Illegal?
Operating a vehicle without current registration or without displaying MVD-issued license plates is subject to a civil penalty of $300 under ARS § 28-2532. The court must dismiss the case if the defendant obtains proper registration before the hearing.
Displaying a fictitious, stolen, or altered license plate is a separate offense. ARS § 28-2531(B) classifies this behavior as a class 2 misdemeanor, which carries criminal penalties beyond the civil penalty for lack of registration described in the display rule above.
What is the Penalty for Driving Without a License Plate in Arizona?
License plate and registration fines in Arizona are found in Chapter 7 of Title 28. The primary is a civil penalty, but levels above that enter the criminal territory of misdemeanors with the possibility of imprisonment.
- Operating without registration or license plates incurs a $300 civil penalty under ARS § 28-2532. The court must dismiss the case if the defendant registers the vehicle before the hearing date.
- Obstructing the state name on a license plate is a civil penalty of $30 for the first offense under ARS § 28-2354(F). A second offense within 12 months increases the penalty to $100.
- Displaying a fictitious license plate, or one known to be stolen, canceled, or altered, is a class 2 misdemeanor under ARS § 28-2531(B), punishable by up to four months in jail and a fine of up to $750.
- Removing, defacing, or altering a manufacturer’s VIN, or knowingly possessing such a vehicle, escalates to a class 5 felony under ARS § 28-2531(A).
- Penalties for late registration are addressed separately under ARS § 28-2162, with escalating monthly surcharges capped at $100.