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arizona drivers permit - AZ

Tips for Faster Service

  • Best days to visit are usually Wednesday and Thursday.
  • Avoid the first and last two days of the month, and the day after a holiday or other office closure.
  • Bring acceptable proof of identification.
  • Bring your out-of-state driver license.
  • Vehicles new to Arizona may require an inspection.
  • Bring your out-of-state title, registration and plates.
  • Have your vehicle identification number (VIN) handy.

Fees

Operator or Motorcycle License:

  • Ages 16-39 – $25.00
  • Limited License – $10.00

Instruction Permit – $7.00

Restricted Instruction Permit – $3.00

Out-of-State Driver License Skill Test – $15.00

Out-of-State Vision Screening – $5.00

If your license is revoked, suspended or canceled, you may be required to pay another application fee, in addition to a reinstatement fee.

Payment may be made by cash, check, traveler’s check or money order (payable to Motor Vehicle Division) for most fees; credit cards may be used at some offices. Returned check and reinstatement fees may not be paid by check.

Application

You will need to complete a Driver License/Identification Card Application.

Identification and Proof of Age

Arizona state law requires that all applicants for an original driver license or identification card present two forms of identification – one must have your photo (or three forms of identification if no photo identification is available). See Identification Requirements. (See Below) All must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. All must be in English.

Social Security Number

You are required by ARS 28-3158(D)(5) and 42 USC 405(c)(2)(C) to provide your Social Security Number. It will be used to verify your identity and to comply with federal and state child support enforcement laws. It will not be used as your driver license number.

Resident Definition

State law requires that you obtain an Arizona driver license and registration immediately if any one of the following applies. If you:

  • Work in Arizona (other than for seasonal agricultural work)
  • Are registered to vote in this state
  • Place children in school without paying the tuition rate of a nonresident
  • Have a business with an office in Arizona, that bases and operates vehicles in this state
  • Obtain a state license or pay school tuition fees at the same rate as an Arizona resident
  • Have a business that operates vehicles to transport goods or passengers within Arizona
  • Remain in Arizona for a total of seven months or more during any calendar year, regardless of your permanent residence

Out-of-state students enrolled with seven or more semester hours, are not considered Arizona residents, regardless of employment.

Active duty military personnel based in Arizona who qualify for exemption under the Service Members Civil Relief Act of 2003 are not considered Arizona residents.

Classes of Licenses

Licenses are issued by "class": Class G (graduated), Class D (operator), Class M (motorcycle) and Class A, B, C (commercial). If the class M license is combined with any other class of license, it will be added as an “endorsement“ on the back of the current license

Instruction Permit

If you are at least 15 years and six months of age, you may be issued a graduated and/or a motorcycle instruction permit. You must be at least 18 for an operator permit.

With a graduated or operator permit, you must be accompanied by a class A, B, C or D licensed driver at least 21 years of age, who occupies the seat beside you. These permits are valid for 12 months.

With a motorcycle permit you are prohibited from operating a motorcycle on freeways or interstate highways between sunset and sunrise, at any time when there is not enough light to clearly see persons or vehicles at a distance of 500 feet. The motorcycle instruction permit is valid for seven months and can be renewed one time within a 24-month period. To renew an expired permit, you will be required to retake the written test.

A commercial instruction permit is valid for six months. You must be at least 18 to apply. For additional information, see the Commercial Driver License Information page.

Graduated License (Class G)

If you are at least 16, but less than 18, years of age you will be issued a graduated driver license that is valid to operate any vehicle that does not require a motorcycle or commercial driver license.

Restrictions

For the first six months with a graduated driver license, you must not drive a motor vehicle between the hours of midnight and 5:00 am unless:

  • A parent or legal guardian with a valid Class A, B, C or D license occupies the front passenger seat or
  • You are driving directly to or from a sanctioned school-sponsored activity, place of employment, a sanctioned religious activity or a family emergency

For the first six months with a graduated driver license, you must not drive a motor vehicle containing more than one passenger under the age of 18, unless:

  • The passengers are your siblings or
  • You are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with a valid Class A, B, C or D driver license who occupies the front passenger seat.

Penalties

The following are the penalties if who are under age 18, have a graduated driver license and are convicted of a traffic violation:

1st Conviction: Must attend Traffic Survival School; Violation goes on driving record
2nd Conviction: 3-month suspension of driving privilege; violation goes on your driving record
3rd conviction: 6-month suspension; violation goes on your driving record

There are additional penalties for violation of curfew and passenger restrictions, including fines and mandatory extension of the 6-month restricted driving period.

Suspension of driving privilege results for a third conviction of curfew and/or passenger violations, convictions of other violations including alcohol-related convictions.

To apply for a graduated license you must have held an Arizona instruction permit for at least six months. The permit must be valid at the time of application. You must also have satisfactorily completed an Arizona driver education program approved by MVD, or your parent or guardian must certify in writing that you have completed at least 30 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 10 hours at night.

If you hold a current and valid out-of-state driver license is exempt from the driver education/driving practice and instruction permit requirements.

If you have a graduated license when you turn 18, you are not required to obtain an operator license, but you may choose to obtain one.

Parent/Guardian Approval for Applicants Under 18

If you are under 18, your application for an instruction permit or driver license must be signed by at least one adult. The adult will be responsible for any negligence or willful misconduct when you are driving.

The application must be signed by:

  • One natural parent, if married to the other natural parent, or
  • Both natural parents, if not married to each other, but share joint custody, or
  • One natural parent with sole custody

or, if neither parent is living:

  • Legal guardian (proof required), or
  • Foster parent living with the minor (proof required), or
  • Employer of the minor (death certificates must be shown)

The signatures must be witnessed by an MVD agent or by a notary public. Signatures obtained for an instruction permit will be required again for a driver license.

The person who signed the application for the minor, as well as the person with responsibility for the minor, may cancel the minor’s license. The license may be canceled by submitting a Driver License/ID Cancellation Request.

Operator License (Class D)

An operator license allows you to drive any vehicle that does not require a motorcycle or commercial driver license. You must be at least 18 years of age to apply for an operator license.

Conversion of Graduated or Under 21 License

When you turn 18, you may continue to use your Class G, Graduated driver license. However, you will be eligible to obtain a replacement (duplicate) license reflecting a Class D, Operator status that still retains the special vertical orientation which indicates that you are UNDER 21.

When you turn 21 you may continue to use your driver license or identification card with the special vertical orientation. However, you are eligible to obtain a replacement (duplicate) license with the regular horizontal orientation, without the UNDER 21 designation. See the Duplicate License section above.

Teen Driving

Graduated INSTRUCTION PERMIT Requirements

  • Teen must be at least 15 years and 6 months old.
  • Teen and parent must provide necessary application documents.
  • Teen must pass written and vision tests.
  • Teen must have a licensed driver who is at least 21 years of age seated in the front seat next to him or her at all times.

Graduated DRIVER LICENSE Requirements

  • Teen must be at least 16 years old.
  • Teen must hold an Arizona class G permit for at least six months.
  • Teen must have completed 20 hours of supervised, behind-the-wheel daytime driving practice and 10 hours of supervised, behind the wheel nighttime driving practice–a total of 30 hours–before applying for graduated driver license.
  • For the first six months, a teen with a graduated driver license cannot drive between the hours of midnight to 5:00am unless:
    • A parent or legal guardian who has a valid driver license is sitting in the front passenger seat,
    • The teen is driving to or from a sanctioned school sponsored activity, sanctioned religious activity, place of employment, or family emergency.
  • Teen with a Graduated Driver License shall not drive a motor vehicle containing more than one passenger under the age of 18 on a public highway, unless:
    • The passengers are the teen driver’s siblings or
    • The teen driver is accompanied by a parent of legal guardian with a valid driver license and occupies the front passenger seat.

NOTE: If the teen driver has no outstanding extensions of the restricted driving period or suspension of driving privileges during the completion of the first six months of restricted driving, the teen may drive without restriction until eligible to apply for a Class D driver license beginning at age 18.

Identification Requirements

  • You need two documents listed below – one must have a clear photo of you
  • Or three documents listed below with no photo
  • One must be listed under Primary
  • All must be originals or copies, in English, certified by the issuing agency
  • Additional documents needed for a name change (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree) You must first change your name with the Social Security Administration. 

PRIMARY (must include Date of Birth)

  • Driver License or Instruction Permit issued by any state, territory or possession of the US, except per Arizona law for the following states that do not verify lawful presence in the US: Illinois, New Mexico, Utah and Washington (Washington verifies only for credentials labeled as “Enhanced”) 
  • Enhanced Driver License or Enhanced ID Card issued by any state, territory or possession of the US
  • Birth Certificate issued by any state, territory or possession of the US. A hospital record/certificate and California Certified Abstract of Birth are not acceptable. 
  • Delayed Birth Certificate issued by any state, territory or possession of the US 
  • US Certificate of Birth Abroad
  • US Passport or Passport Card
  • Foreign Passport with US Visa or Visa Waiver I-94W (Green) or Admission Stamp (classes WB & WT eligible for ID card only)
  • I-94 Form presented without passport. If without photo, must also provide other acceptable form of state ID.
  • Permanent Resident Card/Resident Alien Card, I-551
  • US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Employment Authorization Document (I-688A, I-688B, I-766)
  • US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Refugee Travel Document I-571
  • US Certificate of Naturalization
  • US Certificate of Citizenship
  • Arizona ID Card
  • Tribal Certificate of Indian Blood
  • Tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs Affidavit of Birth
  • US Military DD-214
  • US Military ID Card (active duty, reserve and retired)
  • Record of a previous Arizona Driver License, ID Card or Instruction Permit
  • Affidavit of Identification (with photo and within 15 days of issue) from Arizona Department of Corrections or Maricopa County Adult Probation Department
  • Released Offender ID (with photo) from Arizona Department of Corrections
  • ALPHA Program/Community Re-Entry ID from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

SECONDARY (does not have to include Date of Birth)

  • Driver License, Instruction Permit or ID Card issued by any state, territory or possession of the US
  • Arizona Certificate of Birth (Foreign Born)
  • US Military Dependent ID Card
  • US Armed Forces Driver License
  • US Department of Veterans Affairs Card
  • US Department of Justice Inmate ID Card
  • Social Security Card
  • Motor Vehicle Record or Clearance Letter (within 30 days of issue)
  • Legal Guardian Certificate
  • Selective Service Card
  • W-2 Form
  • Concealed Weapons Permit
  • Medical Insurance ID Card (including AHCCCS ID card)
  • Professional License
  • Bank Card
  • Credit Card
  • Employee ID Badge (with photo)
  • School ID (with photo)
  • Marriage Certificate issued by any state, territory or possession of the US
  • Certified Letter of Identification for a Ward of the Court, issued by a court or government agency in the US

Decrees from Court of Record

  • Adoption
  • Bankruptcy
  • Divorce
  • Emancipation
  • Legal Guardian
  • Name Change

 

For the Latest Information. Click Below

Teen Driving: http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/driver/gdl/gdl.asp

General Info: http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/azwelcome.asp#ObtainALicense