How To Register My Car In Arizona

If you're thinking of moving to Arizona or considering a car buy there, there's one main thing yous need to practise — register your motorcar. Registering your automobile in the land you live in is an of import process to keep y'all in skillful legal continuing while driving on the route. Learn more than about how to register a car in Arizona and what you should know to get started.

Why is Arizona car registration required?

Registering a car in Arizona isn't just something you should do — it's the law. According to Arizona law, you take 15 days to apply for title and registration when you buy a car in the state of Arizona.

If you recently moved to Arizona, one time you establish residency you lot'll need to pursue Arizona car registration.

By registering a auto in Arizona, you can evidence proof of ownership. Think of getting pulled over — the showtime affair they ask for are your license and registration. Registration also covers fees related to driving your car besides.

Who needs to annals a car in Arizona?

There are ii situations when you need to register a car in Arizona.

Y'all purchase a new or new-to-you car
You moved to the land of Arizona from somewhere else

When you buy a new car, registration may be taken intendance of past the dealership. If you lot buy a used car from a private party, you lot may need to apply for a title transfer.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (AZDOT), "eTitle Transfer allows qualified sellers and buyers to transfer vehicle ownership electronically. Utilizing a secure online system, customers tin can complete the procedure without visiting an MVD function."

Another choice is for the buyer to contact MVD Part or an Authorized Third Party provider and provide a signed off championship as well as title application.

If you don't complete the Arizona car registration procedure within 15 days, you lot may be hitting with a title transfer penalty fee. The late registration fee is $8 and another $4 for every month after that it is late.

How to register a car in Arizona?

If you only bought a new machine in Arizona, remember y'all accept xv days to complete the registration procedure.

If y'all bought a auto and need to transfer your title, to complete Arizona machine registration:

You'll need to fill up out an application for a championship or title transfer
Obtain a notarized and signed vehicle title
If needed and applicable, a lien release
Championship and registration fees
Other documents as required

If you lot moved to Arizona from out-of-land, the process is a bit dissimilar when it comes to Arizona car registration. Here are the next steps to take and some things you lot'll demand as well:

Fill out and submit the Championship and Registration Application
If y'all live in Phoenix or Tucson, you'll demand to complete the emission compliance form
Your out-of-state title and registration (if it'due south missing, you may be subject to a vehicle inspection)
Your license plates from your former state of residence
If needed, a lien clearance
Title and registration fees
If you lot have a leased vehicle, yous'll need to present a Power of Attorney from the lessor

Registering a car in Arizona will be required afterwards you establish residency in the state. You're considered a resident if you live and work in Arizona, stay in Arizona for vii months or longer, or accept a child in an Arizona school. If you're waiting on documentation to get started with Arizona car registration, you tin can apply for a 90-mean solar day registration for $15 while waiting for all of your materials.

If you need to renew your Arizona car registration, you can do and then online. According to the AZDOT website, "All registration documents and license plate tabs are mailed and no longer printed at MVD or Authorized Third Party offices. When y'all renew, your tape is updated instantly and your receipt is your proof of registration."

Renewing online is the easiest way for renewing auto registration, but you may as well telephone call one.888.713.3031 or visit an Authorized 3rd Party office to get started. You typically can register your vehicle for 1, two, or five years.

Also, information technology's of import to note that if an emissions test isn't required you may be able to renew your registration six months before the expiration appointment. If you do need to have an emissions test, you tin renew 90 days earlier the expiration date.

How much does it price to register a car in Arizona?

If you're registering a machine in Arizona, yous'll take to pay diverse fees.

The registration fees you pay can vary by your motorcar. You may pay $4.50, $8, or $9 every bit part of the registration fees. On tiptop of that, you lot'll pay a vehicle license revenue enhancement (VLT) that is based on a formula that requires yous to pay 60% of the manufacturer's base retail toll.

From that number, your VLT is calculated every bit $ii.lxxx per $100 in value for new vehicles and $2.89 per $100 in value for used vehicles. Every year your vehicle is registered, that number is reduced by 16.25%.

The Service Arizona website shares an example of a new vehicle that costs $25,000.
In the kickoff year, the vehicle's assessed value would be $15,000 ($25,000 price X 60% = $15,000).
Based on their formula, the VLT would be $2.eighty (new machine rate) X 150 ($15,000/ $100 in value = 150) = $420 for the start year.
In the second year, that $15,000 ($25,000 X lx% = $15,000) would be reduced by 16.25%.
Then yous'd take $15,000 x 16.25% = $2,437.v.
Then take the original amount of $15,000 – $2,437.five = $12,562.5.
After that, you'd divide that by 100 to go $125.625. Your motorcar would now exist used so you'd multiply $ii.89 10 125.625= $363.06.

And then how much you pay for Arizona auto registration tin vary based on your vehicle as well equally the amount of years registered in Arizona.

Is proof of insurance required to register a car in Arizona?

In the state of Arizona you have 30 days to submit proof of insurance after registering your vehicle. There is a mandatory insurance requirement that states the drivers must accept the following liability coverage:

$25,000 for bodily injury for a single person
$fifty,000 for bodily injury for two people or more than
$15,000 for any property impairment

If you don't get car insurance in Arizona, y'all can be subject to fees and license suspension. If you lot need auto insurance or want to notice the best rates possible, check out pay-per-mile car insurance. Through pay-per-mile insurance, you tin pay a lower amount for car insurance as y'all're simply responsible for paying for the miles you drive and a base charge per unit. Metromile customers saved an average of $741* per yr by making the switch.

The bottom line

Whether you lot bought a new motorcar in Arizona or moved to the home of the Grand Canyon, yous need to go along your records upwardly-to-date and go Arizona car registration settled. Taking the steps listed above can help you get started so that you're in good legal standing while on the route.

If you want to bank check your car insurance rates to brand sure y'all're getting the best deal, get a free quote from Metromile and try pay-per-mile auto insurance.

Pay-per-mile insurance is usage-based car insurance where your rate is based on how much you bulldoze. You'll pay a depression base rate and then a few cents for each mile you drive.

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Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and writer of Dear Debt . She's a cat mom to two jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an apprentice boxer, music lover, and needs java to function.

*Boilerplate annual motorcar insurance savings by new customers surveyed who saved with Metromile in 2018.