Arizona driver license and ID card: first license, renewal, replacement and Travel ID
How to get a first Arizona driver license or teen Class G permit, transfer an out-of-state license, renew or replace your card, and what the Arizona Travel ID (REAL ID) and state ID cards require, based on ADOT MVD's own pages.
Guide · Arizona · REAL ID · Driver licenses · Renewals · ID cards · updated October 29, 2026
Arizona driver licenses, instruction permits and ID cards are issued by the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). You can apply at an MVD office or at an Authorized Third Party provider, and many renewals and replacements can be done online at AZ MVD Now. This guide covers each case in turn. For booking a visit and the general document list, see the Arizona MVD visit guide.
Your first Arizona license
ADOT's requirements sheet says driver license applicants must meet the testing requirements before a license is issued. The steps ADOT describes include a written knowledge test, a photo taken at an MVD office and a road test.
ADOT's road test page lists what to bring:
- A vehicle in good operating condition, with valid registration and current liability insurance. Insurance from outside the U.S. is not accepted. In a rental car, you must be listed on the rental agreement.
- An instruction permit held for at least six months. If you are over 18, a passed written test is enough.
- A parent or legal guardian, if you are under 18.
- An understanding of Arizona traffic signs and of instructions given in English. Examiners give directions in English.
You must book the road test as an appointment on AZ MVD Now, and you can take only one road test per day. Driver assistance features such as auto-drive and parking assistance may not be used during the test. A vehicle without air conditioning cannot be used for skills tests after 12 noon from June 1 to September 22.
Teen drivers: the Class G permit and license
Graduated instruction permit. You can apply from age 15 years and 6 months. You pass the knowledge test at an office or with ADOT's Permit Test @ Home. You then bring your original documents and your parent or guardian to sign approval, pass the vision test and have your photo taken. The permit is valid for 12 months. While driving, you must have a licensed driver aged 21 or older in the seat beside you.
Graduated license. You can apply from age 16, after holding the permit for six months (or until you turn 18). A parent or guardian must sign the application. ADOT accepts driving experience in one of three ways:
- At least 30 hours of supervised practice, including 10 at night, then a road test.
- At least 20 hours, including 6 at night, if you completed a driver education program offered by a traffic survival school or a certified defensive driving school approved by the Arizona Supreme Court, then a road test.
- A high school or private driver education program, which waives the road test.
For the first six months of the graduated license, these restrictions apply:
- No driving from midnight to 5 a.m. unless a parent or guardian with a valid license sits beside you, or you are driving to or from school, work, a sponsored or religious activity, or a family emergency.
- No more than one passenger under 18, unless they are your siblings or a licensed parent or guardian is beside you.
- No phones or other wireless devices except in an emergency or for audible navigation.
When you turn 18 you can keep your Class G license or switch to a Class D license without visiting an office. Ordering a replacement on AZ MVD Now switches the class automatically. The replacement costs $12.
Moving to Arizona
ADOT says state law requires residents who drive to get an Arizona driver license. You count as a resident if any of these apply:
- You stay in Arizona for seven months or more in a calendar year.
- You work in Arizona, other than seasonal agricultural work.
- You register to vote in Arizona.
- You enroll children in school without paying nonresident tuition.
ADOT's pages list a few other triggers too. Out-of-state students taking seven or more semester hours are not considered residents. Active-duty military members who qualify under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act are not considered residents either.
New residents must visit an MVD office or Third Party location. Bring:
- Proof of authorized presence in the U.S.
- Your current license or ID from your previous state
- Your Social Security number
The requirements sheet says an out-of-state license or driving record that expired less than one year ago is needed to waive testing. ADOT lists an out-of-state skill test fee of $15 and an out-of-state vision screening fee of $5. Teens who hold an out-of-state permit get credit for the months they have already held it. Teens with an out-of-state graduated license must follow Arizona's graduated restrictions for the first six months or until they turn 18.
Renewing your license
ADOT says you can renew online in most cases. Sign in at AZMVDNow.gov and choose "Renew Now" in the My Credential box. You may renew within six months of the expiration date. Some renewals need an office visit for an updated photo, a vision test and your identification documents. You can book that visit on AZ MVD Now or go to an Authorized Third Party location.
For a non-travel license, the fee depends on your age, from $25 (ages 16–39) down to $10 (age 50 and older). A Travel ID license costs $25, whether it is new or a renewal.
Replacing a lost or damaged license
You can replace a lost, stolen or damaged license or ID card online at AZMVDNow.gov for $12. To update your photo at the same time, visit an MVD or Third Party office. Switching from a non-travel card to a Travel ID needs a new application.
Arizona Travel ID (REAL ID)
The Travel ID is Arizona's REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card and is marked with a circle with a star. Since May 7, 2025, TSA accepts only a REAL ID-compliant card, a U.S. passport or other federally approved identification at airport checkpoints for domestic flights. A non-travel card is marked "Not for Federal Identification".
You need one proof of identity, your full Social Security number and two proofs of Arizona residency from different sources. If your name has changed, also bring legal proof of the change. Current Arizona residents can check on AZ MVD Now whether they can apply online. Otherwise, book an office appointment. If you do not yet have an Arizona license or ID, visit an MVD office or Third Party location.
The Travel ID costs $25. It is valid for up to eight years in most cases, and for five years if you are 60 or older. It arrives by mail within two weeks. For background, see REAL ID explained and how to tell if your license is a REAL ID.
Arizona ID cards
An Arizona ID card is available to people of all ages, including children and infants. You can start the application online and finish it at any MVD or Third Party location. The documents are the same as for a Travel ID: one proof of identity, your Social Security number and two proofs of residency.
A standard ID card costs $12. It is free for people aged 65 or older. Recipients of Supplemental Security Income, homeless veterans and minors in Department of Child Safety care may also qualify for a free card. The free cards do not apply to Travel IDs. Lost or stolen ID cards can be replaced on AZ MVD Now.
For vehicles, see the Arizona vehicle registration and title guide.