Mandatory Insurance - FAQ

Arizona requires that every motor vehicle operated on roadways be covered by one of the statutory forms of financial responsibility, more commonly called liability insurance, through a company that is authorized to do business in Arizona. This requirement also includes golf carts, motorcycles and mopeds.

Minimum levels of financial responsibility are

• $25,000 bodily-injury liability for one person and $50,000 for two or more people.
• $15,000 property-damage liability.

Law-enforcement officers will ask you for proof of insurance at the time of traffic stops or accidents. Insurance companies notify MVD of all policy cancellations, nonrenewals and new policies. If your insurance company sends MVD a notice that your policy is no longer active, we will send you an inquiry notice to verify insurance status.

Failure to maintain proper insurance could lead to the suspension of your vehicle registration and/or driver license. To reinstate these privileges, fees and future proof of financial responsibility must be filed with MVD. The future proof requirement is most commonly an SR22 form from an insurance company. This can be expensive to the vehicle owner, especially since the law requires the owner to carry the SR22 for three years from the date of suspension.

No. All vehicles registered in Arizona must be insured by a company licensed to do business in this state. Arizona residents who are out of state (including military personnel), however, may submit a De-Insured Certificate on a vehicle, on a short-term basis.

Customers have 30 days after initial registration to submit insurance.

De-insurance is a method of temporarily discontinuing the required insurance on the vehicle until it is ready to be driven or placed on the road again. A de-insured vehicle will not be suspended due to lack of insurance unless it is driven on Arizona roads. You can de-insure your vehicle online at AZMVDNow.gov.  

A suspension could have been generated for one of several reasons:

1. MVD has not received proof of Arizona insurance.
2. There was a lapse in insurance coverage.
3. There was an accident case opened.
4. A newly registered vehicle may not have been on system when insurance information was received.
5. There was a VIN (vehicle identification number) error, either entered into the system incorrectly or provided incorrectly by the insurance company.

Complete a De-Insured Certificate form. Once restoration is complete, get proof of insurance, complete a nonuse certificate and apply for registration. 

State law requires that the insurance company and the owner submit proof of Arizona insurance within 30 days after initial registration. Insurance companies are also required to routinely notify MVD of all policy cancellations, renewals and new issuance.

You must provide proof of Arizona liability insurance that was in effect at the time of the suspension. Or, if that proof cannot be obtained, you must pay a $50 reinstatement fee and provide current proof of Arizona liability insurance.

Payment may be made by cash, cashier's check or money order. Some offices accept credit cards. Cash and credit card not accepted by mail. No personal checks accepted.

In some cases immediately, in others within 24 hours after receipt, provided the information submitted meets the requirements of the law. Also, you must ensure that the information is sent to the MVD representative with whom you spoke, to guarantee immediate reinstatement of plates and registration.

If you received a notice from us regarding your insurance, please follow the instructions on that notice or contact us or visit AZMVDNow.gov to submit temporary notice of updated coverage. 

A suspension could have been generated for one of several reasons:

• The information you sent may not have been received.
• The vehicle identification number may have been incorrect on the document provided.
• Insurance information submitted may not cover the time of suspension.
• Documents may have crossed in the mail.
• Out-of-state insurance may have been provided when Arizona proof of insurance was required. For details concerning your case, please contact us.

If an accident occurred and proof of insurance was not available or was not valid, you may submit an Insurance Information Request along with a copy of the police report and a $3 fee. We will then release any insurance information on record for the date of the accident. If no information is available, you will be so advised. Please mail the Insurance Information Request to the address shown at the top of the form. 

Yes, you will not be able to obtain a driver license in another state until your suspension is cleared in Arizona. It may also prevent you from obtaining vehicle insurance in that state.