Many Arizonans are getting ready for spring break road trips. Taking that week off from school or work to spend time with family and friends may be a great way to relax and unwind. One way to ensure that week is a relaxing week, especially if you are driving to your destination, is to check for any safety recalls on your vehicle prior to hitting the open road.  

This week is Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, when ADOT joins the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in urging vehicle owners to check for open recalls. “Safe Cars Save Lives” is this year’s message reminding drivers that it is a quick and free precaution that should be taken twice a year. 

Manufacturers are required to fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund or, in rare cases, repurchasing the vehicle. Checking your vehicle for recalls helps ensure any outstanding issues are properly resolved before unfortunate incidents happen.

There are a few easy ways to check for recalls. The first is through the MVD customer portal AZMVDNOW.gov. After logging into your account, you will see your driver license image and directly below it will be vehicle information for any vehicles registered in your name. Click on each specific vehicle to see title and recall information associated with that vehicle.

The other option is the free Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Look-Up Tool, located at NHTSA.gov/recalls. This allows vehicle owners to check for open safety recalls on their vehicles or automotive equipment, such as tires and car seats. 

Even with alerts and warnings emailed or mailed by manufacturers, millions of recalled vehicles go unrepaired every year. This puts drivers, passengers and others at risk. By checking for vehicle safety recalls twice a year, you can avoid such unnecessary risks.

So, before you load up the vehicle and hit the road to the beach, mountains, or even just the resort down the street, take a few minutes to check for any manufacturer recalls on your vehicle. After all, a safe vehicle is one step to a safer vacation.

You may have seen vehicles with an Arizona Cardinals plate, Phoenix Suns plate or Veterans plate – maybe one with the Special Olympics Arizona logo on it. Clearly, the vehicles’ owners support the team or organization displayed on the plate. But did you know that the plate supports the organization’s charitable efforts as well? 

There are nearly 100 specialty license plates that can put that special customized touch on your vehicle and show who you support. These plates also have a positive impact across Arizona, with $17 from each going to a designated charity or nonprofit. More than $12 million went to these charitable causes directly from the plates during the fiscal year that ended June 30.

This year, five new and two redesigned plates are available that might speak to your hobbies or interests and help support causes close to your heart.

Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock plate shows you are a big fan of the rock star, while $17 of each plate goes to help fund the art, music and dance programs for the youth at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers. Giving teens a safe, and free, place to find their voice and expressions.

Arizona Realtors® Homes for All plate may indicate you or your partner are a professional realtor, but $17 from that plate goes towards the Arizona REALTORS® Foundation for Housing and Community Outreach to provide charitable support to Arizona communities in establishing housing projects. 

Cancer Support for Families plate shows a saguaro glowing in front of one of the famous Arizona sunsets. Proceeds go to Cancer Support Community Arizona’s emotional and social support services for people impacted by cancer.

Diné College Warriors plate shows your connection to the Navajo Nation, and $17 from this plate goes to support and aid Diné College students in their educational pursuits and success. 

U.S. Army plate shows you or your family may have served, while $17 goes to the Army Scholarship Foundation, a worldwide non-profit which provides academic scholarships to children of soldiers and spouses of active duty enlisted soldiers who are in pursuit of their educational dreams. 

Additionally, Arizona Coyotes and the Families of Fallen Police Officers plates received a redesign. The Arizona Coyotes Foundation strives to enhance the quality of life throughout Arizona by supporting organizations and programs that promote access to education, health and wellness and economic advancement for underserved and diverse communities. $17 from each plate goes to the Arizona Coyotes Foundation. 

The Families of Fallen Police Officers plate had a name change and will now be identified as Honoring Fallen Police Officers. $17 from each plate provides support and resources to survivors and co-workers affected by line-of-duty deaths in Arizona.

To order any specialty plate, visit azmvdnow.gov/plates. Personalization can be added for an additional $25 per year.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division just placed in the top four of MVD or DMV offices, according to a CarInsurance.com survey across all 50 states. The online article highlights some of the changes and technology that have positively impacted motor vehicle services across the country. 

Arizona finished fourth overall, just behind Indiana, Alaska and Wyoming, for overall motor vehicle services. Some of the categories included in the survey were accessibility, wait times, staff courtesy, fee structure and digital experience.

Speaking of digital experience, Arizona ranked second thanks to the many tasks that can be accomplished through azmvdnow.gov, like renewing registration, changing addresses, scheduling appointments, ordering a specialized license plate and more.

The survey asked 2,300 drivers, all over the age of 18, how their respective state agency was doing. The online article goes into details for Arizona’s high ranking:

“Arizona has been an early adopter of online services and now allows drivers to perform such common tasks as renewing driver licenses, taking practice driver exams and obtaining official Travel IDs without having to step foot in an office. Drivers seem to appreciate the convenience and also give it high marks for knowledgeable staff.”

Arizona also finished in the top 10 for low wait times and knowledgeable staff. ADOT MVD is continually working to improve the service, speed and options available here in Arizona to get you out of the line and safely on the roads.

You may not think much about that license or ID card in your purse or wallet, but a driver license or ID card is an important document to identify you with the government. Just as you would use it to show your age or permission to drive, veterans dealing with instability or homelessness need an ID card to receive services and assistance.

“The veterans events are very important, many of the veterans are needing life changing services, without a valid ID they would not be eligible for the services offered at the events,” said Lezlie Jo Perkins, Northwest Phoenix MVD Office Manager. “Many jobs also require a valid driver license.”

MVD had the pleasure to once again participate in the annual Maricopa County StandDown event Friday, April 28, at the Arizona State Fairgrounds to provide identification assistance for many veterans in Arizona experiencing housing instability.

The MVD team helped 268 people with a number of MVD services to ensure they have a valid ID including driver license duplicates, motor vehicle records, renewals, reinstatements and even road tests. Sanderson Ford provided the vehicle for road tests.

"You hear many say, 'Now that I have my driver license back I can get a job, and with a job I will not be homeless,’” Perkins said.

This yearly event, hosted by the Arizona Veterans StandDown Alliance, provides thousands of Arizona veterans with access to resources that improve their lives and help them achieve stability.

Perkins, who has been working these events since 2013, says her favorite part is simple: “I love hearing the veterans say the event is life-changing for them.”

More information about these events is available at the Arizona Housing Coalition website.

Almost anywhere you go, you’re bound to see one. Many Arizona drivers put specialty license plates on their cars to show support for their favorite sports teams, causes and more, all while supporting organizations working to better our state.

From education to firefighters to the Phoenix Suns, there are more than 70 specialty plates to choose from and they’re becoming more and more popular each year. More than 770,000 specialty plates were ordered in calendar year 2022 – about 67,000 more than in 2021.

We tallied up the numbers and here are the 10 most popular specialty plates in Arizona for 2022:

1. Veterans
2. First Responders
3. Arizona Highways
4. Arizona Cardinals
5. Military/Freedom
6. Route 66
7. Arizona State University
8. University of Arizona
9. Golden Rule
10. “In God We Trust”

Veterans plates were once again the most popular in 2022. There are many different plates for Arizona veterans and their immediate family members, including for each branch of the military. The profits from these plates go toward a special fund to benefit veterans in the state.

The rest of the list also stayed pretty consistent from 2021 to 2022, though the Arizona Highways specialty plate moved into the top three. The funds generated from this specialty plate help support Arizona Highway Magazine and its mission of promoting tourism in Arizona, according to its website. 

Four new specialty plates – Arizona Rodeo, Make-A-Wish Arizona, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Arizona – became available in December of 2021 and four more were introduced during 2022: Arizona Education, Congenital Heart Defect Awareness, Thunderbirds Charities and Arizona 4-H.

Specialty plates cost $25 for an initial fee and annual renewal, with $17 of the fee going directly to the charitable organization. To order your own specialty plate and support a great cause, visit azmvdnow.gov to view the options and pick a plate!

MORE: Most popular specialty plates of 2021

MORE: How do specialty plates get started? Your elected leaders