PHOENIX – Simple and free tools can help you make sure your vehicle is as safe as possible by learning of any outstanding recalls for your ride. 

The Arizona Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are sharing the lifesaving message “Safe Cars Save Lives” during Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, March 4-10. This week serves as a reminder to vehicle owners of the dangers of lingering vehicle recalls and to get any unrepaired recalls fixed immediately. 

It takes just a few minutes to check for open recalls through ADOT or NHTSA.

The first way is through the MVD customer portal AZMVDNOW.gov. The homepage of your personal account has information for each vehicle registered under your name. Click on each vehicle to see title and recall information tabs associated with that specific vehicle. 

You also can use 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.

If a driver believes their vehicle may have a safety-related defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA online at NHTSA.gov or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Sometimes just one complaint is enough to trigger a safety recall.

For more information and vehicle history tools, please visit azdot.gov.

PHOENIX – If a visit to an ADOT Motor Vehicle Division office is in your future, there’s good news: You can schedule an appointment using one of two online options.

Appointments to visit an MVD office can be scheduled through the MVD customer portal at AZMVDNOW.gov or by contacting an MVD employee on the ADOT website through Live Chat. 

“MVD is constantly looking for ways to make things easier and provide a convenient and fast experience in the office and online,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “We are committed to our goal of getting customers out of the line and safely on the road.”

Scheduling an MVD appointment is easier than ever; however, an office visit may not even be needed. Many MVD services and transactions can be completed easily and securely at AZMVDNow.gov. More than 4 million Arizonans have activated their accounts and are taking advantage of convenient, self-service options to complete their business with MVD. Here’s a sampling of what can be done through AZMVDNow.gov:

• Renew vehicle registration
• Renew driver license
• Order a replacement driver license or ID card
• Change of address
• Order specialty and personalized license plates
• Submit a sold notice 
• Schedule appointments to visit an MVD office

Customers are also able to contact MVD via chat through azdot.gov to schedule an appointment directly with an MVD expert. This online way to address questions, or even complete some services, allows people to text directly with an MVD expert on the ADOT website from the comforts of their own computer or cell phone in real time. Here’s a sampling of what can be done via Live Chat:

• Registration credit refunds and disbursements 
• Title and registration fee estimations and registration status letter requests 
• Submit a sold notice 
• Change of address
• Replace a disability placard 
• Schedule appointments to visit an MVD office.

Appointments are not required. MVD locations always accept walk-ins, where average wait times remain low, at just over 10 minutes. However, scheduling an appointment through AZMVDNow.gov or Live Chat  can save time, especially if you need to visit an office during the busiest part of the day. 

PHOENIX – Arizona, the Valentine’s State, turns 112 this month. February also includes the birthday of one of our state’s most famous exports: rock legend Alice Cooper. 

You can celebrate both occasions – and jazz up your vehicle – with specialty license plates available through the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

For fans of “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “School’s Out” and his other hits, there’s an Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock plate that supports free art, music and dance programs for all youth at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers in Phoenix and Mesa. The centers provide a safe space for everyone ages 12-20 to spend time, receive positive mentorship and free music, art, dance, photography and recording studio lessons and opportunities.

There are many options if you’re celebrating our great state, including Arizona Centennial, Arizona Highways Magazine, Route 66, State Forty Eight, not to mention all the different Arizona sports teams and universities. Each plate supports a designated organization that benefits the community. 

Most specialty plates cost $25 each year. Of that amount, $17 goes to a designated charity or nonprofit group. Last fiscal year sales of specialty plates contributed over $12 million for various causes and charities.

Specialty plates are authorized by the Arizona Legislature and have been offered since 1989. Plate designs complete a review by ADOT and law enforcement. Personalization can be added for an additional $25 per year.

To view and order any specialty plate, please visit azmvdnow.gov. 

PHOENIX – More than 4 million Arizonans have now discovered the fastest, safest and most convenient way to complete services with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

In just over three years since ADOT launched AZMVDNow.gov, 4,006,210 Arizonans have activated free accounts to access the primary online portal for MVD customers. 

The AZ MVD Now portal offers more web-based services than ever before, with more levels of security and options to get you out of the line and safely on the road.

Here are just a few recent customer comments about AZ MVD NOW: 

“I love how easy everything can be accomplished on this website. The website is one of the best I've ever used. Thanks and keep it up.”

“This is the best online government service available!”

“Very streamlined and easy to complete. Very few steps to renew registration. Probably the best run MVD in the country.”

Here are some of the things you can do with your AZ MVD Now account:

• View information related to your vehicle, including title status, registration status and MVD service history.
• Complete dozens of services such as registration renewals, ordering a duplicate license, change of address, updating insurance, title transfers and sold notices.
• Schedule an in-office appointment for a time that is convenient for you. 

To activate your account, please visit AZMVDNow.gov and follow the prompts. AZ MVD Now accounts are free and protected by several security protocols that are explained on the site and in an accompanying “how to” video.

PHOENIX – Many things slow down a bit during the holidays, including business at Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offices. That makes this an ideal time to make an appointment to get your Arizona Travel ID.

The federal deadline is May 7, 2025, for those who wish to use their state-issued credential for air travel. Without the Arizona Travel ID or other form of federally compliant identification such as a valid U.S. passport, fliers risk missing domestic airline flights because Arizona’s standard driver license, which will remain valid for state purposes, will not be accepted at TSA checkpoints. 

The Arizona Travel ID requires added proof of identification to ensure that your license or identification meets strict requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. A gold star on the card shows that you’ve provided this additional information.

You can walk into an office to upgrade to an Arizona Travel ID, but we suggest scheduling an appointment through Live Chat or online at azmvdnow.gov. Even if you haven’t activated your AZ MVD NOW account, you can still schedule an appointment. 

Because the Arizona Travel ID is compliant with the federal standards, you will need to provide extra documentation. This includes:

• Proof of identity: a birth certificate or U.S. passport
• Social Security Number: just the number, not the card
• Two documents proving Arizona residency: rental or bank statements, credit card or cell phone bills in your name with your current Arizona address, etc.

More information and a full list of qualifying documents are available at azdot.gov/TravelID

If you are traveling this season, be safe and make sure to schedule an appointment for your Travel ID in 2024 to be ready for the 2025 deadline.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division works hard to make AZMVDNOW.gov a place to easily complete a wide variety of transactions. And we’re proud to say that customers agree we’re succeeding.

A recent survey of MVD customers found that 76.2% of respondents consider AZMVDNOW.gov ”extremely easy” to use. That’s up from 71% in a March survey. 

The percentage of customers who consider the website “extremely difficult” to navigate is trending in the right direction as well: 3.3%, down from 5.6% in March. 

“We are pleased to see that Arizonans value our efforts in providing more convenient ways to conduct business and get customers out of the line and safely on the road,” Arizona MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “We continue to seek opportunities for products and services that provide Arizonans security, privacy and convenience.”

Here are just some of our customers’ comments:

This is THE BEST website! You've made this so easy to understand and complete the registration. Two thumbs up!

Love it.. Lived in 3 states. Best of them all! Thanks

Love how easy it is to renew my registration. The best part of all is I can do it from home instead of standing in line at a MVD office. TY for making my life a little easier

Always find this to be one of the VERY BEST sites! Easy, clear, laid out very well. It is honestly a joy to use this site in comparison to all the other sites that I encounter.

More than 5,000 customers responded in September to the survey asking them to rank the ease of conducting business on the website from extremely easy to extremely difficult. 

Nearly 4 million Arizonans have discovered the safest, fastest and most convenient way to complete services with MVD. Accessing AZMVDNOW.gov offers customers a safe and secure way to conveniently conduct transactions such as renewing vehicle registration, getting a replacement driver license, transfering titles, selecting a specialty plate, receiving registration refunds or simply scheduling an appointment for a convenient time at your local MVD office. 

To activate your free account, please visit AZMVDNow.gov and follow the prompts. Accounts are free and protected by several security features that are explained on the site and in an accompanying how-to video.