PHOENIX – The Arizona Travel ID is in high demand with two weeks remaining until the May 7 deadline for domestic air travelers to comply with federal REAL ID requirements. With business up and appointments filling rapidly at Motor Vehicle Division offices, the Arizona Department of Transportation recommends keeping two things in mind: 

1. If you aren’t traveling on or soon after May 7 and you wish to use your state credential to fly, you can avoid the current rush by making an appointment closer to your travel date – while leaving a cushion for your Arizona Travel ID to arrive in the mail. 

2. The dozens of authorized third party locations across Arizona can be a convenient option, including if you want to conduct business outside of normal business hours or on Saturdays, which some locations offer. Keep in mind that transactions at these locations involve additional fees. You’ll find a map with authorized third party locations at azdot.gov/mvd. 

Without the Arizona Travel ID or another form of federally compliant identification such as a valid U.S. passport, you’ll risk missing an airline flight. 

The gold star in the upper right corner of an Arizona Travel ID shows that the holder has met federal standards requiring 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, such as rental or bank statements and credit card or cellphone bills in your name with your current Arizona address

A full list of qualifying documents is available at azdot.gov/TravelID. For information on how to obtain an Arizona birth certificate please visit the Arizona Bureau of Vital Records’ website.

The Arizona Travel ID costs $25 and is valid for eight years. The new Arizona Travel ID card will arrive in the mail within 10-14 days.

More than 2.65 million Arizonans have already upgraded to the Arizona Travel ID so they will be ready to fly. While the deadline is just around the corner, the important deadline to have a federally compliant ID is in time for your next travel plans. 

PHOENIX – Today marks one month before the federal deadline for domestic airline travelers to have a federally compliant form of identification. If you plan to use your driver license or state-issued ID card for air travel this summer, now is a good time to visit an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division office or selected authorized third party locations to get your Arizona Travel ID. 

Without the Arizona Travel ID or other form of federally compliant identification such as a valid U.S. passport, you’ll risk missing an airline flight. 

The gold star in the upper right corner of an Arizona Travel ID shows that the holder has met federal standards requiring 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, such as rental or bank statements and credit card or cellphone bills in your name with your current Arizona address

You can walk into an office for this service, but we suggest scheduling an appointment at azmvdnow.gov. The Arizona Travel ID costs $25 and is valid for eight years. The new Arizona Travel ID card will arrive in the mail within 10-14 days.

May 7 will be here quickly. Join the 2.6 million Arizonans who have already upgraded to the Arizona Travel ID. 

For information on how to obtain an Arizona birth certificate please visit the Arizona Bureau of Vital Records’ website.

For more information and a full list of qualifying documents, please visit azdot.gov/TravelID.

PHOENIX – Arizonans have another choice to support their favorite charitable causes as the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offers a new specialty license plate.

Just in time to celebrate National Autism Acceptance Month, ADOT is unveiling an Autism Support specialty plate. With this addition, MVD now offers 106 options. Each can be viewed at azdot.gov/plates and ordered at azmvdnow.gov/plates. 

In addition to the new plate, the National Guard specialty plate has been redesigned and is also now available for motorcycles.

Most specialty plates cost $25 each year. Of that amount, $17 goes to a designated charity or nonprofit group. During fiscal year 2024, sales of specialty plates contributed over $13 million for various causes and charities. And is on pace to exceed that this fiscal year. 

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.

Learn more about each of these plates:

Autism Support

$17 from each plate will drive autism research and provide support for individuals with autism and their families through two sponsoring organizations; Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center and First Place AZ.

This plate will be available to anyone and also offered in a motorcycle format. 

“Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center and First Place® AZ are honored to enhance awareness and rally support for autism-related programs and services across Arizona through our new license plate,” said SARRC President & CEO Daniel Openden, Ph.D., BCBA-D. “This initiative represents a powerful statement for our state and a milestone moment for Arizonans impacted by autism. We’re also proud to showcase the original artwork of Joe Bradley—an accomplished artist on the autism spectrum and a founding member of our Self-Advocate Advisory Board—whose creativity and talent bring this license plate to life.”

National Guard 

$17 from each plate goes to support programs and services for the men, women, families, and mission of the Arizona National Guard.

This plate will now offer personalization, a motorcycle plate format, and will be available to anyone, eligibility requirements no longer apply.

“We are proud to introduce the new Arizona National Guard license plate – a symbol of the deep connection between the Arizona National Guard and the community we serve. With every purchase, you support our servicemembers, families, and underlying mission.” Major General Kerry Muehlenbeck, Arizona National Guard Adjutant General and Director of Emergency and Military Affairs.

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

PHOENIX –  Contacting ADOT’s Fraud Hotline helped a customer register a recently purchased vehicle and drive it legally in Arizona after several months of working with the dealership to receive the title.

ADOT received the complaint on Oct. 29, about the purchase of a vehicle in February 2024 through a used car dealership in the Valley. The complaint alleged the dealership was unable to provide a title, and the only option provided by the dealer was for the customer to obtain a bonded title for the vehicle.  

After the constituent contacted the ADOT Fraud Hotline, detectives with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General looked into the complaint and found the dealership unlawfully advertised and sold the vehicle without having possession of the title according to state law. Dealers who violate state law and MVD licensing guidelines are subject to enforcement actions which may include the issuance of cease and desist orders, criminal citations and the cancellation of dealer licenses.  

Detectives were then able to get a special lien release affidavit completed for the vehicle after verifying previous transaction information indicating the vehicle was traded to the dealer with an out-of-state title and a documented lienholder attached for a company that was no longer in business. On Dec. 9, detectives provided MVD with findings of their investigation, and an Arizona title was issued for the vehicle. They also issued a cease and desist warning to the dealership and required them to take corrective action so they do not violate state law again. 

“It is a wonderful feeling to not only address the violation and potentially prevent similar infractions, but to also help a constituent resolve their title issue and get them safely back on the road,” said Lieutenant Jason Henderson with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General. “We encourage anyone who suspects fraudulent activity against their driver license or ID card, vehicle registration or title to report it immediately.”

ADOT’s 24-hour Fraud Hotline is available to those who suspect fraud or criminal activity involving driver licenses, title and registration. Please call 877.712.2370, email [email protected] or file a report at azdot.gov/incident-report.

Detectives with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General, which is part of the Enforcement and Compliance Division, also investigate fraud involving driver licenses, VIN inspections, as well as licensed and unlicensed vehicle dealerships. They also support investigations by state, local and federal law enforcement.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division’s Tucson North office on North Shannon Road will be undergoing a complete remodel to modernize and expand the location.  

Limited MVD services will continue to be available in the parking lot through a temporary office modular trailer. Services will be conducted via 13 TeleMVD stations inside the trailer.  

TeleMVD connects with an MVD employee located elsewhere, allowing a customer to complete vehicle and driver license services through computer connections. Each customer service station is equipped with computer equipment, a printer/scanner and a payment device so a majority of MVD services can be completed right there. 

The remodel will begin Monday, Feb. 24, and is expected to take 10 months. Services will be limited to non-cash transactions during this project.  Appointments and commercial driver license knowledge testing will not be available during the project.

Many MVD services can be completed online at azmvdnow.gov, the official service website for the Motor Vehicle Division, at other MVD locations or at authorized third party locations in the greater Tucson area. 

Customers are also able to contact MVD via chat through azdot.gov to talk 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 smartphone in real time.