PHOENIX – The worldwide aluminum shortage that’s constraining production for various industries means there is a temporary interruption in the production of Arizona license plates.

Arizona Correctional Industries (ACI) is a branch of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry and has long produced license plates for the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division. ACI did not receive a scheduled delivery of aluminum and currently has none in stock for production. MVD has engaged another vendor, Intellectual Technology, Inc., on an interim basis, as part of MVD’s continuity of operations plan, but the needed switch will result in a delay.

Customers who ordered plates after May 21 will begin receiving most specialty plates the week of June 7, with standard plates beginning to arrive the week of June 14 from the ADOT fulfillment center.

“We regret that customers will experience this delay,” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “When we learned that our primary vendor didn’t receive the aluminum it was expecting, MVD immediately implemented its backup plan with ITI, a vendor we’ve worked with before, to ensure that plate production could begin as quickly as possible.”

Despite this delay, MVD will continue to process and issue license plate numbers for vehicles. As long as the proper information has been submitted before expiration of a vehicle’s temporary permit, it will show in MVD’s system as valid for law enforcement officers. MVD is in contact with law enforcement agencies statewide, auto dealers, fleet services, commercial trucking groups and other stakeholders, informing them of the situation.

If customers have questions, they can contact MVD at 602-255-0072.

ACI and MVD are not alone in feeling the pinch when it comes to aluminum. At least two other states have encountered license plate production issues in recent months because of supply-chain issues. Other industries, like canned-beverage makers and HVAC companies, have been constrained, too. Even the vendor for the aluminum ADOT uses to produce highway signs is experiencing a delay because it is waiting on material. ADOT has product on-hand and operations are not expected to be affected, at this time.

When production of license plates resumes, customers and motorists will see a new font being used. MVD has been considering a font change for some time, but doing so would have caused an interruption in production. That makes this an ideal time to implement the new font.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division office in Tuba City will soon be more welcoming to customers.

ADOT is replacing Customer Service Representative workstations inside the building, which will create more interior space for customers. In order to make those and other improvements,the office will be closed to customers June 3-8.

Customers who need to complete MVD services during the closure can go online at AZMVDNow.gov or ServiceArizona.com; visit another MVD or Authorized Third Party office location; or call MVD at 602-255-0072.

In addition, MVD locations on the Navajo Nation and in the communities of Holbrook, Flagstaff, Page, and Winslow are also available during normal business hours. 

Two-thirds of all MVD services and transactions can be completed at AZMVDNow.gov. Here’s a sampling of what can be done online:

• Renew vehicle registration
• Renew driver license
• Order a replacement driver license or ID card
• Change your address
• Order specialty and personalized license plates
• Submit a sold notice

More than 2 million Arizonans have activated their accounts and are taking advantage of convenient, self-serve options to complete their business with MVD.

PHOENIX – Thinking of selling or trading in your car? After agreeing to a price, one of the most important things a seller can do is complete a “sold notice” with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

Wait. What’s a “sold notice” and why is it important?

A “sold notice” ensures that MVD and law enforcement have a record of the vehicle’s current owner. This can protect the seller from liability if the car is involved in a crash or crime, is ticketed, or becomes abandoned, which carries a hefty fee. There is no cost to complete a “sold notice” and it can be done online at AZMVDNow.gov.

Submitting a “sold notice” is easy. Simply, log-in to your account at AZMVDNow.gov and:

• Click on “submit a sold notice”
• Select the vehicle you’ve sold
• Enter the buyer’s information
• Enter the date the vehicle was sold

Additional steps to follow when selling or trading in a car include removing the license plate and transferring the title to the buyer.

PHOENIX – If a visit to an ADOT Motor Vehicle Division office is in your future, there’s good news: Appointments can be scheduled online in less than a minute.

No longer is it required to log-in to an account at AZMVDNow.gov to schedule an office visit. Instead, MVD customers who have an Arizona driver license or ID card can simply go to AZMVDNow.gov, click on the orange “schedule an appointment” button and follow the prompts.

“MVD is constantly making tweaks and adjustments to better accommodate customers’ needs and provide a better experience,” said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. “We are committed to our goal of getting customers out of the line and safely on the road.”

Though scheduling an MVD appointment is easier than ever, an office visit isn’t needed for most services. Two-thirds of all MVD services and transactions can be completed at AZMVDNow.gov. Here’s a sampling of what can be done online:

• Renew vehicle registration
• Renew driver license
• Order a replacement driver license or ID card
• Change your address
• Order specialty and personalized license plates
• Submit a sold notice

More than 2 million Arizonans have activated their accounts and are taking advantage of convenient, self-serve options to complete their business with MVD.

PHOENIX – Robocalls. Scammy text messages. Shady websites.

When it comes to doing business with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division, ignore all unsolicited communications and avoid online search engines. Instead, go straight to the source at AZMVDNow.gov or ServiceArizona.com. These are legitimate MVD websites and the only ones customers should conduct personal MVD business on.

Over the past several months, customers have made ADOT aware of text messages they’ve received that claim the customer owes the “DMV” money or some other nonsense. Spoiler alert: These customers don’t owe what the text claims and these texts are a scam.

Pro tip: Any text, email or phone call that uses “DMV” instead of “MVD” is a clear give-away that a scam is afoot. 

When it comes to searching for information about renewing vehicle registration, getting an Arizona driver license, taking the instruction permit test or dozens of other MVD services, always go to ADOT’s official websites: azdot.gov,  AZMVDNow.gov or ServiceArizona.com. Don’t let a search engine steer you to a different site.

While many of those “DMV” websites are legal, they don’t have the customer’s best interest in mind because they charge for information that is freely available at azdot.gov, like the Arizona Driver License Manual and practice tests.

Remember, the only ADOT websites customers should conduct personal MVD business on are AZMVDNow.gov or ServiceArizona.com.

PHOENIX – A year after it became the primary way for customers to complete Arizona MVD services online, AZMVDNow.gov has reached a major milestone: 2 million AZ MVD Now accounts have been activated.

Millions of Arizonans have discovered the ease and convenience of having access to complete two-thirds of all MVD services on their own schedule. This contactless way of doing business with MVD has been embraced by millions.

“During a public health crisis that reduced the number of people MVD could help in its offices because of social distancing, dramatically increasing the number of online services that Arizonans could complete at AZMVDNow.gov has been a tremendous benefit,” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “We’re pleased to see that Arizonans have taken to AZ MVD Now so quickly.”

Here’s a sampling of the more than 30 services available at AZMVDNow.gov:

• Renew vehicle registration
• Renew driver license
• Order a replacement driver license or ID card
• Change your address
• Order specialty and custom license plates
• Submit a sold notice
• Schedule an in-office MVD appointment

Anyone who already does business with MVD, like those with an Arizona driver license, state-issued ID card or vehicle registered in the state, already has a free AZ MVD Now account. The account just has to be activated. To activate, go to AZMVDNow.gov and follow the prompts.

There are also a series of “how to” videos at AZMVDNow.gov, including ones that explain how to activate an account, apply for a driver license and how to apply for a registration refund.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division continues to adapt to changing customer service demands. MVD recently expanded contact center help, added temporary help to assist in the demand for appointments and has steadily increased the number of online self-serve options, including driver license renewals, available to customers at AZMVDNow.gov.

Expanding call center help to the Yuma prison will provide some relief to the high volume of calls MVD receives.

“MVD is pleased to expand operation of the contact center and customers are the biggest beneficiaries,” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “We’re grateful that our partnership with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) continues to help us get customers out of line and safely on the road.”

The contact center in Yuma is categorized as a Level 1 call center, which means that the inmate workers can answer general questions about MVD services, but do not have access to customers’ personal records. Before being connected, callers are advised not to divulge any personal or identifying information. If a caller requests a service or asks a question that can only be fulfilled by providing such information, they will be transferred to a Level 2 customer service representative employed by MVD.

MVD has operated a call center at the Perryville prison in Goodyear since 1996. ADOT also partners with ADCRR on landscape maintenance at some ADOT facilities and on some highways.

“ADCRR is excited to expand its partnership with MVD in providing broader access to ADOT customers across the state. This is another example of how ADCRR continues to help in meeting the needs of the state," said ADCRR Director David Shinn. “This opportunity also allows inmates to gain valuable skills and experience through on the job training in preparing them for post incarceration transition back into our communities."

MVD has also added services at AZMVDNow.gov, allowing customers to complete two-thirds of all MVD services online, including renewing a driver license or commercial driver license (CDL), which previously required an office visit. Most Arizonans will be eligible to renew their license online and drivers can log-in to their account at AZMVDNow.gov to see their eligibility for online renewal.

To renew a CDL online at AZMVDNow.gov, an individual’s address must remain the same, a valid primary document is on file with MVD and their current credential must be in good standing. CDL holders with a hazmat endorsement will not be able to renew their license online.

After renewing online, customers should allow about 15 days for processing and mail delivery of the new license.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is pleased to announce that many commercial truck drivers are now eligible to renew their Commercial Driver License (CDL) online. The ability to renew online offers time savings and convenience and ADOT Motor Vehicle Division encourages commercial truck drivers to explore this option when their CDL needs to be renewed.

Previously, renewing a CDL required a visit to an ADOT Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office. 

To renew a CDL online at AZMVDNow.gov, an individual’s address must remain the same, a valid primary document is on file with MVD and their current credential must not have any suspensions or holds on their license. CDL holders with a hazmat endorsement will not be able to renew their license online.

Prior to renewing online, an individual must activate their account at AZMVDNow.gov. Anyone with an Arizona CDL already has an account, but it must be activated. If an MVD office visit is required, an appointment can be scheduled at AZMVDNow.gov.

Please visit azdot.gov/RenewCDL for more information about renewing a CDL.

PHOENIX – Residents of Chinle and nearby communities will soon be welcomed by a newer and larger ADOT Motor Vehicle Division office when they complete their vehicle- and driver-related services.

The new MVD building at the Apache County Complex on US Highway 191 is scheduled to open to the public on Monday, March 29. This building replaces the current one, which has been in use since 1971. At 2,487 square feet, the new MVD office will be almost 50% larger than the current office.

“ADOT MVD is pleased to open this new building in Chinle,” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “The current building has outlived its usefulness and the new one will have more room inside the office, better parking and help MVD continue to offer a high level of customer service.”

As part of the opening of the new building, the current building will be closed Thursday and Friday, March 25-26, so computer equipment can be moved, connected and tested, as well as completing work to connect utilities. Customers who need to complete MVD services during the two-day closure can go online at AZMVDNow.gov or ServiceArizona.com; visit another MVD or Authorized Third Party office location; or call MVD at 602-255-0072.

While the new building will open to the public March 29, construction work to complete the parking lot will continue through April. A temporary parking area will be used and customers should stay within barriers and observe posted directions. Because of construction in the parking lot, road tests will not be available March 25-April 30.