PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has made available 15 new specialty license plates.

“We know that people who choose specialty license plates for their vehicles take pride in owning and displaying them,” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “MVD is pleased that we can partner with various organizations and help raise funds that benefit Arizonans.”

Most specialty plates cost $25 each year. Of that amount, $17 goes to a designated charity or non-profit group. In the Fiscal Year that ended June 30, the total statewide sales of specialty plates netted about $11 million for various causes and charities.

All specialty license plates can be viewed and purchased at azmvdnow.gov. These are the new specialty license plates:

Arizona Rodeo

This specialty plate is available to anyone and $17 from each plate goes to promote, educate and preserve the history of rodeo in Arizona. Dave Alford, general manager of Rodeo Scottsdale, pointed out that the two oldest rodeos in the world -- Payson’s World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo and Prescott’s World’s Oldest Rodeo -- are in Arizona, and rodeos in Scottsdale, Tucson and Yuma have occurred for nearly a combined 250 years.

“There’s a lot of history of rodeo in Arizona and we wanted to put it on a license plate and share it,” said Dave Alford, general manager of Rodeo Scottsdale. “From fans to contestants, there are many people that will get this plate and they’ll all be helping a good cause.”

Make-A-Wish Arizona

This specialty plate is available to anyone and $17 from each plate goes to create life-changing wishes for Arizona children dealing with critical illnesses.

“Make-A-Wish Arizona is excited to showcase our organization on cars all over Arizona with our new specialty license plate,” said Elizabeth Reich, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Arizona. “We know our donors and supporters will love what the image represents – the impact and joy of a wish – while also understanding that their plate benefits future wishes for kids right here in Arizona.”

Veterans of Foreign Wars

This specialty plate is available to anyone and $17 from each plate goes to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Arizona Service Officers/Benefit Counselors Program.

“Our motto is, ‘No one does more for veterans! Now, with the new VFW specialty plate we can help more Veterans get the benefits they have earned,” said Tom Judd, past State Commander of the VFW Department of Arizona.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Arizona

This specialty plate is available to anyone and $17 from each plate goes to provide fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable and educational support to veterans and military members and their families in Arizona communities.

“Proceeds generated from this special plate will provide fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable and educational support to veterans and military members, their families and our communities,” said Melody Judd, VFW Auxiliary Department of Arizona Program Coordinator.

The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services is the sponsor of 11 new specialty license plates. These plates are available to veterans or the immediate family members of someone who has been issued a Veteran specialty plate. Seventeen dollars from each plate goes to the Veterans' Donation Fund which funds programs that benefit Veterans and their families throughout Arizona. The new plates are:

• Veteran plate with Air Force Seal
• Veteran plate with Army Seal
• Veteran plate with Coast Guard Seal
• Veteran plate with Code Talker Seal
• Veteran plate with Marine Seal
• Veteran plate with Navy Seal
• Woman Veteran plate with Air Force Seal
• Woman Veteran plate with Army Seal
• Woman Veteran plate with Coast Guard Seal
• Woman Veteran plate with Marine Seal
• Woman Veteran plate with Navy Seal

“Veterans take a lot of pride in not only their military service, but also their specific branch,” Col. Wanda Wright, ADVS Director said. “These new license plates give veterans another way to honor their service while helping other veterans.”

The Veteran Code Talker plate was designed by Alyssa Williams of Flagstaff, who won the Code Talker Seal Design Contest in 2020 that was held in partnership with the Governor’s Office on Tribal Relations and ADOT.

To view and order any specialty plate, visit azmvdnow.gov. Most specialty plates cost $25 upon initial application, of which $17 goes to a designated charitable organization. Personalization can be added for an additional $25 per year.

Specialty plates are authorized by the Arizona legislature and have been offered since 1989. Authorized plate designs complete a review by ADOT and law enforcement. In all, there are more than 80 license plate options for Arizona motorists.

PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Department of Transportation are safely easing the process for obtaining a Commercial Driver License in an effort to alleviate stress on the transportation system and help address the nationwide supply chain crisis.

The Governor’s Office and Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) also are reopening two long-closed rest stops so commercial drivers have additional opportunities to rest.

"We are working to make sure commercial drivers and Arizona families have the support they need this holiday season," said Governor Ducey. "Prices are rising and commercial drivers are under an incredible amount of stress as they transport goods. Today's action will help alleviate this stress. My thanks to the Arizona Department of Transportation for streamlining requirements for commercial drivers and strengthening Arizona’s supply chain.”

“Arizona’s highways are critical for our economy, and the trucking industry is one of the key transportation modes for moving goods through our state and around the country,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “We are pleased to take these steps to make processes easier, while enhancing safety for commercial drivers at this important time of the year.”

Removing Regulatory Burdens

To facilitate more commercial drivers being able to obtain credentials, through Executive Order, the Governor will extend the validity of the commercial learners’ permit (CLP) from six months to one year, in alignment with federal law. This gives a student more time to fulfill training requirements without having to reapply for a new permit. The purpose of the CLP is to allow a student to operate a commercial motor vehicle for training purposes with a licensed driver present.

The Executive Order, in alignment with the current federal waiver, will temporarily allow a commercial driver to keep their CDL past the date that the person’s medical certification is required, until Feb. 28, 2022. CDLs are regulated by the federal government. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) previously initiated a series of waivers, including one that allows a driver to keep their CDL active temporarily after the expiration of a medical certificate. Arizona will adopt this practice temporarily, until Feb. 28, 2022, to keep current CDL holders on the road and alleviate supply chain challenges. CDL holders can upload documents online, as well as verify the status of their Arizona medical certificate, at azmvdnow.gov.

Using recent guidance provided by FMCSA, ADOT will move forward with rulemaking to open commercial driver license services to Authorized Third Party providers. During the 2021 legislative session, HB 2134 was signed into law, allowing ADOT to expand commercial driver license services to its Authorized Third Party providers. As CDLs are regulated primarily by the federal government, ADOT requested and received guidance from FMCSA to determine which actions would be permitted under federal law. Once fully implemented, individuals will have expanded options to receive CDL services from Authorized Third Party providers, providing an increase in convenience and accessibility to obtain a license.

Accessibility To Rest Stops

Last week, the Governor directed ADOT to reopen two previously closed rest areas at Parks (I-40) and Christiansen (I-17). Both are now open to serve the public, providing additional opportunities for drivers to park and rest, and further alleviating stress on the supply chain. This is a temporary measure; these rest areas will be open through Jan. 18, 2022 to provide relief for critical deliveries during the holiday season. 

Going Forward Together

Arizona will launch the Arizona Transportation Consultancy Project, which will strengthen and further enable ADOT to collaborate with other states and adopt similar improvements that Arizona has implemented. Jumpstarting the supply chain is a cross-jurisdictional issue that requires the improvement of processes across multiple states. 

Arizona has undertaken many successful initiatives to make obtaining a CDL and the necessary permits simpler and more accessible to drivers, including the expansion of online services. Currently, ADOT is upgrading the Medical Examiner Certificate (MEC) submission process to allow handwritten MECs to be processed digitally, using advanced technology; expanding CDL services to Authorized Third Party providers; and preparing to modernize its commercial vehicle permitting system.

While these efforts have produced excellent results for Arizona, improvements can’t be confined to Arizona to solve our nation’s supply chain issues. The Arizona Consultancy Project will help other states achieve similar improvements. By sharing best practices and ideas found in the Arizona Management System, providing technical assistance on implementation of programs and sharing state-created intellectual property, processes can be improved across the country.

View the Governor's Executive Order HERE. 

PHOENIX – Is there a teen driver in your household? Maybe your teen plans to take the road test soon or is studying for the written test?

Across the country, traffic safety stakeholders, including the Arizona Department of Transportation, are marking National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 17-23) and encouraging teens to make safe choices when driving. Nationally, car crashes are among the leading causes of death for teens. In 2020 in Arizona, 35 teen drivers died in vehicle collisions and 2,324 others suffered injuries, according to statewide crash reports.

Four simple actions can help teen drivers – and drivers of any age – be safer on the roads:

• Always wear a seat belt.
• Don’t speed or drive recklessly.
• Don’t drive distracted – put down the phone.
• Don’t drive impaired or let impaired people get behind the wheel.

Teens preparing to apply for their instruction permit and the written test can study by reviewing the Arizona Driver License Manual and find practice tests on ADOT’s website. Pro tip: Save a trip and take your instruction permit test online via Permit Test @ Home. ADOT makes available the study materials for free.

For those teens further along in their quest for their driver license, information about driving schools and road test tips are also available online.

PHOENIX – Changes to state law mean that drivers who purchase alternative fuel vehicles will pay the same vehicle license tax (VLT) rate as other drivers by 2023. The change in VLT rates is phased-in, starting Jan. 1, 2022. 

The VLT is paid during vehicle registration and is assessed in place of a personal property tax often charged in other states. The VLT funds transportation infrastructure in Arizona, including highways, bridges and local roads, and contributes to the general funds of cities/towns and counties.

In 2019, the Legislature amended Arizona Revised Statute 28-5805. This implemented a phased-in approach for making the VLT formula used for alternative fuel vehicles the same one used currently for traditional cars and trucks, bringing parity to VLT assessments. The changes in the formula will begin taking effect this coming January and be completely phased-in by 2023. The changes mean that drivers of alternative fuel vehicles will contribute to the preservation and maintenance of the state’s 7,000-mile highway system at the same rate as drivers of traditional vehicles. Bringing parity to VLT assessments is especially important for the continued maintenance and expansion of Arizona’s infrastructure as alternative fuel vehicles continue to increase in popularity in Arizona. 

Under current state law, an alternative fuel vehicle registered before Jan. 1, 2022, will have its VLT calculated using 1% of the manufacturer's base retail price of the vehicle. For an alternative fuel vehicle registered between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, the VLT will be calculated using 20% of the manufacturer's base retail price of the vehicle. After Dec. 31, 2022, the formula used to calculate VLT for alternative fuel vehicles will be the same one used for other vehicles, as determined by ARS 28-5801.

What potential buyers of alternative fuel vehicles need to know

• It’s important to note that the VLT formula attached to an alternative fuel vehicle is determined by vehicle registration date, which can be different from the purchase date. A temporary registration permit issued by a vehicle dealer qualifies as the registration date and must be issued before Jan. 1, 2022, for a vehicle to have its VLT calculated using the 1% formula.
• For private party sales, new title documentation must be processed by an MVD or an Authorized Third Party office before Jan. 1, 2022, for the alternative fuel vehicle to have its VLT calculated using the 1% formula. Note: Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday. 

What current owners of alternative fuel vehicles need to know

• A current owner of an Arizona-registered alternative fuel vehicle who makes no changes to their vehicle title will continue to have their car’s VLT calculated with the 1% formula. The VLT rate changes won’t affect these vehicles until a change is made to the vehicle title, triggering a new registration cycle.
• The VLT formula attached to the alternative fuel vehicle will be changed to the current formula in use if a new registration cycle is established. Examples of this include but are not limited to: selling the car, transferring ownership, adding or removing an owner from the title, and a lease buy-out.
• Paying off a vehicle loan and the lender’s name being removed from the title will not trigger a new registration cycle.

For more information about VLT for alternative fuel vehicles, visit azdot.gov/altfuel.

Alternative fuel vehicles are defined as vehicles that are powered by electricity, hydrogen, solar or natural gas/compressed natural gas/liquefied petroleum gas. This does not apply to hybrid vehicles.

Alternative fuel vehicles will continue to be issued the Alternative Fuel Vehicle special license plate, which allows access to HOV freeway lanes at any time, regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle.

PHOENIX – For the first time, three Arizona specialty license plates each generated more than $1 million in annual revenue.

That’s great news as Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division specialty license plates raise money for charities in Arizona. In Fiscal Year 2021, which ran July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, specialty plates for Veterans, First Responders and the Arizona Cardinals each topped more than $1 million in revenue.

“Specialty plates are a great way for Arizonans to show off their interests, experiences, sports fandom or school pride,” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “Even better, every person who requests a specialty plate is raising money for charities in Arizona.”

In total, Fiscal Year 2021 saw specialty plates generate $10.7 million in revenue, helping charities throughout Arizona. There are more than 60 specialty plates to choose from – more will be added later this year, too – and each one benefits a worthy organization that helps Arizonans.

The Veterans specialty plate was the most popular among Arizona motorists and brought in more than $1.8 million for programs supported by the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services. Additional specialty plates, including Women Veterans, Gold Star Family and Military Support (Freedom) plates, also provide funds for these programs and all veterans-related specialty plates combined to raise $2.8 million for veterans services carried out by nonprofits throughout Arizona.

“Last fiscal year, we were grateful to put more than $1 million into the veteran community using these funds,” Retired Air Force Col. Wanda Wright, Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Director said. "From homelessness to suicide prevention, employment, COVID-19 relief and more, the specialty plates not only help meet essential veteran needs, but also honor their service.”

To order a specialty plate, visit azmvdnow.gov, an MVD office or Authorized Third-Party office.

PHOENIX – As monsoon season brings needed rain across the state and Arizonans revel in the precipitation, prospective buyers of used cars should pay close attention to the condition of any vehicle that piques their interest.

Every Arizonan knows that monsoon storms can result in flash flooding -- hello, “stupid motorist law” -- and a submerged vehicle can suffer extensive damage that might not always be noticeable. The title of such vehicles should be branded as “salvage” or “flood damage,” but scammers can and do fraudulently remove flood history from vehicle titles.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division wants potential buyers to closely inspect a vehicle before purchase and if it doesn’t pass a literal smell test, walk away.

• Inspect the vehicle’s nooks and crannies. Examine the trunk for dirt, silt and mold. Check under the dashboard and other hard-to-reach places as well. People trying to rip you off usually don’t clean all of those places. Finally, take a good sniff in those areas. Water damage leaves a distinctive odor.
• Check the electrical and mechanical components. Water wreaks havoc on electrical systems, so take a thorough look to see if any of those systems aren’t working quite right. Also check the engine for signs of rust or even random new parts. Get under the vehicle and check the suspension for water damage. Any of those things could be a sign that you’re in danger of buying a flood-damaged vehicle. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, find a reputable mechanic.

Additional car-buying tips can be found on ADOT’s website at azdot.gov/CarBuyingTips.

If you believe you’re a victim of fraud involving a vehicle title or registration, call our 24-hour fraud hotline at 877.712.2370 or email [email protected].

TUCSON – A widespread power outage has forced the Green Valley Motor Vehicle Division office to be closed on Friday.

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.