MVD

ADOT Director John Halikowksi shares his thoughts about the unprecedented challenges now confronting the MVD.

Most people may not be aware of it, but there are lots of people out there who really geek out on license plates. They collect them, hang them on their walls, trade war stories about strange and ancient plates they may have seen or actually possess. Some even go on the road “spotting” for unusual plates.

For our part at the ol’ ADOT Ranch, we love 'em! These are people who like to have fun with an otherwise utilitarian piece of metal, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

PHOENIX – In order to strengthen efforts to protect the health and safety of all Arizonans during the current pandemic, all Arizona Department of Transportation offices, including the Motor Vehicle Division, now require employees and customers to wear face coverings.

“Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our customers and employees,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “COVID-19 is a significant health threat and we are committed to doing everything we can to protect Arizonans, especially those in vulnerable populations.”

PHOENIX - If you’re used to seeing Arizona license plates issued with sequential letters and numbers, those days are slipping away. The ADOT Motor Vehicle Division now issues plates with random sequencing. The change vastly increases the number and type of plates that can be distributed.

“We’ve had some questions about these new plates because it is a big change and it looks so different from what people are used to,” MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser Richards said.

PHOENIX - Throughout this public health situation, Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offices have remained open with one caveat: Appointments are required.  

Between a planned computer operating system upgrade and the current public health situation, there has been a lot of changes for the MVD lately. But there has been a silver lining to all of this change.

PHOENIX - Even though ADOT Motor Vehicle Division offices are serving a limited number of customers by appointment only due to the public health situation, customers aren’t limited in their ability to offer the gift of being an organ, eye or tissue donor. 

Since 2017, organ donation has been an option for online customers renewing their vehicle registration, a service that attracts about 250,000 customers a month. The online option of signing up to be a donor after applying for a driver’s license or ID dates back even longer.

As summer arrives, many teens will be spending more time practicing their driving skills and preparing for the driver license test. Along with the preparation can come a struggle between parent and teen of how to drive and who "knows it best." Today's driving quiz aims to help settle the debate. Parents and teens, take the quiz separately to see who really "knows it best!" For those wanting to take the quiz in Spanish, a Spanish version is immediately below the English version. Good luck!

PHOENIX – With Motor Vehicle Division offices currently limited to essential services that require in-person visits by appointment, the Arizona Department of Transportation strongly recommends that customers try going online, visiting Authorized Third Party offices or using the U.S. mail before seeking office appointments.

Due to the current public health situation, MVD offices cannot accept walk-in customers. 

Driver license holders with a past or current suspension: MVD is working with law enforcement to ensure your status is up to date in the new computer system. Please activate your account at azmvdnow.gov to verify your license status. 

Questions? Contact us at: azdot.gov/contact.  

The old saying for athletes is, “No pain, no gain.” 

At the Motor Vehicle Division we are all about reducing the pain of an office visit or using our services online. In fact, over the past few years we’ve made a lot of changes that have increased online service options and significantly reduced wait times in our offices. 

That’s the good news. There’s even better news to come, but, there’s a little bit of pain before we get to the better news.

PHOENIX – The replacement of an obsolete computer system will require a complete shutdown of all Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division services from 5 p.m. Friday, April 17, through Tuesday, April 21. 

This shutdown is a total interruption to all services provided at MVD offices, through Authorized Third Party providers and online at ServiceArizona.com.

You may have noticed our signs displaying messages about the public health situation. But the message about Service Arizona bears repeating.

There's a lot going on in the world at the moment and AZ MVD Now makes a trip to the MVD one less thing to worry about.

PHOENIX – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced that the deadline for air travelers to get a driver license or ID that complies with the REAL ID Act, including the AZ Travel ID, has been pushed back a full year to Oct. 1, 2021. 

With this delay and the need to reduce customer traffic at MVD locations during this public health situation, all current AZ Travel ID appointments have been canceled. Customers are urged to delay getting an AZ Travel ID until the coronavirus situation has passed to reduce customer traffic at MVD offices.

For the most current information about MVD services and appointments, visit azdot.gov/mvd.

*** Updated information December 2020 ***

PHOENIX – In order to safely and efficiently serve customers during the ongoing health situation, the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division will limit office visits to only those customers who need essential services that must be done in person.

PHOENIX – Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Arizona Department of Health Services, residents needing to conduct business with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division are encouraged to explore more than 30 available online services instead of office visits. 

We here at the ol' ADOT ranch love the men and women who ply the roadways in commercial vehicles. 

Whether it's driving a big rig all over the fruited plain or delivering doughnuts to the local gas station, commercial drivers are, in many ways, the lifeblood of our economy. (Kinda like doughnuts are the lifeblood of many of the hired hands here at the ranch).

But we digress ...

PHOENIX – The days of Commercial Driver License (CDL) customers only being able to go to a handful of MVD offices for those services are over.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division now offers most CDL services at all full-time MVD locations statewide. Previously, CDL customers were required to travel to a limited number of MVD locations.