PHOENIX – More than 3 million Arizonans have discovered the safest, fastest and most convenient way to complete services with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

Since launching in April 2020, more than 3 million Arizonans have activated their free AZMVDNow.gov account, giving them access to the primary online portal for MVD customers. 

“Advances in technology continue to provide conveniences and AZMVDNow.gov does that and so much more.” MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “With the AZ MVD Now portal, MVD offers more web-based services than ever before with more levels of security and that’s a big win for Arizonans.”

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 more than 30 services, like registration renewals, ordering a duplicate license, change of address, update insurance, title transfers, sold notices and more.
• Schedule your own in-office Travel ID appointment, and beat the May 3, 2023 deadline. 

Every Arizonan with a credential – a driver license or identification card – or a vehicle registered in Arizona has an AZ MVD Now account. To activate the account, go to 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 – Summer is not only a hot time for the weather, but also for parents to help potential teenage drivers get some training under their belt. It's an excellent time to have a conversation on the important rules of the road.

In Arizona, a teen that is at least 15 years and 6 months of age may be issued a graduated Instruction Permit. This permit allows the teen driver to learn how to drive a vehicle according to Arizona motor vehicle laws (The Motor Vehicle laws can be found under Transportation Title 28 of the Arizona Revised Statutes at azleg.gov). This permit is valid for 12 months and the teen driver must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years of age, who occupies the seat beside the new learner.

Once the teen driver is at least 16, but less than 18 years of age may apply for a driving test and receive the Graduated License.

Every driver is responsible to follow the rules of the road, and as a parent, you are responsible to make sure your new teen driver understands those rules.   

Here are some important rules your teen driver should know:

NO EXTRA PASSENGERS - Restrict the number of passengers your teen allows in their car

Passengers serve as a distraction for inexperienced teen drivers. For the first six months, a driver with a graduated driver license shall not drive a vehicle containing more than one passenger under the age of 18 (with some exceptions).

ARIZONA CURFEW FOR TEEN DRIVERS AGED 16

In Arizona, for the first 6 months, a driver with a graduated driver license shall not drive a motor vehicle between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. (with some exceptions).

Note: There are penalties for violation of curfew and passenger restrictions, including fines and mandatory extension of the six month restricted driving period and suspension of driving privilege.

BUCKLE UP- Remind your teen driver to always buckle up

According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) half of the 15 to 18 year old passenger vehicle occupants who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2017 weren’t wearing their seat belts. When a teen driver involved in a fatal crash in 2017 wasn’t wearing a seat belt, 85% of their passengers who died were not wearing their seat belts either.

NO SPEEDING - Emphasize that they must obey posted speed limits

Speeding was a factor in almost one-third of all fatal crashes that involved a teen (15-18 years old) driver in 2017 (according to NHTSA). Faster speeds rob inexperienced teen drivers of the extra reaction time they may need to avoid a crash.

DRIVERS UNDER 21 YEARS OLD = ZERO TOLERANCE

Make it clear to your teen that driving impaired by any substance (alcohol or drugs) is deadly and against the law. Make sure your house rule is: Drive Sober or Not At All.  

According to NHTSA, in 2017, nearly one out of seven teen drivers (15-18 years old) involved in fatal crashes had been drinking alcohol, even though it’s illegal in every State to drink alcohol under the age of 21.

For more safety information to share with your teen driver visit:

http://www.moveoveraz.org/

/terrify

https://focusondriving.com/

PHOENIX – Arizona has a lot of unique features – like having a Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) instead of a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

 

But what might seem like a simple name difference can lead unsuspecting customers to unauthorized websites and scams when they’re simply searching for ways to do business online with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.

That’s because many people may do a web search for the “Arizona DMV” or something similar, and that can lead them to websites that aren’t affiliated with ADOT.  “azmvdnow.gov is the authorized web portal for the MVD, and people need to be wary of imitation sites that could be a scam,” said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser Richards.

She added, “There are fraudulent websites falsely offering motor vehicle services such as Arizona driver licenses, IDs, and vehicle titles and registration. They can appear in searches with keywords such as MVD or DMV. The best protection for our customers is to activate their secure and personal AZ MVD Now account and save the link to their search bar or as a favorite.”

Activating an AZ MVD Now account takes just a few minutes. Customers may go to azmvdnow.gov and follow the prompts for how to activate their account. The process is free and is protected by several security protocols that are explained on the site and in an accompanying “how-to” video for those who wish to view it. Join the nearly 3 million active accounts, and get out of line and safely on the road. 

Additionally, ADOT does not offer MVD services through phone solicitations, nor does it endorse or advertise for online businesses claiming to provide MVD services.

There are legitimate Authorized Third Party businesses that are licensed and authorized to perform MVD transactions in person. A list of Authorized Third Party businesses can be found at azdot.gov.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division embraces the motto, “Out of the line and safely on the road.” This is a nod to MVD’s commitment to putting Arizonans first by reducing in-office wait times and offering customers a growing number of digital options.

Today, ADOT MVD is aiming higher – literally – and that motto could easily be revised to “out of the line and safely in the sky.”

That’s because Arizona is the first state in the nation whose residents, beginning today, can add their MVD-issued driver license or state ID card to Apple Wallet on an iPhone or Apple Watch and securely present it as a valid ID at select TSA airport security checkpoints at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“With this technology, Arizonans are at the front of the line for experiencing a streamlined airport security process,” Governor Doug Ducey said. “This puts our state at the leading edge of a new technology that offers choice, convenience, privacy and security.”

After adding a driver license or state ID to Apple Wallet, upon arriving at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, travelers can use Apple Wallet to present their ID at designated TSA airport security checkpoints.

“Arizona is proud to be the first state to give our residents the choice to add their ID to Apple Wallet,” Arizona MVD Director Eric Jorgensen said. “We will continue to seek out opportunities for products and services that provide Arizonans security, privacy and ease of use.”

At this time, an Arizona driver license or state ID in Apple Wallet can be used to present a resident’s ID only at select TSA airport security checkpoints. This is a new technology and its use case will grow over time. Arizona residents should continue to carry their physical, plastic driver license or state ID card to use in other situations, including with law enforcement.

For more information on Arizona driver licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet, please

visit azdot.gov/AppleWallet and https://apple.co/wallet-id

How to add a driver license or state ID to Apple Wallet

Adding a driver license or state ID to Apple Wallet can be done in just a few simple steps. Arizona residents can tap the + button at the top of the screen in Apple Wallet on their iPhone, select “Driver’s License or State ID” and follow the on-screen instructions to start the set-up and verification process. You will need your physical MVD-issued driver license or ID card to add it to Apple Wallet.

Driver’s license and state ID in Apple Wallet is available on iPhone 8 or later running iOS 15.4, and Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 8.4 or later. 

How to use your Arizona ID in Apple Wallet at the airport

Arizona residents can present their driver license or state ID at participating TSA airport security checkpoints by simply tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch at the identity reader. Upon tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch, customers will see a prompt on their device displaying which specific information is being requested by the TSA.  Only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the requested identity information released from their device. Information is all shared digitally, so residents do not need to show or hand over their device to present their ID. 

Your Arizona driver license or state ID in Apple Wallet is secure

State IDs and driver licenses in Wallet are private and secure. If a resident loses their iPhone or Apple Watch, they can use the “Find My” app to easily lock their device and help locate it, or remotely erase their device.

Identity data is encrypted and protected against tampering and theft. The MVD and Apple do not know when or where residents present their IDs. Biometric authentication using Face ID and Touch ID ensures that only the person who added the ID to the device can view or present their ID or license in Apple Wallet.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is reminding motorists that there are strict eligibility requirements to obtain license plates or placards for people who are disabled. 

“There are many Arizona residents (children and adults) that can’t walk 200 feet without rest due to a medical condition, said MVD Stakeholder Relations Manager Jennifer Bowser Richards “Those individuals could benefit with a Handicap Parking Placard if a certified health professional certifies the individual’s impaired mobility with the eligibility requirements.”

She added, “In many places there are reserved parking spaces for motorists portraying a Handicap Parking Placard or License Plate. Parking spaces marked with the International symbol of access for persons with disabilities are only to be used by vehicles displaying a valid placard or license plate with this symbol, and only when transporting the person who was issued the placard or plate. It is illegal for anyone else to park in these spaces and may result in a fine.”  

The person with a disability must be the driver or a passenger in the vehicle when the disability parking space is used.

Disability plates can only be displayed on a specific vehicle registered or leased by the person with the disability.

Disability placard travels with the person with the disability, that is, any vehicle that transports the disabled person carrying the Disability placard may park in those exclusive spaces. (Effective October 28, 2018, the permanent disability placard no longer has an expiration date and re-certification is not required to issue a replacement. Temporary disability placards are valid for six months at which time a new certification must be completed by an authorized physician).

Organizations that transport disabled individuals, such as nonprofits, can also be eligible to receive disability parking placards or license plates.

In order to apply, the person needs to complete the Hearing Impaired Plate/Placard Application found at bit.ly/3MdA2oT.

Legal guardians of a disabled person under 18 years old need to sign and provide their relationship to the applicant to receive handicap plates or placards.

For more information: azdot.gov/mvd.

PHOENIX – More than 400 formerly incarcerated individuals have completed a job-skills training program in trucking, a field that is currently in high-demand. The CDL program is a collaboration between the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR), Department of Economic Security (DES), the Phoenix Truck Driving Institute, and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Since the program began, nearly 100 of the participants have earned their commercial driver license (CDL) and are working in the trucking industry.

The program, part of the Second Chance Center, allows certain inmates to obtain their commercial learner's permit (CLP) before release. ADOT and ADCRR provide the curriculum prior to release from prison. Thanks to these partnerships, offenders are able to immediately enroll at the Phoenix Truck Driving Institute, or other CDL schools, to obtain their commercial driver license. ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division works to address any license or identification issues. The program also works with the traffic courts to address any fines or issues upon successful completion of the program. MVD personnel also assist with the medical exam process for inmates as all commercial drivers must have a medical certificate.

“This is a great example of collaboration between state agencies to reduce recidivism and the shortage of commercial drivers,” said Eric Jorgensen, director of ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division. “A commercial driver license really enhances the chances of getting a job because of the need in the industry.”

The program was launched at the Eagle Point Unit of Arizona State Prison Complex - Lewis as one of several career focused programs for inmates working towards their release at the Second Chance Center. This program was recently expanded to the Second Chance Center at the women’s Perryville Prison last November. So far, 76 women have completed the program prior to release from prison and are now able to pursue their CDLs in the community.

“We are extremely grateful for the collaborative efforts by everyone involved in this program, including state and local agencies, as well as community partners,” said David Shinn, director of ADCRR. “Programs such as this are crucial opportunities that help people change their lives as they return to the community.”

Currently, this program is also provided through virtual avenues at other prisons and may be expanded to additional state prisons in the future.

The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.