Change Information on Vehicle Registration in Arizona

In Arizona, the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), a division of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), is responsible for both vehicle registration and title records. Updates to these records may become necessary when an owner changes address, changes legal name, discovers an error on the registration or title, purchases a vehicle, establishes residency in Arizona, or transfers a license plate. These transactions can generally be handled in any of three ways: online through AZ MVD Now, at an MVD or Authorized Third Party office, or by mail.

Arizona Vehicle Registration Changes that Commonly Require Action

A registration review may be required when any of the following occurs on the vehicle registration and vehicle titles:

A physical or mailing address has changed; Arizona law requires an owner to report an address change within 10 days.
A legal name has changed, which also affects the driver record and vehicle registration records.
An owner name is added to or removed from a registration or title.
A vehicle has been purchased or transferred, triggering the 15-day title application requirement.
A person has moved to Arizona and become a resident, which starts the state registration requirement.
A license plate must be removed before a vehicle is sold and the registration transferred to a newly acquired vehicle.
A registration receipt, tab, or plate has been lost, damaged, or shows incorrect information.

Where to File an Arizona Vehicle Registration Change

Arizona administers registration and title records at the state level, so both routine changes and title corrections are filed through the Motor Vehicle Division. Transactions may be handled in three ways:

Online through AZ MVD Now, including registration renewal, address updates, registration replacement with a decal, sold notices, and eligible cases of electronic title transfer.
In person at any MVD or Authorized Third Party office; first-time registration of a vehicle brought from another state requires an office visit.
By mail to the MVD at PO Box 29008, Phoenix, AZ 85038, for registration renewals, or to PO Box 2100, MD 555M, Phoenix, AZ 85001, for title applications.

Registration items may be updated online at renewal, while changes to the title record require a title and registration application (Form 96-0236), the current title, and the applicable fee. Buyers and sellers in Arizona who meet eligibility requirements may transfer ownership entirely online through eTitle Transfer without an office visit.

Arizona Address Changes on Vehicle Registration

Arizona law requires an address change to be reported within 10 days, and the change of address is completed free of charge. When the address is updated at AZ MVD Now, it is changed automatically on the driver license record and on each vehicle registered to that address. The address may also be changed at an MVD office or over the phone.

Arizona Name Changes and Title-Linked Corrections

A legal name change affects both the driver record and the vehicle registration records and must be reported within 10 days of the change taking effect. The name change process requires an MVD office visit and begins with the Social Security Administration, because MVD verifies the Social Security number before updating records. Acceptable documents include a marriage license, a citizenship or naturalization document, a divorce decree, an adoption decree, or a court order.

A name change on the registration record is tied to the title record: to add or delete a name on a registration, the title must be changed using the same procedure as a title transfer. If the vehicle has an unpaid lien, written permission from the lienholder is required. When a paper title must be replaced to reflect the corrected record, the title replacement service on AZ MVD Now charges a $4.00 fee.

Correcting Incorrect Information on an Arizona Registration Record

The correction process depends on whether the error appears on the registration record or on the title record.

Items on the registration record may be corrected through AZ MVD Now, which offers registration replacement with a new decal once the underlying information is corrected. A replacement license plate costs $5.00, and the new plate is delivered with an updated registration and tab.

Errors in the title itself must be corrected through MVD. A lost, mutilated, or illegible title may be replaced by the owner of record with a $4.00 fee, but only the address and vehicle location address may be changed on a duplicate; the owner's name, legal status, lienholder, and vehicle information must remain the same. Adding or deleting a name, changing lien information, or otherwise correcting the title record requires a completed title application submitted with the most current title and any required lien documentation.

Arizona Deadlines for Vehicle Registration Changes

An address change must be reported within 10 days.
A legal name change must be reported within 10 days of the change taking effect.
A vehicle purchase must be titled within 15 days of purchase to avoid penalty, as stated in the MVD's vehicle title guidance.
A new resident must register the vehicle as soon as residency is established; under ARS 28-2533, knowingly failing to register an out-of-state vehicle for the first time in Arizona carries a civil penalty of $300.
Proof of Arizona insurance must be submitted within 30 days after initial registration.
Registration renewal is due on the date shown on the registration document, on either the 15th or the last day of the month; the initial late fee is $8, plus $4 for each month the registration is overdue, not to exceed $100.
A Sold Notice should be submitted promptly after a sale or transfer, within 10 days, to protect the seller from liability for fees and violations that occur after the sale.
Registration is generally issued for 1, 2, or 5 years, depending on emissions requirements, and new residents should confirm the assigned registration period at first registration.

How Much Does It Cost To Change Vehicle Registration Details in Arizona?

Arizona vehicle registration and title records are administered by the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), which charges flat fees for title transactions and inspections and calculates registration from a fixed fee set plus a vehicle license tax. The current amounts for the most common changes are listed in the table below.

Registration Change or Service	Fee
Change of address on registration	Free (MVD address-change page)
Title fee (new title, title transfer, or name/owner/lienholder change)	$4 (MVD vehicle title page)
Duplicate (replacement) title — online or by mail	$4 (MVD vehicle title page)
Mobile home title	$7 per section (MVD vehicle title page)
eTitle Transfer (electronic ownership transfer)	No fee to use the service; buyer pays standard title and registration fees (MVD vehicle title page)
Duplicate vehicle registration or replacement tab	—
Replacement license plate (lost, stolen, or damaged)	$5, plus postage and handling (MVD vehicle services FAQ)
Registration components	$8 registration fee, $4 title fee, $1.50 air quality research fee, plus Vehicle License Tax—varies by vehicle value and age (ADOT fee breakdown)
Late registration	$8 initial fee, plus $4 for each month overdue, not to exceed $100 (MVD vehicle registration page)
VIN inspection — Level I (at an MVD office)	Free (MVD vehicle services FAQ)
VIN inspection — Level II	$20 (MVD vehicle services FAQ)
VIN inspection — Level III (restored salvage)	$50 (MVD vehicle services FAQ)
30-day general use, 90-day registration, or 90-day nonresident registration	$15 each (MVD vehicle services FAQ)

Contact Information

Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division
1655 W. Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 255-0072
Official Website: Motor Vehicle Division