The following is a brief description of special driver license and vehicle services available to military personnel. For information on other exemptions, see our Vehicle Registration Tax Exemptions page.

Vehicle Services

Registration Renewal

Arizona residents on active military duty stationed out-of-state may renew a vehicle registration online or by phone using a major credit card, or by mail:

• Online
• Phone toll free at 888-713-3031
• Mail (pay by check or money order only)
      Motor Vehicle Division
      4005 N 51st Ave
      MD 540M
      Phoenix AZ 85031-2688
  

If you own a vehicle that is located out of state at the time of registration renewal and is required to be emissions tested, you may apply for an out-of-state emissions exemption from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

If a vehicle registration expires and the vehicle is not being driven or is in storage, a Registration Penalty Fee Waiver, Non-Use may be signed at the time of registration to waive the late registration penalties.

If you wish to maintain the current registration on a vehicle that you own or lease, but it is temporarily not being used, you may submit a De-Insured Certificate online.

If applying for or renewing an exemption, the registration renewal must be made by mail or in person, with the required proof of eligibility indicated below.

Resident Exemptions

Special Military Exemption – This exemption allows for the renewal of a vehicle registration for one year without payment of the vehicle license tax and registration fees. There a two eligibility types.

Current or former member of the:

• US Armed Forces regular component, reserve component or National Guard, who served on active military duty outside of Arizona in support of a worldwide contingency operation of the US Armed Forces, and who is an Arizona resident and the owner/lessee of the vehicle.
• Arizona National Guard regular or reserve component, who served in Operations Enduring Freedom or Noble Eagle, and who is an Arizona resident and the owner/lessee of the vehicle.

Each exemption applies to no more than two vehicles.

Each exemption is available for any one registration year from the date of deployment until one year after discharge.

If you qualify for both exemptions, they may be claimed in different registration years, if still eligible.

Each vehicle requires a separate exemption form.

A spouse, surviving spouse or legally designated representative may request an exemption on behalf of a qualifying owner/lessee who is serving on active duty, who remains listed as missing in action, or who died while serving on active duty. The date of death must be in the current or previous registration year.

Motor vehicles owned or leased must have been currently registered in Arizona in the member’s name on the date orders were received to report to active military duty.

The applicant must ensure all other registration requirements are met, and submit a completed Special Military Exemption form at the time of registration.

Qualified individuals who already paid vehicle license tax and registration fees while eligible for the exemption, are not entitled to a refund but may apply the paid tax and fees to that motor vehicle’s next registration year.

100% Disabled Veteran - A veteran owning or co-owning a vehicle is exempt from payment of vehicle license tax or registration fee, if the veteran is certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be 100% disabled and drawing compensation on that basis. The exemption also applies to the surviving spouse, until remarriage, and to only one vehicle or any replacement of the vehicle owned by the veteran or the surviving spouse.

VA Financial Aid - A veteran residing in Arizona is exempt from payment of vehicle license tax or registration fee for a vehicle or a replacement vehicle acquired by financial aid from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption applies to only one vehicle or any replacement of the vehicle owned by the veteran.

Nonresident Exemptions

Active duty military personnel or Public Health Service (PHS) Officers stationed in Arizona who are not Arizona residents are not required to pay the vehicle license tax portion of the annual vehicle registration.

To register a vehicle, nonresident active duty military personnel must:

1. Provide an affidavit for vehicle license tax exemption of nonresident service personnel issued and certified by the commanding officer.
   
   
2. Meet all applicable vehicle emissions test requirements.
   
   
3. Pay a registration fee and if applicable, commercial registration and weight fees, motor carrier fees and/or any late registration penalty fees that may apply.

When the nonresident service member is assigned overseas and the spouse or dependent must remain in Arizona, the exemption still applies if the nonresident service person’s name appears on the vehicle title. The nonresident service person must have been on military assignment in Arizona at the time the overseas orders were issued.

This applies only to vehicles owned or leased by the applicant and is reduced by the number of registered owners on the vehicle (Example: If husband and wife are both registered owners of the vehicle and only one is active duty, then 50% of the vehicle license tax is due). A new exemption affidavit must be submitted each year.

Driver License & Identification Card Services

Automatic Military Extension – Even if the expiration date on your license is passed while you are on active military duty, your license will remain valid for up to 6 months from the time you leave military service.

You may notify us of your active military duty status when you apply for your Arizona driver license. Or, submit copies of the front and back of your military ID card and your most recent earnings/leave statement by mail to:

Mail Drop 510M Motor Vehicle Division PO Box 2100 Phoenix AZ 85001-2100

5-Year Driver License – Military personnel and dependents stationed in Arizona may visit any MVD office to apply for, or to renew a 5-year license.

Duplicate Driver License – We began storing digital driver license photos in July 1995. If a digital photo is on file, military personnel and their dependants may obtain a duplicate driver license.

To obtain a duplicate license you have three options:

• Online - $12.00, MC\Visa\AmEx\Discover credit cards only
• Phone - $12.00, MC\Visa credit cards only

• Mail - Send a letter requesting a duplicate license to the address below; include your name, address, driver license number and date of birth. Make check for $12.00, payable to Motor Vehicle Division. Please allow four weeks.

  MAIL DROP 510
  MOTOR VEHICLE DIVISION
  PO BOX 2100
  PHOENIX AZ 85001-2100
  

Reinstatement of a Suspended Driver License – Qualified applicants may also reinstate a suspended driver license online or by phone using a major credit card.

If your license was issued before July 1995, you must visit an MVD office to obtain a duplicate or reinstated license so that your photo may be updated.

Reinstatement of a Revoked Driver License – A revoked license can not be reinstated online or by phone. Please see the FAQs for more info.

Photo Update – All licensees are required to update their photo and pass a vision test every 12 years. However, if we have recorded your active military status this requirement will not apply.

Renew-by-Mail – If a digital photo is not currently on file with us, then military personnel and their dependants stationed out-of-state, may renew an Arizona driver license by mail. We will issue the new credential indicating “Valid Without Photo” until you are able to visit an MVD office to update the photo. Contact Us for details.