Arizona Class D License: Requirements, Tests, and Insurance

The Arizona Class D license is the state’s standard driver license for passenger vehicles up to 26,000 pounds. To get one, you must be at least 18, show proof of identity, your Social Security number, and Arizona residency, pass a 30-question written test and an in-vehicle road exam, and pay a fee between $10 and $25 depending on your age.

What a Class D License Lets You Drive

A Class D license is defined by vehicle weight, not by how you use the vehicle. It covers any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,000 pounds or less, including cars, SUVs, vans, full-size pickups, and autocycles.¹

You can tow in two situations. A trailer or second vehicle rated at 10,000 pounds or less can go behind a vehicle rated at 26,000 pounds or less. You can also tow something heavier than 10,000 pounds, but only if the combined rating of both vehicles stays under 26,001 pounds.¹

Above those weight limits, or if you carry passengers or freight for hire, you need a commercial driver license instead.

Age Requirements

The unrestricted Class D license starts at 18.² If you are 16 or 17, you apply for a Class G license, Arizona’s graduated version, which converts to a full Class D at 18.

Class G applicants must be at least 16, hold an instruction permit for six months, and complete one of three training paths:²

An ADOT-approved driver education program
A certified defensive driving school program plus 20 hours of parent-certified supervised practice, 6 of them at night
30 hours of parent-certified supervised practice, 10 of them at night

During the first six months on a Class G license, you cannot drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. except for work, school-sponsored activities, religious activities, or family emergencies, and you cannot carry more than one passenger under 18 unless a parent or guardian is in the car.²

Documents You Need to Bring

The Motor Vehicle Division requires documents in three categories: proof of identity, your Social Security number, and proof of Arizona residency. These are mandatory if you choose the Travel ID version, and identity and residency still need to be verified for the standard license.

Identity

Bring one primary identity document, such as an original or certified birth certificate, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card, permanent resident card, or certificate of citizenship. If your current legal name differs from the identity document, bring a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing the change.³

Social Security Number

You must give the MVD your full Social Security number, but you do not need the physical card. The number is verified electronically.³

Arizona Residency

Two documents from different sources must show your name and current Arizona residential address. Utility bills, bank statements, insurance policies, and government documents all qualify. P.O. boxes do not. If you cannot produce two, an Arizona Residency Affidavit can substitute for one, but you still need at least one standard residency document alongside it.³

Standard License or Travel ID

Arizona issues the Class D in two versions. The standard card works for driving and general identification. The Travel ID, marked with a star in a circle, is Arizona’s REAL ID–compliant credential and is accepted at TSA airport security checkpoints.³

Since May 7, 2025, a standard Arizona license is no longer accepted for boarding domestic flights. To fly, you need a Travel ID, a U.S. passport, or another federally approved ID.³ International travel still requires a passport regardless of which license you carry. If you already hold a standard license, you can upgrade at any MVD office by bringing the identity and residency documents and having a new photo taken.

The Written Knowledge Test

The written exam has 30 multiple-choice questions drawn from the Arizona Driver License Manual, covering traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices.⁴ You need 80% to pass, or 24 correct answers out of 30.⁵ The test is available in multiple languages and can be taken at an MVD office or through an authorized third-party provider.

The Road Skills Test

Once you pass the written test, an MVD examiner or approved third-party tester rides with you for an in-vehicle road exam. The examiner scores vehicle control, lane changes, signaling, yielding, and general traffic law compliance. Before you drive, expect to locate and demonstrate your hazard lights, high beams, windshield wipers, and defroster, and to confirm that your speedometer and seat belt work.⁶

The vehicle you bring must be in good operating condition with valid registration and current liability insurance. Out-of-country insurance is not accepted. If you use a rental, your name must appear on the rental agreement.⁶ Only one road test attempt is allowed per day. Fail, and you come back another day.

Fees

Arizona sets the license fee by your age at application or renewal, not a flat rate:⁷

Ages 16 to 39: $25
Ages 40 to 44: $20
Ages 45 to 49: $15
Age 50 and older, including five-year renewals: $10
Military or student limited license: $10

Insurance You Have to Carry

Arizona requires every driver to carry liability insurance or another form of financial responsibility. The minimum coverage amounts are $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage.⁸

Driving without insurance carries a minimum civil penalty of $500 on a first offense and a three-month suspension of your driving privileges.⁹

How Long the License Lasts

Arizona licenses run far longer than most states. If you get your license before age 60, it stays valid until you turn 65. After that, or if you first get licensed at 60 or older, you renew every five years. Every driver, regardless of expiration date, must update the photo and pass a vision screening every 12 years.

Most renewals can be done online.¹⁰ You will need to visit an MVD office or authorized third-party location in person if you need a new photo, need a vision test, or want to upgrade to a Travel ID. If your license has been expired more than a year, expect to retake the written exam.

The vision screening requires uncorrected vision of at least 20/40 in one eye. If you only meet that standard with glasses or contacts, your license will carry a “B” restriction requiring corrective lenses while driving.¹¹

1
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28 – Transportation 28-3101 – Driver License Classes
2
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28 – Transportation 28-3174 – Class G Driver Licenses; Restrictions; Civil Penalties; Motorcycles
3
Department of Transportation. Arizona Travel ID
4
Department of Transportation. Permit Test (at Home or in an Office)
5
Department of Transportation. Practice Tests
6
Department of Transportation. Road Tests
7
Department of Transportation. Fees (Driver License)
8
Arizona DIFI. Vehicle Insurance – Consumer Information
9
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28 – Transportation 28-4135 – Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Requirement; Civil Penalties
10
Department of Transportation. Renew Your License
11
Department of Transportation. Medical and Vision Screening