How to Get a Car Title in Arizona: Documents, Deadlines & Fees

To get a car title in Arizona, file a Title and Registration Application (Form 96-0236) with the Motor Vehicle Division within 15 days of buying the vehicle, together with the ownership documents that match your situation and payment for the title fee, registration fee, and Vehicle License Tax.1Department of Transportation. Vehicle Title You can file at an MVD office, at an authorized third-party provider, or, for some transactions, online through AZ MVD Now.

Documents to Bring

Every application starts with a completed Title and Registration Application (Form 96-0236), available on the Arizona Department of Transportation website or at any MVD office.2Department of Transportation. Title and Registration Application Fill in the vehicle identification number, the odometer reading, and every owner’s full legal name exactly as it appears on a government-issued photo ID.

The ownership document you bring depends on where the vehicle came from:

  • New from a dealer: the dealership provides a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin showing the vehicle has never been titled.
  • Used and already titled in Arizona: the seller signs over the existing Arizona title, or you use an Arizona Title Transfer Bill of Sale (Form 38-1306).1Department of Transportation. Vehicle Title
  • Out-of-state: surrender the current out-of-state title. If a lienholder holds that title, submit the out-of-state registration instead, along with proof of the lien.3Department of Transportation. Out-of-State Vehicles

If the vehicle had a loan that has since been paid off, bring a lien release from the lender. A title still showing an active lienholder without a release will stop the application.4Department of Transportation. Lien Release

Odometer Disclosure

Federal law requires an odometer disclosure on every title transfer, but older vehicles age out of it. A 2010 or older model year is exempt once it reaches 10 model years of age. A 2011 or newer model year isn’t exempt until it is 20 model years old.5AZDOT MVD. Statement of Error If the vehicle is exempt, skip the mileage field on the title assignment.

Proof of Arizona Residency

First-time applicants need two documents proving Arizona residency. Each must be mail from a business, organization, or government agency showing your name and physical residential address. Utility bills, rental agreements, and any mail from MVD all qualify.6AZdot.Gov. AZ DL/ID Requirements

The 15-Day Deadline and Late Penalties

Arizona gives you 15 days from the date of purchase to apply for a title.1Department of Transportation. Vehicle Title Miss it and penalties start at $8 for the first month you’re late, then $4 for every additional month, up to $100.7Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28-2162 – Delinquent Registration; Penalty; Lien; Failure to Apply for Certificate of Title; Waiver Those penalties are on top of the standard title and registration fees.

Inspections and Emissions

Most vehicles don’t need an inspection before titling, but two situations often trigger one.

A Level I VIN inspection verifies the number on the vehicle against your ownership documents. MVD requires it for vehicles lacking standard proof of prior title or registration, including most out-of-state or out-of-country vehicles with unclear documentation, and for all bonded title applications. An authorized MVD officer or designated law enforcement officer performs the check at an MVD office. Restored salvage vehicles, recovered stolen vehicles, and vehicles involved in a collision face a more detailed Level III inspection instead.8Department of Transportation. Vehicle Inspections

If you live in the Phoenix or Tucson metropolitan areas, your vehicle likely needs to pass an emissions test before titling and registration can be completed.9Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 49-542 Bring the passing certificate from a state-certified testing facility. Residents outside those areas are generally exempt.

Insurance Minimums

Arizona requires liability insurance on every vehicle operated on public roads, and coverage must be in place before you register. The minimum limits are:10Department of Transportation. What Is Mandatory Insurance

  • $25,000 for bodily injury to one person
  • $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more people
  • $15,000 for property damage

Your insurer must be authorized to do business in Arizona.

Fees and Taxes

The title fee itself is $4, and the registration fee is $8.11Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Registration Fees Schedule The larger charge is the Vehicle License Tax.

The VLT replaces a personal property tax on vehicles. It’s calculated on an assessed value of 60% of the manufacturer’s base retail price, and that assessed value drops 16.25% for each year the vehicle has been registered in Arizona.11Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Registration Fees Schedule The rate is $2.80 per $100 of assessed value for new vehicles and $2.89 per $100 for used vehicles, with a minimum VLT of $10 per year.12Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28-5801 – Vehicle License Tax Rate; Definitions

If you bought the vehicle from a private seller instead of a dealership, Arizona also collects a use tax when you title it. The state rate is 5.6%, and your city may add its own rate. If you paid sales tax on the vehicle in another state, Arizona credits that amount against what you owe. Bring your bill of sale so MVD can confirm the purchase price and any tax already paid.

Where to File

You have three options:

  • An MVD office, walk-in or by appointment, with no charge beyond the standard state fees.
  • An authorized third-party provider, which handles the same transactions and charges a convenience fee posted at the location.13Department of Transportation. MVD Hours and Locations
  • AZ MVD Now, the state’s online portal, for certain transactions including title replacements and eTitle transfers.

Be ready to pay all fees when you file. MVD offices and third-party providers accept multiple methods including cash and credit cards.

Choosing Between eTitle and Paper

Arizona lets you choose an electronic title stored in MVD’s system or a paper title mailed to your address. With eTitle, the record lives in your AZ MVD Now account under “My Vehicles,” and there’s nothing physical to lose.14Arizona Department of Transportation. Transferring Ownership of a Vehicle (eTitle Transfer) A paper title can take up to six weeks to arrive by mail.1Department of Transportation. Vehicle Title Physical plates, registration cards, and tabs typically arrive separately in about 15 days, and temporary documents can be printed immediately through AZ MVD Now. Either way, the ownership change takes effect in MVD’s system as soon as the transaction is processed.

Inherited Vehicles and Transfer-on-Death

When a vehicle owner dies, the transfer path depends on the estate. If the deceased person’s total personal property (including all vehicles) is worth $200,000 or less and the estate isn’t in probate court, you can use a Non-Probate Affidavit (Form 32-6901) to transfer the title. You must wait at least 30 days after the owner’s death, and you submit the affidavit with a Title and Registration Application. If two owners were listed on the title and both have died, file a separate affidavit for each.15Department of Transportation. Vehicle Title Transfer after Owner’s Death (Non-Probate Transfer) Estates over the $200,000 threshold or in probate need court-issued documents, such as letters testamentary, before MVD will process the transfer.

A sole owner can also name a beneficiary in advance who automatically receives the vehicle at death, bypassing probate.16Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-2055 – Certificate of Title; Content Requirements; Transfer on Death Provision The designation is added using Form 96-0561. With an eTitle, the form is submitted on its own; with a paper title, staple the form to the paper title and surrender both when the transfer eventually happens.17Arizona Department of Transportation. Beneficiary Designation – For Vehicle Title Transfer Upon Death There’s no fee to set it up.

When You Don’t Have Enough Paperwork: Bonded Title

If you can’t prove ownership through the standard documents, which happens with older cars, barn finds, or purchases where no title was signed over, Arizona offers a bonded title.18Department of Transportation. Bonded Title The process has four steps:

  • MVD inspects the vehicle to verify its identity against whatever documentation you have.
  • You sign a sworn affidavit explaining how you acquired the vehicle and why standard proof is missing.
  • MVD notifies any prior owners or lienholders on record, giving them a chance to respond or dispute your claim.
  • You buy a surety bond valued at one and a half times the vehicle’s appraised value.18Department of Transportation. Bonded Title

The bond protects any prior owner or lienholder who later surfaces with a valid claim. You pay a premium to a surety company rather than the full bond amount. The bond stays active for three years, after which the bonded notation is removed and the title becomes a standard Arizona title. During those three years you can still sell or insure the vehicle normally, though some buyers and lenders are cautious about bonded titles until the bond period expires.