Where to Get a Travel ID in Arizona: MVD and Third-Party Offices

You can get a Travel ID in Arizona at any Motor Vehicle Division field office or at an authorized third-party driver license location that offers full services. Both issue the same gold-star credential, which has been required since May 7, 2025, to board a domestic flight or enter a restricted federal building without a passport or other federally accepted ID.¹ The choice between an MVD office and a third-party shop usually comes down to hours, location, and whether you mind paying a convenience fee.

MVD Field Offices

The Arizona Department of Transportation runs MVD field offices throughout the state. These are the standard government counters, and you can locate the nearest one through the directory at azdot.gov.²

Standard hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with limited services after 4:45 p.m. One scheduling quirk trips people up: on the second Wednesday of every month, offices don’t open until noon.³ Walk-ins are accepted, but booking an appointment through AZMVDNow.gov is faster, especially at busy metro offices.²

Authorized Third-Party Locations

Arizona also licenses private businesses to handle driver licensing on the state’s behalf. These shops often keep longer or more flexible hours than government offices, which helps if you can’t get away during a weekday. One catch: not every third-party location can issue a Travel ID. You need one specifically listed as “Full Service,” so confirm before you drive over.⁴

Third-party offices add a convenience fee on top of the state fee. The amount varies by business and must be posted visibly at the location.⁵ ADOT’s online directory lets you filter for full-service providers in your area.

What To Bring to Either Location

Walking in without the right paperwork is the single most common reason people have to come back a second time. Every Travel ID application requires original or certified documents in three categories. Photocopies won’t be accepted, and the technician will scan each document into the state system during your visit.

Identity and Legal Presence

Bring one primary document that proves who you are and that you’re legally in the United States. A certified U.S. birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport, or a permanent resident card are the usual options. If your current legal name differs from the name on that document because of marriage, divorce, or a court order, bring the certificate or decree that connects the two names.

Social Security Number

You need to verify your SSN. The easiest proof is your Social Security card, but a W-2 or 1099 showing the full number also works.

Arizona Residency

Two documents from different sources must show your name and current Arizona street address. Utility bills, bank or credit card statements, insurance documents, and government-issued mail all qualify, and each must be dated within the last 90 days.¹ A P.O. box doesn’t count; the address has to be a physical residence.

If you don’t have a fixed address, there’s still a path. A letter on letterhead from a homeless shelter, transitional service provider, halfway house, or religious institution certifying where you stay can serve as one of the two residency documents. An Arizona Address Confidentiality Program letter or authorization card also qualifies.⁶

How Much a Travel ID Costs

The state fee for a Travel ID driver license depends on your age at application:⁷

Age 39 and younger: $25
Age 40 to 44: $20
Age 45 to 49: $15
Age 50 and older: $10

If you’re getting a Travel ID as an identification card rather than a driver license, the fee is $12 for ages 0 to 64. Applicants 65 and older, and recipients of Supplemental Security Income, pay nothing for the ID card version.⁸

Both MVD and third-party offices accept credit cards, checks, and cash. At a third-party shop, remember that the business’s own fee is added on top of the state amount.

Start Online First

Before you head to either type of office, go to AZMVDNow.gov and begin your application. The portal lets you enter your personal information digitally and generates a code that the technician scans at the counter, which cuts your in-person time considerably.¹

What Happens at the Visit

At the counter, the technician reviews and scans your identity, Social Security, and residency documents, takes your photo, and collects the fee. Once everything checks out, you leave with a paper temporary credential that’s valid until the real card arrives. If you need an extra copy of that temporary, you can print a duplicate at home through AZMVDNow.gov.⁹

The permanent card with the gold REAL ID star arrives by mail in about two weeks.¹ It’s good for up to eight years in most cases, though drivers aged 60 and older receive a five-year card.

Renewals and Replacements

One thing worth knowing before your Travel ID expires: unlike a standard Arizona license, which you can often renew online, a Travel ID renewal requires an in-person visit so staff can take a new photo and re-verify your documents.¹⁰ If the card is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can order a replacement online at AZMVDNow.gov for $12, and the replacement keeps your existing photo. If you want a new photo, you’ll need to visit an MVD or full-service third-party location in person.¹¹

1
Department of Transportation – AZdot.Gov. Arizona Travel ID
2
Department of Transportation. MVD Hours and Locations
3
Department of Transportation. MVD Office Hours
4
Department of Transportation. Authorized Third Party Driver License Locations
5
Department of Transportation – AZdot.Gov. Authorized Third Party Services
6
Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Voluntary Travel ID Identification Requirements
7
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-3002 – Fees; Driver Licenses; Disposition; Exemption
8
Department of Transportation – AZdot.Gov. Fees (Driver License)
9
Arizona Department of Transportation. You Can Now Print Duplicate Temporary Driver Licenses or IDs at Home
10
Department of Transportation – AZdot.Gov. Renew Your License
11
Department of Transportation. Replace Your Driver License/Identification Card