Titling a Car in Arizona After Moving From Another State
Last verified: October 2026 against Arizona DOR and Arizona Revised Statutes sources
Once you are an Arizona resident, your car must be registered in Arizona to be driven on the highways.
Here is how to convert your title and what it costs.
Step by step
- 1
Register once you are a resident
A car must be registered in Arizona, or properly registered in the owner’s state of residence, to be driven on the highways. As a resident, that means Arizona.
- 2
Convert your out-of-state title
Apply for an Arizona title. When you are only converting an out-of-state title and the ownership does not change, one owner can sign the application.
- 3
Check emissions testing
Vehicles registered in the Phoenix (area A) and Tucson (area B) areas need an emissions inspection.
- 4
Apply at MVD or a third party provider
Bring your out-of-state title and identification to MVD or an authorized third party provider.
- 5
Pay the fees and vehicle license tax
The title is $4, registration is $8 ($9 for a motorcycle), and the air quality fee is $1.50.
The vehicle license tax is paid every year: $2.89 per $100 of value after the first year, where the value starts at 60% of the base retail price and drops 16.25% a year. The minimum is $10.
What to bring
- Your out-of-state title
- The odometer reading
- MVD’s title and registration application
- Your identification
- An emissions inspection, if you live in the Phoenix or Tucson area