AZ Vehicle Registration With Out of State License (rent, school)

[Captain-Jack]

If you move here from out of state and get your car registered as a vehicle in AZ, is it still okay to use your out of state driver's license, or do you need to replace that with an AZ license?

[YAZ]

Gotta switch. Have fun at the MVD. The cool thing is that it's good for a couple of decades.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Captain-Jack

If you move here from out of state and get your car registered as a vehicle in AZ, is it still okay to use your out of state driver's license, or do you need to replace that with an AZ license?

I'm a little confused on this one, Captain-Jack . . .

What would be the advantage of having a vehicle registered in Arizona while maintaining a Driver's License in another state?

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by Bummer

I'm a little confused on this one, Captain-Jack . . .

What would be the advantage of having a vehicle registered in Arizona while maintaining a Driver's License in another state?

I'll hazard a guess that some states are cheaper than others. I s'pose a lot of folks have dual residency too.

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by YAZ

I'll hazard a guess that some states are cheaper than others. I s'pose a lot of folks have dual residency too.

^^^Correct, snowbirds do who leave vehicles here, or there, that reside in two different States.

But if OP is going to be a permanent resident here, then he has 10 days upon residing here to re-register and get a AZ license.

[Captain-Jack]

Originally Posted by Bummer

I'm a little confused on this one, Captain-Jack . . .

What would be the advantage of having a vehicle registered in Arizona while maintaining a Driver's License in another state?

Obviously so I don't have to go through the hassle of spending hours at the DMV having to get a new one when my CA one isn't up for renewal.

However...if I'm registering my vehicle at the AZ DMV and getting new plates, does anyone know if I can get the new AZ license at the same time?

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Captain-Jack

Obviously so I don't have to go through the hassle of spending hours at the DMV having to get a new one when my CA one isn't up for renewal.

However...if I'm registering my vehicle at the AZ DMV and getting new plates, does anyone know if I can get the new AZ license at the same time?

If you are in fact establishing residency here, it doesn't matter that your CA license isn't up for renewal. Yes, you can do it at the same visit. I hope you won't have to stand in line twice, but you may not need to. I suspect that handling both those transactions is pretty common. You could call and ask about that. Also, which office you visit can affect how long you wait in line.

[sandy6879]

check into the 3rd Party places too. I'm not sure if they can do licenses - I think a few do, not all - but registrations are quick and easy there. We walked in and out of the place near us and had it done in 6 minutes the last time we registered a new car.

[Steve Pickering]

Answer one question and you will know what you have to do. Do you own or rent and maintain a residence in another state for at least 51% of the year ... now and in the coming year ... If the answer is no, than you must get a new license, even if the other has not expired. Both auto and you personally.

If you think you are not sure you are going to stay, than there is one other test. Are you working for wages or have kids in school? If the answer is yes and you have no other out of state residence, then again, you must license in Arizona immediately after starting work here.


PS. Many metro police units stake out employer parking lots. If you show up more than once or twice with out of state plates, they check to see if you work there

[wase4711]

so, if we move there from Chicagoland, we have only 10 days to change our drivers license and get new plates on our cars?
Seems kinda quick, IMO..I mean, I know you have to do it eventually, but, don't you get at least 60 days or so?

thanks for your help!