License plates do more than identify your vehicle—they also add flair to your vehicle and open up opportunities to support initiatives in your home state. The Grand Canyon State, fortunately, has a grand assortment of the most intriguing plate customizations in the whole country.

We’ll go over Arizona license plates, including what they are, the different categories, and how to get one of your very own.

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What are Arizona license plates and why do I need them?

In addition to registering your vehicle and attaching your information to it, license plates display distinctive designs and regional appearances. They’re essentially identification tags for your car, so you’ll need to make sure your vehicle has one before driving.

If you want to sell your car and buy a new one, you’ll need to

transfer your plate

. If you get into an accident, license plates can help determine who is at fault. License plates also help

flag down stolen vehicles

. In many ways, license plates make order out of what can be the very chaotic world of vehicle ownership.

According to the

AZ MVD

, you need to display a license plate on the rear of your vehicle. It must be securely attached at least 12 inches from the ground to the bottom of the plate, and cannot be obscured or covered. Let’s take a look at some of the choices in Arizona.

What license plates does Arizona have?

There are more than 80 license plates to choose from in Arizona—from standard plates and specialty plates to digital plates!

Arizona license plates fall into three main categories:

Standard plates

, which you see out on the road most often. The current design features a desert scene.

Specialty plates

are a great way to personalize your car and support causes and organizations—Girl Scouts, Alzheimer’s Awareness, and Arizona Science Center are a few examples of specialty plates that are available with an application/donation fee.

Digital plates

are now available for registered vehicles in Arizona. The license plate number is displayed on a digital display tablet using LTE wireless technology.

There are also

special plates

that can be affixed to motorcycles, golf carts, trailers, horseless carriages, and more!

Standard license plates

The standard Arizona license plate features a lovely scene of a setting sun, purple mountains, and cacti. The phrase “Grand Canyon State” is displayed in dark green in the bottom right corner of the plate.

The standard plate was introduced in 1996 and was awarded “Plate of the Year” by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. Until 2020, license plates were issued sequentially—now they’re created and assigned by a random number generator. You can still, however, personalize your plate up to a maximum of seven characters.

Specialty license plates

Specialty plates cost $25 each year, $17 of which goes towards a designated charity or non-profit organization. In 2020, Arizona specialty plates raised $11 million for charities. In 2021, three specialty plates alone raised $3 million. Here are the 3 most popular plates:

Veteran: There are 15 veteran license plates, including Code Talker, Marine, and Women Veteran plates. You must be either a veteran or an immediate family member to be issued a Veteran license plate. $17 of the plate fee goes to the

AZ Department of Veterans Services

First Responder: The proceeds raised from these plates benefit the

100 Club of Arizona

, which provides financial assistance to surviving families of public safety officers and firefighters killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

Cardinals: These plates support programs designed to improve the lives of children, women, and minorities in Arizona. They can be personalized with a maximum of six characters and feature the Arizona football team’s logo of a cardinal bird.

Here are a few other specialty plates of interest:

Arizona State University: By opting for this plate, your payment goes towards the university for

academic scholarships

Route 66: Get your kicks with this historic plate! Fee proceeds go to

preserving the historical federal highway

Environmental: The

AZ State Land Department

puts the money from these plates towards environmental education and natural resource conservation programs.

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Digital license plates

Arizona approved digital license plates in 2019. These plates may only be displayed on an ADOT-approved display device and be authorized by the ADOT. The only authorized plate display manufacturer is

Reviver

. If you’re interested in one of these plates, prepare to pay a one-time purchase price of at least $500, plus a connection subscription fee.

In addition to displaying the plate characters on the screen, there are many benefits to switching to a digital license plate (also called Rplate), including:

Tamper-proofing and built-in anti-theft features that can display messages and notifications such as “stolen” or “invalid.”

Can display public emergency notifications, including Amber Alerts or Silver Alerts

No more waiting in line to renew your registration

Can participate in multiple specialty plate programs (charity plate money still goes to the designated recipients, but is displayed in grayscale)

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

How do I get an Arizona license plate?

Getting a new plate in Arizona is relatively straightforward—start by

registering your vehicle

at the ADOT office. If you want to try out a new design, you can change your chosen specialty plate when you

renew your registration

To register your vehicle in Arizona, you’ll need:

A completed

Title and Registration Application

Your notarized and signed vehicle title

A lien release (if applicable)

Emissions test (if you live in Phoenix or Tucson)

Fee payments

If you don’t have a title or other required documentation, you can apply for a 90-day registration for $15 while you wait for your other materials to arrive. You may also transfer vehicle ownership electronically using

eTitle Transfer

. If you simply need to replace your plates, follow the

plate replacement instructions

on the Arizona DOT website.

How to customize your car insurance for savings in Arizona

Now that you’ve customized your license plate, how about customizing your insurance?

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Just download the app to get started and answer a few questions. Jerry will return competitively-priced policies in your area and help you switch to your new, affordable, comprehensive plan. Saving on your car insurance has never been easier!

Pro tip: Before selecting a new policy, it's always best to brush up on your knowledge of

Arizona's minimum insurance coverage requirements

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FAQs

How many license plates does Arizona have?

Arizona has more than 80 license plates—15 new specialty plates were added in 2021, including Arizona Rodeo, Make-a-Wish Arizona, and VFW Auxiliary Arizona.

Do I need a front license plate in Arizona?

Nope! Arizona is one of 21 states that do not require front plates.

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