For the buyer

Arizona buyers generally have 15 days after the transfer to apply for title. Bring the properly assigned Arizona title or another ownership document accepted for the transaction, your identification, and any applicable lien-release or supporting documents.

• Verify the VIN on the vehicle matches the ownership document.
• Make sure the seller information and signatures are completed correctly for the document being used.
• Odometer disclosure may be required depending on the vehicle and transaction.
• An emissions test may be needed before registration in an emissions area.

For the seller

• Complete the ownership transfer correctly and provide the buyer with the required document.
• Remove your Arizona plate from the vehicle when ownership transfers.
• Submit a Sold Notice promptly to protect yourself after the sale.

A brand-new vehicle normally starts with a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) rather than an existing state title. The MCO is surrendered as part of establishing the first Arizona title record.

Bring

• The original properly assigned MCO.
• Dealer invoice, purchase agreement or other required sale/tax documents.
• Valid identification for the owner(s).
• Lienholder information when the vehicle is financed.

For most standard out-of-state title transfers with sufficient ownership documentation, a Level I inspection is not automatically required just because the vehicle came from another state.

Common items to bring

• The original out-of-state title or applicable ownership document.
• Valid identification.
• Lien information or release documents, when applicable.
• Emissions compliance when required for registration.

If an out-of-state lienholder is holding the title, a registration-only or other process may be available depending on the record and state involved.

The word between owner names matters. Arizona uses the legal status to determine who can transfer ownership, record loan information, transfer plates/fees and handle the vehicle when an owner dies.

MVD issues a separate title for each section of a mobile home until the home is legally affixed to real property.

• Single-wide: one titled section.
• Double-wide: two titled sections.
• Triple-wide: three titled sections.

Tax clearance & affixture

Tax-clearance documentation can be required in mobile-home transactions, particularly when taxes are delinquent or the home is being moved. When a mobile home is permanently affixed to real property, its MVD title is surrendered through the affixture process.

Arizona trailer registration depends on use and declared gross vehicle weight (GVW). A trailer may qualify for regular or permanent registration.

• Noncommercial trailers with a declared GVW of 10,000 lbs or less generally qualify for permanent registration.
• Some trailers over 10,000 lbs also use permanent registration under different fee rules.
• Travel trailers and camper/tent trailers are not eligible for permanent registration.
• Commercial use can change the registration type and fee structure.

Bring the title/MCO or ownership document, ID, and any lien or supporting documentation applicable to the trailer.

A homemade trailer does not begin with a normal manufacturer-issued VIN or MCO, so additional documentation and inspection are used to establish identity and ownership.

Prepare before you arrive

• Keep receipts, bills of sale and other proof showing where major materials/components came from.
• Bring identification and any documents relating to the trailer or donor components.
• An inspection and Arizona-assigned serial number may be required before title and registration can be completed.

A salvage vehicle is not eligible for normal road registration until it has been repaired and completed the required restored-salvage process.

Restored salvage process

1. Repair the vehicle to roadworthy condition.
2. Complete the required Level III inspection through an ADOT Enforcement and Compliance inspection location.
3. Obtain emissions compliance if applicable.
4. Submit the title application and surrender the salvage ownership document.
5. Complete title and registration after the vehicle qualifies.

Level III inspections verify major component parts and that the vehicle is equipped for highway use. Keep receipts/invoices or other ownership records for repaired or replaced major components.

A title brand records a significant event or status in a vehicle’s history. Some brands may allow a vehicle to return to road use after the required process; others can permanently prevent normal registration.

• Salvage / Restored Salvage: indicates a major loss and, if restored, completion of the required state process.
• Flood-related brands: identify significant water-damage history and may accompany salvage/restored-salvage status.
• Junk / dismantled / crushed: can carry permanent restrictions that make the vehicle unsuitable for normal road registration.

Arizona generally maintains vehicle titles electronically. When a paper title is needed, the owner of record can request a replacement.

Common requirements

• Valid identification.
• Vehicle information such as the VIN or plate number.
• Authority documentation, such as an acceptable Power of Attorney, when someone is acting for the owner.

An active lien or other ownership condition may affect who can request the title or how the request must be handled.