In Arizona, the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Transportation (ADOT) maintains vehicle records. Like every state, it works within the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act, and Arizona adds its own rules in Title 28, Chapter 2, Article 5 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The practical effect is the same everywhere: a record request needs a reason.
The Arizona plate number search form
MVD uses a single document for driver and vehicle records: the Motor Vehicle Record Request, form 46-4416. The form explains that a permissible use is required for any record containing personal identifying information, and it lists every permissible use. You check the one that applies and sign.
The current form's fees:
| Record | Fee |
|---|---|
| Uncertified record, mail-in or in office | $3 |
| Uncertified record, drop-off | $2 |
| Certified record | $5 |
| Vehicle history (uncertified / certified) | $3 / $5 |
Fees are charged per record or document, and also when no record is found. On signatures, the form asks for a wet or electronic signature, while an MVD web page says the form's signature must be notarized or witnessed by an MVD agent; check the current instructions before you submit.
AZMVDNow and online records
If you're eligible, MVD says you can obtain and print a copy of a record online at AZMVDNow.gov. That's the quickest route for your own vehicle. For another person's record with personal details, the permissible-use rules apply online just as they do on paper.
AZ license plate lookup owner details
An AZ license plate lookup of the owner is possible only for the uses the law lists: government and law enforcement work, vehicle safety and theft matters, legitimate business verification, court proceedings, insurance claims, towing notices and a handful of others. Personal curiosity isn't one of them, and neither is finding someone who annoyed you in traffic. Without a permitted use, an Arizona license plate lookup, free or paid, won't return a name or address.
What to do instead
- After a collision or hit-and-run, report it to the police and give the plate to your insurer. Both can identify the owner lawfully.
- A vehicle left on your property: call local police or a licensed tow company. Notifying owners of towed vehicles is a permitted use.
- Buying a used car: check the title, the seller's ID and the VIN. Arizona gives buyers 15 days to apply for a new title after a private purchase; see our title transfer checklist.
- Your own car: use AZMVDNow.gov or the 46-4416 to get your own record.
Photos and highly restricted information
Some parts of a motor vehicle record are more protected than others. Arizona's form notes that photo records can be released only for a small number of its permissible uses, and federal law treats photographs, Social Security numbers and medical or disability information as "highly restricted," generally requiring the person's express consent. If your request involves any of these, read the form's permissible-use list closely before you send it.
Getting a request right the first time
- Pick one permissible use that genuinely fits, and be ready to show it, for example with a claim number or court case number.
- Check the plate and state. A plate from another state isn't in Arizona's system, and the fee is still charged when nothing is found.
- Decide on certified or not. Certified copies cost more and are mainly needed for court.
- Confirm the signature rules on the current form before mailing it.
If a request is for a vehicle you've already sold, keep in mind that the record shows the current owner; your own copy of the bill of sale is the better proof of when the car left your hands.
However you phrase it
However you phrase it, looking up a license plate in AZ leads back to the 46-4416 and its permissible uses, and a free AZ license plate search runs into the same rule: vehicle details may be available cheaply, owner details only with a lawful reason. An AZ plate search for curiosity simply isn't something MVD can answer.
Arizona plate number search: quick answers
Owner details come only through form 46-4416 and a permissible use. Vehicle details alone are easier to get. To look up a license plate number in AZ after a crash, start with the police report instead.
Arizona plate lookup FAQ
What form do I use for an Arizona vehicle record?
MVD's Motor Vehicle Record Request, form 46-4416. It lists the permissible uses under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act and Arizona law.
How much does it cost?
The current form lists $3 for an uncertified record by mail or in an office ($2 at a drop-off) and $5 for a certified record. Fees apply even when no record is found.
Can I get records online in Arizona?
If you're eligible, MVD says you can get and print a copy of a record online at AZMVDNow.gov.
Sources
- Arizona MVD: Motor vehicle records
- Arizona MVD: Motor Vehicle Record Request (46-4416)
- 18 U.S.C. 2721 (Driver's Privacy Protection Act)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Arizona MVD has the final word on its records.