Vehicle registration plates of Arizona


The U.S. state of Arizona first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1912. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to issue plates.
Plates are currently issued by the Arizona Department of Transportation through its Motor Vehicle Division. Only rear plates have been required since 1989.
In Arizona, the license plate belongs to the vehicle owner. This allows for the transfer of a plate from one vehicle to another.

Passenger baseplates

1914 to 1955

1956 to present

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association, and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 issue was the first Arizona license plate that complied with these standards.

County coding

Non-passenger plates

1997 to present

1980 to 1996

Optional plates

Arizona offers its motorists a number of optional issue designs that are available upon the payment of an additional fee.
ImageTypeFirst issuedSerial formatNotes
Arizona CentennialOctober 30, 2011A1234Z
A1234C		Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2011 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Arizona was so honored.
Arizona DiamondbacksApril 4, 2007DB12345
Arizona Highways Magazineearly 20091AH2345
Arizona Historical SocietyJune 2007AH123
Arizona State UniversityA1234C1234 D1234
Choose Lifeearly 200912CL34
Conserving WildlifeW/A12345
Donate Life/Be an Organ DonorB1ABC
Early Detection Saves LivesMarch 26, 2006JK1234
EnvironmentalOctober 1, 1992
December 27, 1994 		E12341234E123E412E341E234EA·1234 Originally had yellow serial; this was changed to black due to poor visibility.
Former Prisoner of WarA12
Fraternal Order of PoliceL/E1234
FreedomJanuary 14, 20071FR2345
Gold Star FamilyMay 2009B123Serials are surface-printed.
Historic Route 66December 19, 2016RT1234Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2016 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time Arizona was so honored.
Home of the ApacheMarch 2007C123E4
Honoring Fallen OfficersNovember 2007FP12345Serials are surface-printed.
It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a ChildAC·12345
It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child – Disabled PersonAC·1234Wheelchair embossed to left of serial
Live the Golden RuleNovember 2007LM12345Serials are surface-printed.
Medal of Honor123
National GuardN1234
Navajo NationSeptember 2003B/A1234
Northern Arizona UniversityV1234
Pets Enrich Our LivesMay 2005C1234
1234C
Phoenix SunsMay 5, 20091PS2345Serials are surface-printed.
Professional Fire FightersF/F1234
Purple Heart1234
A State of Good CharacterSeptember 2005A12B34
VeteranV/T1234
Veteran – Disabled PersonV/T123Wheelchair embossed to left of serial.
University of ArizonaP1234
S1234
University of PhoenixF/A1234
White Mountain ApacheNovember 2007WM123
123WM		Serials are surface-printed.