Other Arizona Vehicle Registrations

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Beyond the standard passenger car or pickup, Arizona MVD registers trailers, motorcycles, RVs, off-highway vehicles, classic and historic vehicles, and special-use vehicles. Each class has its own fee schedule and a few class-specific rules. Most can be processed at AZ MVD Now or at any ATP that handles registration services.

Trailers

Arizona offers two trailer registration paths:

Standard trailer registration — renewed annually with a VLT calculation similar to passenger vehicles. Travel trailers, utility trailers, and most commercial trailers fall here.
Permanent trailer plate — available for non-commercial utility trailers and certain travel trailers. The owner pays a one-time fee (about $135 plus VLT for the year) and the trailer never needs to be re-registered. The permanent plate transfers to a new owner with the trailer.

Boat trailers, horse trailers, and similar non-commercial utility trailers are usually best registered as permanent. A trailer must still be titled at every change of ownership even if it carries a permanent plate.

Motorcycles

Motorcycle registration follows the standard passenger-vehicle rules — same Vehicle Use Tax (5.6% state plus local), same VLT calculation, same 1-, 2-, or 5-year cycle. The only differences:

Motorcycle endorsement required on the operator's Class D license, or a Class M-only license. The endorsement requires passing a separate skills test or completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course.
Helmets are required by Arizona law only for riders and passengers under 18. Adult riders are not required to wear helmets but must wear eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windshield.
Motorcycle insurance must meet the same 25/50/15 minimum — see Arizona car insurance.

Off-highway vehicles (OHVs)

ATVs, UTVs, side-by-sides, dirt bikes, and similar off-road equipment must display an Arizona OHV decal if operated on any public lands or roads. The decal is renewed annually at $25 and is purchased through Arizona Game and Fish or AZ MVD Now. Vehicles operated only on private property don't need the decal but still need a title at sale or transfer. OHVs operated on certain Arizona "street-legal" routes — with full lighting, mirrors, and turn signals — can be street-titled and registered the same as a motorcycle for limited on-road use.

Recreational vehicles (RVs)

Self-propelled RVs (motorhomes Class A, B, and C) register the same way as passenger vehicles, with one wrinkle: large Class A motorhomes are subject to the same VLT calculation as a luxury car, which can make the first-year bill significant. Owners of seasonal RVs that aren't driven year-round may use the non-operational status through AZ MVD Now to pause registration during off-months. Travel trailers and fifth wheels are titled and registered as trailers (see above) and qualify for the permanent trailer plate if non-commercial.

Classic and historic vehicles

Arizona offers two specialty plate options for older vehicles:

Classic Car plate — for vehicles 25 years or older, with restrictions limiting use to club activities, parades, exhibitions, and casual pleasure driving (not daily commuting). Annual VLT is reduced.
Historic Vehicle plate — for vehicles 30+ years old, with similar use restrictions. The plate may also display the vehicle's original year-of-manufacture license plate as a substitute, subject to MVD approval.

Both classes are exempt from the Phoenix and Tucson emissions inspection requirement.

Salvage and rebuilt titles

Arizona issues a salvage title on vehicles totaled by an insurance carrier. Once the vehicle is repaired, the owner can apply for a rebuilt title after a Level III VIN inspection by Arizona Department of Public Safety (ADPS) authorized inspectors. The rebuilt title displays a permanent "rebuilt" notation that follows the vehicle through any future title transfer. Insurance carriers typically rate rebuilt vehicles in a higher-risk class, and resale value is depressed compared to a clean-title equivalent.

Commercial and IRP vehicles

Vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds operated for commercial purposes register under the International Registration Plan (IRP) with apportioned plates that recognize travel across multiple states. IRP registration is processed through Arizona MVD's Commercial Permits group, not through AZ MVD Now. Owners of single-state commercial vehicles under 26,000 pounds register through the standard vehicle registration path, with a higher VLT-equivalent fee for the commercial weight class.