The AZ licensing action explained
After a DUI arrest in Arizona, the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (azdot.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
The request for an administrative hearing is due within 15 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the AZ agency runs the licence case
- A DUI arrest or a test refusal can trigger administrative suspension handled by ADOT's Motor Vehicle Division.
- The MVD's DUI suspension pages explain that an arrest triggers implied-consent licence consequences separate from the criminal case.
- The MVD issues restricted driver permits for eligible DUI suspensions through its licence reinstatement programme.
- Arizona's interlock requirement uses a Certified Ignition Interlock Device (CIID), described in the MVD's interlock FAQ.
- MVD reinstatement application fees are tiered by age, with additional fees to complete reinstatement.
Arizona licence facts
Arizona DUI law at a glance
Sourced from the Arizona code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DUI (Arizona)
- Controlling statute
- Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-1381
- Implied consent
- Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-1321
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 15 days after arrest
- Prior-offense lookback
- 7 years
- First-offense fine
- at least $1,250
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 10 days
- Licence suspension
- 3 months
- Ignition interlock
- Required on a first offense in most cases
- Trial court
- the Justice Court or Municipal Court
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 3 years
A first offense carries a mandatory minimum jail term and an ignition interlock requirement.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an approved ignition interlock device — Arizona requires one in most first-offense cases.
- Arizona requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before a licence is reinstated after a DUI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on azdot.gov before you travel to an office.
Arizona ZIP codes covered
These Arizona ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
- 85013 — Phoenix
- 85015 — Phoenix
- 85024 — Phoenix
- 85031 — Phoenix
- 85041 — Phoenix
- 85225 — Chandler
- 85262 — Scottsdale
- 85284 — Tempe
- 85301 — Glendale
- 85320 — Aguila
- 85325 — Bouse
- 85625 — Pearce
- 85630 — Saint david
- 85634 — Pisinemo
- 85635 — Sierra vista
- 85922 — Blue
- 85927 — Greer
- 85928 — Heber
- 85937 — Snowflake
- 86045 — Tuba city
- 86047 — Winslow
- 86053 — Kaibito
- 86314 — Prescott valley
- 86323 — Chino valley
Counties and cities using these Arizona resources
Counties
Other Arizona official resources
Frequently asked questions
- How long do I have to challenge a Arizona licence suspension?
- The administrative hearing request is due within 15 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the AZ licensing agency at azdot.gov before relying on it.
- How long is a first-offense suspension in Arizona?
- A first DUI offense generally carries a 3 months suspension in Arizona. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.