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Plate lookup · Arizona

Arizona License Plate Lookup

Enter a Arizona plate to find the vehicle's VIN, then decode it into year, make, model and factory specs.

Input · AZ plates · cached lookups

US plates only. We find the VIN for the plate, then decode it.

VIN for the plate · waiting for a lookup17 positions · no I, O or Q
1–3 · WMIMaker & country—
4–8 · VDSModel, body, engine—
9Check—
10Year—
11Plant—
12–17 · SerialUnique to this vehicle—

In Arizona, you must first register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to drive legally on public roads. Upon registration, you will be issued license plates for your vehicle. When buying a car from a dealership, you will need a temporary license plate, allowing you to drive the vehicle legally until you receive the permanent license plates. If you purchase a vehicle from an individual seller, you must apply for a restricted permit, which allows you to drive the vehicle for inspection, titling, registration purposes, and to return home. This permit is valid for only three days. It’s essential to conduct a license plate lookup or VIN check before finalizing your vehicle purchase. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-character code unique to each vehicle. You can find the VIN in the following locations:

  • Driver’s side door jamb (the part that clicks when the door is closed)
  • Car insurance and title documents
  • On trailers, at the front part of the frame on the driver’s side
  • On motorcycles, on the front frame

Classic Car Hideout!

Arizona’s climate, particularly in areas like Phoenix and Tucson, is so dry and sunny that it is one of the best places to find well-preserved vintage cars. The arid environment helps prevent rust and other weather-related damage, making Arizona a popular location for classic car collectors to find and restore old vehicles. This has contributed to a vibrant classic car culture in the state, with numerous car shows and auctions held throughout the year.

Where to find my Arizona plate number?

Typically, your license plate number is readily visible on the plate attached to your car. However, if you need to find your car’s license plate number without physical access to the vehicle, you can locate it on your Arizona vehicle registration document.

Arizona Vehicle Registration Letter

Getting a License Plate in Arizona

As a resident, once you register your car in Arizona, it is required to undergo an emissions test. Any emission test reports from other states are not recognized in Arizona. To complete the vehicle registration process, your vehicle must pass the local smog and emissions test.

However, some vehicles are exempt from this requirement. Exempt vehicles typically have the following characteristics:

  • They are five years old or newer.
  • They use alternative fuels.
  • They are gasoline-powered.
  • They were manufactured no later than 1967.

It’s important to note that vehicles meeting these criteria but have been modified must still undergo the emissions test.

Types of Vehicle License Plates in Arizona

There are two types of license plates available:

  • Standard License Plates: These feature the slogan “Grand Canyon State” and depict a setting sun behind a mountain.
  • Specialized License Plates: These come in various designs and are typically used by individuals who want to show support for a specific cause or college, or are members of certain organizations or institutions, such as charity or military license plates.

Type of Arizona license plates

To obtain a customized license plate, an additional fee is required. There are several rules to keep in mind when requesting personalized license plates:

  • The plates must not include vulgar language or symbols.
  • There is a specific limit on the number of characters that can be used.
  • Only numbers and capital letters are allowed on the plates.
  • You cannot select a plate number that is already in use.

The cost of vehicle registration in Arizona largely varies depending on the services required during the registration process. Whether it’s registering and titling your vehicle, obtaining a temporary permit to drive your vehicle to the DMV, or paying a license tax, you should visit the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles to determine the exact fees based on your specific needs.

Renewal of License Plates in Arizona

When your license plate registration expires, you must renew it to continue legally driving your vehicle in Arizona. The following items are required by law for license plate renewal:

  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
  • Your Identification Card
  • Renewal fee
01API

Look up Arizona plates in your app

  • POST a plate with state=AZ; get the VIN back
  • Decode that VIN on the same key: 22 fields per decode
  • BASIC includes 10 plate lookups a month, PRO 50, ULTRA 100; then $0.10 each
Get API key API docs
POST/api/v4/decode_plate
import os, requests

r = requests.post(
    "https://vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com/api/v4/decode_plate",
    data={"plate": "<plate>", "state": "AZ"},
    headers={
        "X-RapidAPI-Key": os.environ["RAPIDAPI_KEY"],
        "X-RapidAPI-Host": "vindecoder.p.rapidapi.com",
    },
    timeout=10,
)
vin = r.json()["data"]["vin"]
02States

Other states

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