Arizona driving laws

The rules your permit test asks about, in plain English. Each one is quoted from Arizona’s statutes or an official MVD page. Handbooks are often years out of date, so where the law has changed we follow the law. Checked October 2, 2026.

Phones and texting

No driver may hold or support a phone or other electronic device while driving, or read or write texts on one; hands-free and voice-to-text use is allowed. Permit holders and new Class G teen drivers may not use a phone at all except in an emergency (new Class G drivers may also use audible navigation).

Official wording (6 sources)
  • “a person may not operate a motor vehicle on a street or highway if the person does either of the following: 1. Physically holds or supports with any part of the person's body either of the following”
    azleg.gov
  • “1. At least $75 but not more than $149 for a first violation. 2. $400 for a second or subsequent violation. 3. An additional $150 if a violation results in an accident with a motorcycle.”
    azleg.gov
  • “A permittee may not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless communication device for any reason except during an emergency in which stopping the motor vehicle is impossible or will create an additional emergency or safety hazard.”
    azleg.gov
  • “for the first six months that a class G licensee holds the license, the licensee may not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless communication device for any reason except either”
    azleg.gov
  • “When using an audible turn-by-turn navigation system if both of the following apply: (a) The destination is not manually entered into the wireless communication device while the licensee is driving the motor vehicle.”
    azleg.gov
  • “For a first violation, is subject to a maximum civil penalty of $75. The department shall extend the restriction prescribed by subsection D, E or F of this section for thirty days”
    azleg.gov

Alcohol and drugs (DUI)

It is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08 or more, or while impaired to the slightest degree. The limit is 0.04 in a commercial vehicle, and drivers under 21 may not have any alcohol in their body. Refusing a test means a 12-month suspension.

Official wording (8 sources)
  • “If the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more within two hours of driving or being in actual physical control of the vehicle”
    azleg.gov
  • “If the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle that requires a person to obtain a commercial driver license as defined in section 28-3001 and the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more.”
    azleg.gov
  • “For a person who is under twenty-one years of age to drive or be in physical control of a motor vehicle while there is any spirituous liquor in the person's body.”
    azleg.gov
  • “the violator's license or permit to drive will be suspended or denied for twelve months, or for two years for a second or subsequent refusal within a period of eighty-four months”
    azleg.gov
  • “Shall be sentenced to serve not less than ten consecutive days in jail and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence unless the entire sentence is served. 2. Shall pay a fine of not less than $250.”
    azleg.gov
  • “at the time of sentencing the judge may suspend all but one day of the sentence if the person completes a court ordered alcohol or other drug screening, education or treatment program or evidence-based psychotherapy.”
    azleg.gov
  • “the department shall suspend the affected person's license or permit to drive or right to apply for a license or permit or any nonresident operating privilege for not less than ninety consecutive days from that date.”
    azleg.gov
  • “For a period of two years on receiving the record of the person's conviction for a violation of section 4-244, paragraph 34, section 28-1381 or section 28-1382.”
    azleg.gov

Seat belts and child seats

Everyone in the front seat must buckle up, and the driver must make sure every passenger under 16 is buckled. Police can ticket for this only after stopping you for something else. Children under 5 must ride in a child restraint, and children 5 to 7 who are 4'9" or shorter must use a child restraint such as a booster seat.

Official wording (5 sources)
  • “Each front seat occupant of a motor vehicle that is designed for carrying ten or fewer passengers”
    azleg.gov
  • “shall require each passenger under sixteen years of age to either”
    azleg.gov
  • “A peace officer shall not stop or issue a citation to a person operating a motor vehicle on a highway in this state for a violation of this section unless the peace officer has reasonable cause to believe there is another alleged violation of a motor vehicle law of this state.”
    azleg.gov
  • “a person shall not operate a motor vehicle on the highways in this state when transporting a child who is under five years of age unless that child is properly secured in a child restraint system.”
    azleg.gov
  • “shall require each passenger who is at least five years of age, who is under eight years of age and who is not more than four feet nine inches tall to be restrained in a child restraint system.”
    azleg.gov

Move Over law

When you approach any stopped vehicle that is showing flashing or warning lights, move to a lane not next to it if the road has at least two lanes your way. If you can't change lanes safely, slow down and proceed with caution.

Official wording (3 sources)
  • “If a person who drives a vehicle approaches a stationary vehicle and the stationary vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing lights or is displaying warning lights, the person shall do either of the following”
    azleg.gov
  • “If changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions.”
    azleg.gov
  • “A person who violates subsection E of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $275”
    azleg.gov

School buses

Drivers going either direction must stop for a school bus that has stopped with its stop signal out and red lights flashing, and wait until it moves or the signals are off. You do not have to stop if the bus is on a separate roadway; a two-way left-turn lane does not create one.

Official wording (4 sources)
  • “On meeting or overtaking from either direction a school bus that has stopped on the highway, the driver of a vehicle on a highway shall”
    azleg.gov
  • “Not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the signal and alternately flashing lights are no longer displayed.”
    azleg.gov
  • “The driver of a vehicle on a highway with separate roadways need not stop on meeting or passing a school bus that is: 1. On a different roadway.”
    azleg.gov
  • “a lane or group of lanes on either side of a two-way left turn lane is not considered a separate roadway.”
    azleg.gov

Speed limits

Where no other limit applies, driving faster than 15 mph approaching a school crossing, 25 mph in a business or residential district, or 65 mph elsewhere is evidence of unsafe speed. Rural interstates are 65 mph unless ADOT raises them, up to 75 mph.

Official wording (4 sources)
  • “1. Fifteen miles per hour approaching a school crossing. 2. Twenty-five miles per hour in a business or residential district. 3. Sixty-five miles per hour in other locations.”
    azleg.gov
  • “the speed limit for all types of motor vehicles is sixty-five miles per hour on the interstate system highways located outside of an urbanized area with a population of fifty thousand or more persons”
    azleg.gov
  • “The director may order the increase of the maximum speed limit prescribed in subsection A of this section to seventy-five miles per hour”
    azleg.gov
  • “A vehicle shall not proceed at a speed of more than fifteen miles per hour between the portable signs placed on the highway indicating that there shall be no passing”
    azleg.gov

After a crash

After a crash that injures or kills someone, you must stop, help the injured, and tell the police immediately by the quickest means. In any crash with an attended vehicle you must stop and exchange name, address, registration and license. Arizona sets no damage threshold or deadline for a driver's own written report.

Official wording (4 sources)
  • “The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of a person shall give notice of the accident immediately by the quickest means of communication, whether oral or written, to either”
    azleg.gov
  • “Give the driver's name and address and the registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving. 2. On request, exhibit the person's driver license to the person struck”
    azleg.gov
  • “In a conspicuous place in the vehicle struck, leave a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle doing the striking.”
    azleg.gov
  • “investigates a motor vehicle accident resulting in bodily injury, death or damage to the property of any person in excess of $2,000 or the issuance of a citation shall complete a written report of the accident”
    azleg.gov

Insurance

Arizona requires liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, and $15,000 for property damage (25/50/15).

Official wording (2 sources)
  • “For a policy that is issued or renewed beginning on July 1, 2020, except for a policy that is issued to a person that has a valid certificate of self-insurance or partial self-insurance pursuant to section 28-4007”
    azleg.gov
  • “(i) $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident. (ii) Subject to the limit for one person, $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident. (iii) $15,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.”
    azleg.gov

Motorcycle helmets

Motorcycle riders and passengers under 18 must wear a helmet. Every operator must wear glasses, goggles or a face shield unless the motorcycle has a protective windshield.

Official wording (3 sources)
  • “An operator or passenger of a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or motor driven cycle who is under eighteen years of age shall wear at all times a protective helmet on the operator's or passenger's head in an appropriate manner.”
    azleg.gov
  • “An operator of a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or motor driven cycle shall wear at all times protective glasses, goggles or a transparent face shield of a type approved by the director unless the motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or motor driven cycle is equipped with a protective windshield.”
    azleg.gov
  • “A motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle or motor driven cycle operated with a passenger shall be equipped with a seat and footrests for the passenger.”
    azleg.gov

Motorcycle permit rules

You can get a Class M instruction permit at 15 years 6 months after passing the written test. It lasts 7 months, and you can get no more than two in 24 months. Permit riders may not carry passengers, ride on freeways or interstates, or ride between sunset and sunrise.

Official wording (5 sources)
  • “A person who is at least fifteen years and six months of age may apply to the department for an instruction permit for a class M license.”
    azleg.gov
  • “The permit is valid for seven months from the date of issuance.”
    azleg.gov
  • “On a public highway from sunset to sunrise or when there is insufficient light to clearly discern a person and a vehicle on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet. D. The department shall not issue more than two class M permits to the same person within twenty-four months.”
    azleg.gov
  • “Permit Restrictions You may not: Carry passengers Ride on freeways or interstates Ride between sunset and sunrise Ride when visibility is less than 500 feet”
    azdot.gov
  • “The applicant has held an instruction permit issued pursuant to section 28-3156 for at least six months”
    azleg.gov

Lane splitting

Arizona allows lane filtering only: a two-wheeled motorcycle may pass vehicles stopped in its lane at up to 15 mph, on a road with at least two lanes in its direction and a speed limit of 45 mph or less. Lane splitting in moving traffic is illegal.

Official wording (2 sources)
  • “The operator of a two-wheeled motorcycle may overtake and pass another vehicle that is stopped in the same direction of travel and in the same lane as the operator and may operate the motorcycle between lanes of traffic if the movement may be made safely”
    azleg.gov
  • “Has a speed limit that does not exceed forty-five miles per hour. 2. Travels at a speed that does not exceed fifteen miles per hour.”
    azleg.gov

This page summarizes the law for study purposes and is not legal advice. Laws change; confirm with Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division.

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