1. A. A person may request a personalized plate online through the Department’s authorized electronic service provider or complete and submit to the Department the special plate application form provided on the Department’s website at www.azdot.gov.

   1. 1. An applicant shall provide the following information on the form:

      1. a. Name of the vehicle’s owner or lessee;
      2. b. Vehicle owner’s or lessee’s mailing address;
      3. c. Vehicle’s make and year;
      4. d. Vehicle identification number;
      5. e. Vehicle’s current plate number;
      6. f. Date the vehicle’s current registration expires;
      7. g. Plate number to appear on the personalized plate;
      8. h. Meaning or message of the personalized plate; and
      9. i. Other information required by the Department.
   2. 2. If an applicant is purchasing the personalized plate as a gift for the vehicle’s owner or lessee, the applicant shall also provide the applicant’s name and mailing address.

2. B. The Department shall reject the application if the requested plate number:

   1. 1. Refers to or connotes breasts, genitalia, pubic area, buttocks, or relates to sexual or eliminatory functions;
   2. 2. Refers to or connotes the substance, paraphernalia, sale, use, purveyor of, or physiological state produced by any illicit drug, narcotic, or intoxicant;
   3. 3. Expresses contempt for or ridicule or superiority of a class of persons;
   4. 4. Duplicates another registered plate number;
   5. 5. Has connotations that are profane or obscene; or
   6. 6. Uses linguistics, numbers, phonetics, translations from foreign languages or upside-down or reverse reading to achieve a reference or connotation prohibited under subsection (B)(1), (B)(2), (B)(3), or (B)(5).

3. C. Rejection of application.

   1. 1. If the Department does not issue personalized plates to an applicant, the Department shall inform the applicant by mail.

   2. 2. An applicant may make a written appeal by letter for a review of the rejection, within 10 days after the date of the Department’s notice, to the following address:

      Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division

      Special Plates Unit, Mail Drop 801Z

      P.O. Box 2100

      Phoenix, Arizona 85001-2100.

4. D. Revocation of personalized plates; appeal.

   1. 1. If the Department determines that a personalized plate should not have been issued because it contains a plate number prohibited under subsection (B), the Department shall require the plate holder to surrender the plates to the Department within 30 days after the date of the Department’s mailed notice, unless the plate holder requests an appeal under subsection (C)(2).
   2. 2. A person who has been directed to surrender a personalized plate may submit a written appeal by letter as prescribed under subsection (C)(2).

   3. 3. Refund of personalized plate fees on revocation.

      1. a. The Department shall refund the amount of the personalized plate fee and the prorated amount of the special annual renewal fee to the person holding the revoked personalized plate along with any credit or refund calculated by the Department.
      2. b. A person whose plate is revoked may request that instead of a refund, the Department issue the person a different personalized plate. The person shall apply for the personalized plate as prescribed under subsection (A).
   4. 4. The Department shall cancel a revoked personalized plate if the plate holder does not surrender the plate within 30 days after the date of the Department’s notice or, if the plate holder timely requests an appeal, within 30 days after the Department issues a final decision.

Historical Note

Former Rule, General Order 25. Former Section R17-4-09 renumbered without change as Section R17-4-310 (Supp. 87-2). Transferred to R17-1-310 (Supp. 92-4). New Section recodified from R17-4-708 at 7 A.A.R. 3479, effective July 20, 2001 (Supp. 01-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 8 A.A.R. 4227, effective November 15, 2002 (Supp. 02-3). Amended by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 4695 (December 26, 2025), effective February 1, 2026 (Supp. 25-4).