Arizona DMV Guide: Permit, License, and Road Test
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Getting your Arizona instruction permit is a clear process once you know the steps. This guide covers the age rules, required documents, the knowledge test, and what happens afterward, all handled through the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).
Requirements and fees can change, so use this as a general guide and confirm the current details with the Arizona MVD before you go. Checking the document and appointment requirements online first, and bringing originals rather than copies, is the easiest way to keep your visit short and walk out with your permit the same day.
15 years 6 months
Permit age
30
Test questions
24 (80%)
To pass
$7
Permit fee
Step by step: getting your Arizona permit
Step 1: Confirm you meet the age requirement
In Arizona you can generally apply for an instruction permit at 15 years and 6 months. Applicants under 18 usually need a parent or guardian to sign and consent to the application, and that adult typically supervises early practice. Knowing your eligibility date ahead of time lets you line up your documents so there is no last-minute scramble at the office.
Step 2: Gather your documents
Bring documents that prove your identity, your Social Security number, and that you live in Arizona. Arizona uses a points-based document system, so check that your documents add up to what is required.
- Proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or passport
- Proof of your Social Security number
- Proof of Arizona residency
- Parent or guardian consent if you are under 18
Step 3: Study the official driver manual
Read the Arizona driver license manual so you recognize the signs, signals, and right-of-way rules the test covers. Combining the manual with this practice test is the most reliable way to prepare. Tackle one chapter at a time and practice those questions before moving on, which helps the rules stick instead of running together.
Step 4: Pass the knowledge test
Take the 30-question written test and score at least 80 percent, which is 24 correct, to pass. Many applicants find practicing beforehand removes most of the test-day nerves.
Step 5: Complete the vision screening and pay the fee
You will take a quick vision screening and pay the permit fee. Once you pass, your instruction permit is generally issued promptly.
After you pass the knowledge test
With your Arizona permit you can practice driving while supervised by a licensed adult who is at least 21 and seated next to you. Arizona uses a graduated licensing system, so plan on a holding period and a required log of supervised hours, including night driving, before you qualify for the road test. Treat every practice drive as a chance to build the habits the examiner will look for.
Tips for Arizona new drivers
Practice handling sun glare with clean windows and a good pair of sunglasses, and learn to read freeway signs early in heavy Phoenix and Tucson traffic. Never drive into a flooded wash, slow down in monsoon rain and dust, and keep your permit with you whenever you drive. Get comfortable merging at freeway speed during quieter hours first, then work up to rush hour, and always check your tires and coolant before long desert trips where help can be far away.
Arizona permit and test fees
$7
Non-travel Class G instruction permit issuance. No separate knowledge test fee is listed on the fee page.
A restricted instruction permit costs $3 and a duplicate instruction permit costs $2. Arizona also offers the permit test at home or in an office through AZ MVD Now.
Arizona permit restrictions and supervised driving
While you hold the permit
Supervised practice: 30 hours of supervised practice including 10 at night (or 20 hours including 6 at night if an approved driver education program was completed); road test waived entirely if a full driver education class is completed
Hold period: 6 months (or until age 18) holding a Graduated Instruction Permit (Class G); the 6 months starts when the permit is issued in an office
- Must have a licensed driver age 21 or older seated beside the permit holder
- Permit holder must be at least 15 years and 6 months old and have passed the knowledge test
- Instruction permit is valid for 12 months
After you upgrade (provisional/intermediate)
- First 6 months: no driving midnight to 5 a.m. (exceptions for work, school or religious activity, family emergency, or with a licensed guardian)
- First 6 months: no more than one passenger under 18, unless siblings or a licensed parent/guardian is seated beside the driver
- No use of cell phones or wireless devices while driving, except emergencies or audible navigation
- Restrictions apply for the first 6 months or until age 18
Restriction details change. Confirm current rules with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.
Arizona road test requirements
A road test of driving skill required after completing either supervised-practice option (waived if a full driver education class is completed).
What to bring
- Graduated Instruction Permit (Class G)
- Parent or legal guardian signature/approval for applicants under 18
- Proof of completed supervised practice hours
Vehicle requirements
- A vehicle in safe operating condition for the road test
Arizona driver handbook summary
Arizona MVD presents teen licensing as a guided four-step Class G roadmap from instruction permit to graduated license to a regular license at 18. The materials emphasize multiple paths to qualify, pairing supervised-practice hour options with driver education that can reduce hours or waive the road test. Restriction flyers and the driver license manual back the knowledge test and reinforce night, passenger, and phone rules.
Practice for the Arizona test
The fastest way to pass is to rehearse real test format. Our Arizona questions are balanced across the categories the MVD tests.
Find a MVD office in Arizona
Most permits are issued in person. Find your nearest MVD location before you go, and check whether you need an appointment.
Map results come from Google and may include third-party services. Always confirm the office location, hours, and whether an appointment is required on the official MVD website before visiting.
Official Arizona sources
Arizona licensing FAQ
How much does the Arizona permit cost?
$7. Non-travel Class G instruction permit issuance. No separate knowledge test fee is listed on the fee page. A restricted instruction permit costs $3 and a duplicate instruction permit costs $2. Arizona also offers the permit test at home or in an office through AZ MVD Now. See the full Arizona fee breakdown and official source on our permit cost page.
What score do I need to pass the Arizona written test?
The Arizona knowledge test has 30 questions and you must answer 24 correctly (80%) to pass.
How many supervised driving hours does Arizona require?
30 hours of supervised practice including 10 at night (or 20 hours including 6 at night if an approved driver education program was completed); road test waived entirely if a full driver education class is completed. Confirm the current requirement and any logging rules with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.
How old do I have to be for an Arizona permit?
Generally 15 years and 6 months. Confirm the current rules with the Arizona MVD.
What documents do I need?
Proof of identity, your Social Security number, proof of Arizona residency, and parental consent if you are under 18.
Do I have to take a test?
Yes. You take a 30-question written knowledge test and a vision screening to get your permit.
Is there a fee?
Yes, a permit fee applies. Check the current amount with the Arizona MVD.