Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-3153 (2026)

Driver license issuance; prohibitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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28-3153. Driver license issuance; prohibitions

A. The department shall not issue the following:

1. A driver license to a person who is under eighteen years of age, except that the department may issue:

(a) A restricted instruction permit for a class D or G license to a person who is at least fifteen years of age.

(b) An instruction permit for a class D, G or M license as provided by this chapter to a person who is at least fifteen years and six months of age.

2. A class D, G or M license or instruction permit to a person who is under eighteen years of age and who has been tried in adult court and convicted of a second or subsequent violation of criminal damage to property pursuant to section 13-1602, subsection A, paragraph 1 or convicted of a felony offense in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used, including theft of a motor vehicle pursuant to section 13-1802, unlawful use of means of transportation pursuant to section 13-1803 or theft of means of transportation pursuant to section 13-1814, or who has been adjudicated delinquent for a second or subsequent act that would constitute criminal damage to property pursuant to section 13-1602, subsection A, paragraph 1 or adjudicated delinquent for an act that would constitute a felony offense in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used, including theft of a motor vehicle pursuant to section 13-1802, unlawful use of means of transportation pursuant to section 13-1803 or theft of means of transportation pursuant to section 13-1814, if committed by an adult.

3. A class A, B or C license to a person who is under twenty-one years of age, except that the department may issue a class A, B or C license that is restricted to only intrastate driving to a person who is at least eighteen years of age.

4. A license to a person whose license or driving privilege has been suspended, during the suspension period.

5. Except as provided in section 28-3315, a license to a person whose license or driving privilege has been revoked.

6. A class A, B or C license to a person who has been disqualified from obtaining a commercial driver license.

7. A license to a person who on application notifies the department that the person is an alcoholic as defined in section 36-2021 or a drug dependent person as defined in section 36-2501, unless the person submits a medical examination report that includes a current evaluation from an addiction counselor indicating that, in the opinion of the counselor, the condition does not affect or impair the person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

8. A license to a person who has been adjudged to be incapacitated pursuant to section 14-5304 and who at the time of application has not obtained either a court order that allows the person to drive or a termination of incapacity as provided by law.

9. A license to a person who is required by this chapter to take an examination unless the person successfully passes the examination.

10. A license to a person who is required under the motor vehicle financial responsibility laws of this state to deposit proof of financial responsibility and who has not deposited the proof.

11. A license to a person if the department has good cause to believe that the operation of a motor vehicle on the highways by the person would threaten the public safety or welfare.

12. A license to a person whose driver license has been ordered to be suspended for failure to pay child support, except that a noncommercial restricted license may be issued pursuant to section 25-518.

13. A class A, B or C license to a person whose license or driving privilege has been canceled until the cause for the cancellation has been removed.

14. A class A, B or C license or instruction permit to a person whose state of domicile is not this state.

15. A class A, B or C license to a person who fails to demonstrate proficiency in the English language as determined by the department.

B. The department shall not issue a driver license to or renew the driver license of the following persons:

1. A person about whom the court notifies the department that the person violated the person's written promise to appear in court when charged with a violation of the motor vehicle laws of this state until the department receives notification in a manner approved by the department that the person appeared either voluntarily or involuntarily or that the case has been adjudicated, that the case is being appealed or that the case has otherwise been disposed of as provided by law.

2. If notified pursuant to section 28-1601, a person who fails to pay a civil penalty as provided in section 28-1601, except for a parking violation, until the department receives notification in a manner approved by the department that the person paid the civil penalty, that the case is being appealed or that the case has otherwise been disposed of as provided by law.

C. The magistrate or the clerk of the court shall provide the notification to the department prescribed by subsection B of this section.

D. Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall not issue to or renew a driver license or nonoperating identification license for a person who does not submit proof satisfactory to the department that the applicant's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. For an application for a driver license or a nonoperating identification license, the department shall not accept as a primary source of identification a driver license issued by a state if the state does not require that a driver licensed in that state be lawfully present in the United States under federal law. The director shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection. The rules shall include procedures for:

1. Verification that the applicant's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.

2. Issuance of a temporary driver permit pursuant to section 28-3157 pending verification of the applicant's status in the United States.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases, 1999–2018 · leading case: Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Janice Brewer, 855 F.3d 957 (9th Cir. 2017).

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Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Janice Brewer, 855 F.3d 957 (9th Cir. 2017). · cites it 10× “Because Arizona law requires that applicants for a driver’s license submit proof that their presence is “authorized under federal law,” Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-3153 (D)—and DACA “confers no substantive right [or] immigration status”—Arizona felt justified withholding licenses from…”

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Janice Brewer, 757 F.3d 1053 (9th Cir. 2014). · cites it 5× “” Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 28-3153(D). Arizona does not further define “presence .”

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Brewer, 81 F. Supp. 3d 795 (D. Ariz. 2015). · cites it 7× “” A.R.S. § 28-3153(D). Before the announcement of the DACA program, the Motor Vehicle Division (“MVD”) of ADOT accepted all federally-issued EADs as sufficient evidence that a person’s presence in the United States was authorized under federal law, and therefore granted driver’s…”

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Brewer, 818 F.3d 901 (9th Cir. 2016). · cites it 2× “” Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 28-3153(D). Prior to the Arizona Executive Order, ADOT Policy 16.”

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Brewer, 945 F. Supp. 2d 1049 (D. Ariz. 2013). · cites it 4× “” A.R.S. § 28-3153(D). Before the announcement of the DACA program, the Motor Vehicle Division (“MVD”) of ADOT accepted all federally-issued EADs as sufficient evidence that a person’s presence in the United States was authorized under federal law, and therefore granted driver’s…”

Valenzuela v. Ducey, 329 F. Supp. 3d 982 (D. Ariz. 2018). · cites it 9× “Because Arizona created a new immigration classification when it adopted its policy regarding driver's license eligibility, it impermissibly strayed into an exclusive domain that Congress, through the INA, delegated to the executive branch.”

State v. Heinze, 993 P.2d 1090 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “§ 21-201 (West Suppv1998) (excluding from right to serve as trial or grand juror, a person who has been convicted of a felony and not had civil rights restored); A.R.S. § 28-3153(A)(2) (West Supp.1998) (precluding issuance of class D or M driver's license or instruction permit…”

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Janice Brewer (9th Cir. 2014). · cites it 5× “” Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 28-3153 (D). Arizona does not further define “presence .”

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-3153(A)(2) — 1 case

State v. Heinze, 993 P.2d 1090 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1999). “§ 21-201 (West Suppv1998) (excluding from right to serve as trial or grand juror, a person who has been convicted of a felony and not had civil rights restored); A.R.S. § 28-3153(A)(2) (West Supp.1998) (precluding issuance of class D or M driver's license or instruction permit…”

— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-3153(D) — 5 cases

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Janice Brewer, 757 F.3d 1053 (9th Cir. 2014). “” Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 28-3153(D). Arizona does not further define “presence .”

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Brewer, 81 F. Supp. 3d 795 (D. Ariz. 2015). “” A.R.S. § 28-3153(D). Before the announcement of the DACA program, the Motor Vehicle Division (“MVD”) of ADOT accepted all federally-issued EADs as sufficient evidence that a person’s presence in the United States was authorized under federal law, and therefore granted driver’s…”

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Brewer, 818 F.3d 901 (9th Cir. 2016). “” Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 28-3153(D). Prior to the Arizona Executive Order, ADOT Policy 16.”

Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Brewer, 945 F. Supp. 2d 1049 (D. Ariz. 2013). “” A.R.S. § 28-3153(D). Before the announcement of the DACA program, the Motor Vehicle Division (“MVD”) of ADOT accepted all federally-issued EADs as sufficient evidence that a person’s presence in the United States was authorized under federal law, and therefore granted driver’s…”

Valenzuela v. Ducey, 329 F. Supp. 3d 982 (D. Ariz. 2018). “Because Arizona created a new immigration classification when it adopted its policy regarding driver's license eligibility, it impermissibly strayed into an exclusive domain that Congress, through the INA, delegated to the executive branch.”

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