A. If a vehicle is operated on a highway without payment of the registration or certificate of title transfer fee, the fee is delinquent. If the fee is not paid before the date on which the vehicle is required to be registered for the current registration year, the department shall collect a penalty. The penalty is eight dollars for the first month of delinquency and four dollars for each additional month, not to exceed a total penalty of one hundred dollars. Registration of a vehicle in the name of the applicant for the year immediately preceding the year for which the application for registration is made is prima facie evidence that the vehicle has been operated on the highways during the year for which the application for registration is made.

Ask a traffic law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified traffic lawyers.
Parking violations, accidents, DUI/DWI, licensing, registration, and more
Protect your vehicle and your rights with expert legal help now
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 28-2162

  • Certificate of title: means a paper document or an electronic record that is issued by the department and that indicates ownership of a vehicle. See Arizona Laws 28-101
  • Department: means the department of transportation acting directly or through its duly authorized officers and agents. See Arizona Laws 28-101
  • Director: means the director of the department of transportation. See Arizona Laws 28-101
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • highway: means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way if a part of the way is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See Arizona Laws 28-101
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Mobile home: means a structure that is transportable in one or more sections, including the plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical systems that are contained in the structure, and that, when erected on site, is either of the following:

    (a) More than eight body feet in width, thirty-two body feet or more in length and built on a permanent chassis. See Arizona Laws 28-2001

  • Month: means a calendar month unless otherwise expressed. See Arizona Laws 1-215
  • Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215
  • State: means a state of the United States and the District of Columbia. See Arizona Laws 28-101

B. Except as provided in section 28-5807, an applicant shall submit the total annual registration fee, the weight fee, any other required fee and the penalty prescribed in subsection A of this section with an application for registration of a vehicle that is submitted after the date the vehicle was required to be registered for the registration year in which registration of the vehicle for the next preceding year expired. If it is determined at the time of renewal, on proof satisfactory to the director, that the vehicle was not operated on the highways of this state before the filing of the application and the registration of the vehicle, the department shall refund or waive the penalty prescribed in subsection A of this section.

C. A registration fee and any penalty added to the fee are a lien on the vehicle on which they are due from the due date. The department may collect the fee and penalty by seizure of the vehicle from the person in possession of the vehicle, if any, and by sale as provided by law.

D. The director shall prescribe the method of readily identifying on the license plate the current registration date of the license plate.

E. A person who fails to apply for a certificate of title for any mobile home or other vehicle that is not registered under this title within thirty days after acquiring the mobile home or vehicle shall pay an additional fee equal to the penalty prescribed in subsection A of this section.

F. If a person who is licensed pursuant to chapter 10 of this title applies for a dismantle certificate of title for a vehicle pursuant to section 28-2094, the department shall waive any penalties that relate to the vehicle and that are imposed pursuant to this section.