Verified A.R.S. §28-2532 · Checked October 2026 · 4 sources
What an expired-registration ticket costs in Arizona
First offense A.R.S. §28-2532
$300 civil penalty, dismissed if you register
Verified October 2026 against the sources on this page
Operating an unregistered (or expired-registration) vehicle in Arizona carries a civil penalty of $300 (A.R.S. §28-2532), but the same statute orders the court to dismiss the case if you obtain the appropriate plates or registration after the violation. Fix it and the $300 disappears. The civil penalty applies as soon as the vehicle is not registered for the current registration year, and ADOT separately adds a late penalty under A.R.S. §28-2162 of $8 for the first month of delinquency plus $4 for each additional month, capped at $100, unless you renew on or before the due date.
By Mario Bailey
What to do now
- 1
Register now, dismissal is mandatory
A.R.S. §28-2532 requires the court to dismiss the case once you obtain the appropriate plates or registration after the violation. Fix it and the $300 civil penalty disappears.
- 2
Bring proof of the renewed registration to court
Dismissal on compliance is written into the statute itself, so the paperwork showing you registered is what closes the case.
- 3
Not the owner? Tell the court
Courts may also waive the penalty for an operator who was not the vehicle’s owner.
Arizona at a glance
- Grace period
- None
- Misdemeanor?
- No, civil violation
- Dismissed if you renew?
- Yes, mandatory once registered
- Late renewal fee
- $8, then $4 a month, $100 max
First offense, ordinary passenger vehicle. Each label compares Arizona with every verified state.
Is driving on expired tags a crime in Arizona?
No, it is a civil violation with a $300 penalty, and one built for compliance: registration after the fact requires dismissal, and a court may also decline to penalize a driver who wasn’t the vehicle’s owner.
Can it be dismissed?
Yes, mandatory: “A court shall dismiss an action brought under this section if the defendant obtains the appropriate license plates or registration after violating this section” (A.R.S. §28-2532). Courts may also waive the penalty for an operator who was not the owner.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an expired-registration ticket in Arizona?
The civil penalty is $300 under A.R.S. §28-2532, but the statute requires the court to dismiss the case if you obtain proper registration after the violation, so registering promptly usually erases it.
Will an Arizona expired-registration ticket be dismissed if I renew?
Yes, dismissal is mandatory once you obtain the appropriate plates or registration, per the statute’s own text. Bring proof of the renewed registration to court.
Sources
This summary was checked against the following sources on the date shown above. Fines and fees change, verify before relying on specifics.
- A.R.S. §28-2532, official text (Arizona Legislature)
- A.R.S. §28-2532 (FindLaw)
- A.R.S. §28-2162, delinquent registration penalty, official text (Arizona Legislature)
- ADOT MVD, Vehicle Registration (late fees)
Read next
- ARS 28-2532: Arizona Expired Registration Law, Explained
- Va. Code 46.2-646, plainly: what Virginia's expired registration law says and costs
- How to Get an Expired Registration Ticket Dismissed
- How much is a ticket for driving without registration? Eight states, from the statutes
Other tickets in Arizona
Driving Without Insurance in Arizona
Expired Registration: other states
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General legal information, not legal advice. Statutes and penalty schedules summarized from the sources above as of October 2026.