Arizona drivers now go longer between ID photos. The Arizona Department of Transportation moved the interval from 12 years to 16, and the change took effect Saturday, Sept. 12.

The change covers the standard Arizona driver license and the Arizona Travel ID, the credential that meets federal requirements for boarding a domestic flight or entering a federal building. ADOT ties it to A.R.S. 28-3173.

Some Drivers Will Get a Letter

A resident whose photo on file is already old may get a letter from the Motor Vehicle Division saying it is time for a new one. Those letters started going out with the change.

That letter is the thing to watch for. Nothing else about a license changes, and a driver whose photo is current has nothing to do.

What It Means at Renewal

An Arizona Travel ID is good for eight years. At a 16-year photo interval, a Travel ID holder needs a new photo at every other renewal instead of at most of them.

Nearly half the credentials Arizona has issued are now Travel IDs.

Where to Do It

Start online. Most license renewals can be handled at AZ MVD Now, and it is worth trying before driving anywhere.

If you do need to go in person, there is no state MVD office in the San Tan Valley area. The nearest one is in Coolidge. You may not need to drive that far, though. Two businesses here are authorized by the state to handle driver license work, and you can find them in our business directory.

Third party offices charge a convenience fee on top of the state fee, and it is worth calling ahead to confirm they can do a photo update before you drive over.