Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Arizona will not renew a motorcycle registration unless at least one of the registered owners has a motorcycle license or a motorcycle endorsement on their driver license.

The change comes from Arizona Revised Statute 28-2014, which was updated this year. The Arizona Department of Transportation said it is announcing the change early so owners have time to get licensed before their next renewal comes due.

A few situations are handled differently. An owner whose renewal comes due after the law takes effect, and who is enrolled in a qualified motorcycle training program, may be issued a one-time 30-day temporary registration. A motorcycle owned in a trust needs a trustee who is legally licensed to ride in Arizona. The requirement does not apply to motorcycles used only off road or to motorcycles owned by a business.

ADOT lists two ways to get the endorsement. One is to finish an approved motorcycle school and earn a Motorcycle Safety Foundation card, then add the endorsement at an MVD office or an authorized third party provider. The other is to skip the course and take the required tests at a motorcycle testing location. The department's motorcycle registration page has the details.

There is no state MVD office in the San Tan Valley area, and the nearest one is in Coolidge. Two businesses in the area 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.