Do Arizona IDs Have Expiration Dates? Renewal, Travel ID, and Fees

Yes, Arizona IDs do have expiration dates, but the timeline is unusually long. A standard Arizona driver’s license or nonoperating ID card issued before age 65 stays valid until the holder’s 65th birthday. After 65, both credentials switch to a five-year renewal cycle. The expiration date is printed on the front of the card.¹²

Someone who gets a license at 16 can hold the same credential for close to 50 years. Starting at age 60, you can renew for successive five-year periods. If you first obtain a license at 60 or older, it’s issued for up to five years rather than lasting to 65.¹

The Photo Update Rule

Even though the license itself may not expire for decades, your photo has to be updated every 12 years. The MVD mails a notice when it’s due, and you’ll need to visit an office in person for the new picture.³

Nonoperating ID Cards

The state ID card follows the same age-based pattern as the driver’s license: valid to your 65th birthday if issued before 65, then five-year renewals after that.² The card is free for anyone 65 or older and for people receiving federal Supplemental Security Income disability benefits. Everyone else under 65 pays $12.⁴

One exception cuts the timeline short. If your ID card was issued while your driving privileges were suspended, it’s only valid for 180 days from the date of issuance.²

Credentials for Non-U.S. Citizens

If you’re a non-U.S. citizen with authorized legal presence in Arizona, your license or Travel ID expires when your immigration documents expire, capped at a maximum of eight years. The credential’s lifespan tracks your authorized stay, so a renewal is needed each time your status is extended or changed.⁵

The Travel ID and Air Travel

A standard Arizona license is not REAL ID compliant. Since May 7, 2025, federal rules require a REAL ID-compliant credential to board domestic commercial flights and enter certain federal buildings.⁶ Arizona’s compliant version is called the Travel ID and carries a star-in-a-circle marking in the upper corner. It’s available as either a license or an ID card, but the application has to be done in person because a new photo and original identity documents are required.⁵

A U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, permanent resident card, and several other federal documents are also accepted at TSA checkpoints.⁷

What Happens If Your ID Expires

There’s no grace period. Once the printed date passes, the credential no longer works for the things you use it for.

Driving on an expired license violates ARS 28-3151 and is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Penalties can include up to four months in jail, a fine of up to $750 plus surcharges, and up to two years of probation.⁸

Banks won’t accept an expired ID to open a new account. Federal customer identification rules require an unexpired government-issued photo ID, and the bank has no discretion to waive that.⁹

A new employer can’t accept it either. On Form I-9, a state-issued license or ID card qualifies as a List B identity document only if it’s unexpired.¹⁰

An expired card also won’t get you through a TSA checkpoint, past age-restricted purchases, or into certain government buildings. Because Arizona credentials last so long, plenty of people don’t realize theirs has expired until they’re being turned away at a counter.

Military Extension

Arizona gives veterans whose license expires during military service six months after discharge to renew without penalty. During that window, renewal isn’t required and the expired license is treated differently than an ordinary expiration.¹

Renewing Before or After Expiration

You can begin the renewal process up to six months before your expiration date. Most residents can renew online through AZ MVD Now if the photo on file is less than 12 years old. A temporary credential is available right away while the new card is mailed.¹¹

Visit an MVD office or authorized third-party provider if you need an updated photo, want a Travel ID, or need a vision test. Bring proof of identity and residency. Travel ID applicants must present original identity documents.⁵

Driver’s License Renewal Fees

Ages 16 to 39: $25
Ages 40 to 44: $20
Ages 45 to 49: $15
Age 50 and older on the five-year renewal: $10

A nonoperating ID card costs $12 for applicants under 65. Anyone 65 or older and SSI disability recipients pay nothing.⁴

1
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28-3171 – Driver License Expiration and Renewal; Exception; Extension
2
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28-3165 – Nonoperating Identification License; Immunity; Rules; Emancipated Minors; Definition
3
Department of Transportation. When Will I Need to Update My Photo?
4
Department of Transportation. Fees (Driver License)
5
Department of Transportation. Arizona Travel ID
6
Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025
7
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
8
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28-3473 – Driving on a Suspended, Revoked or Canceled License; Violation; Classification
9
eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Requirements for Banks
10
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 13.0 Acceptable Documents for Verifying Employment Authorization and Identity
11
Department of Transportation. Renew Your License