Free guide · MIS Insurance Services · Licensed in Arizona
Arizona DUI Help Center
Arrested for DUI in Arizona? Here’s what happens next, step by step: the MVD hearing, your 90-day suspension, the interlock, screening and Traffic Survival School, the SR-22 and getting your license back. Free, in plain English.
MIS Insurance Services, LLC is a licensed Arizona insurance agency serving drivers statewide. Arizona License #3002366873. Our licensed agents help drivers compare SR-22 and non-owner insurance options without visiting an office.
Step 1
The arrest: DUI, Extreme and Super Extreme
Arizona sorts DUIs by blood alcohol (BAC). The higher the BAC, the longer the interlock (Step 4).
| Charge | Blood alcohol (BAC) |
|---|---|
| DUI | 0.08 up to less than 0.15 |
| Extreme DUI | 0.15 up to less than 0.20 |
| Super Extreme DUI | 0.20 or higher |
| Commercial vehicle or vehicle for hire | 0.04 or higher |
| Under 21 | Any amount |
If you surrendered your license at the arrest, the arresting agency gives you a 30-day temporary license.
Step 2
The MVD hearing
The MVD case is separate from your criminal court case. It decides your driver’s license.
- Deadline: ADOT’s DUI page says 30 days from the date on your suspension notice. Always go by the date on your own notice.
- If you miss it: the suspension can’t be challenged.
- If you request one: the suspension is put on hold until the hearing is done (but you can’t get an interlock restricted license while it’s pending).
Official pages: ADOT MVD – DUI suspension · Executive Hearing Office. For the criminal case, talk to a DUI attorney.
Step 3
How long the suspension lasts
| Situation | MVD suspension |
|---|---|
| Took the test, BAC 0.08+ (Admin Per Se) | 90 days: at least 30 days with no driving, then you may qualify for a restricted permit for the rest |
| Refused the test, 1st time | 12 months |
| Refused the test, 2nd time within 84 months | 24 months |
A DUI conviction in court can bring its own license action on top of this. Your court papers and MVD letters have your exact dates.
Step 4
The ignition interlock
An ignition interlock is a breath tester wired to your car. After a DUI conviction you have 30 days from the conviction date to install it.
| Conviction | Interlock period |
|---|---|
| DUI | 12 months (may be cut to 6 if you meet the conditions, such as finishing alcohol education) |
| Extreme DUI | 12 months |
| Super Extreme DUI | 18 months for a 1st offense, 24 months for a 2nd within 7 years |
| Aggravated DUI | 12 to 24 months |
The interlock requirement follows you even if you move out of Arizona, and service must be done by an Arizona-authorized installer. Drivers who refused the test may qualify for a special interlock restricted license (SIIRDL); ADOT’s pages differ on the timing, so confirm with the MVD.
Official page: ADOT MVD – Ignition interlock · Restricted permits
Step 5
Alcohol screening and Traffic Survival School
Alcohol or drug screening
To get your license back, the MVD asks for an alcohol or drug screening from an approved facility. Follow any education or treatment it recommends.
Traffic Survival School
Required after DUI, Extreme, Super Extreme and Aggravated DUI convictions.
Alcohol education
Finishing alcohol education is one of the conditions that can shorten a standard DUI interlock from 12 months to 6.
Find a provider: see our Arizona DUI Services directory for screening, classes, interlock and Traffic Survival School.
Step 6
Your Arizona SR-22: cheap, fast, with or without a car
Arizona calls the SR-22 “future financial responsibility.” It’s a form your insurance company files with the MVD to prove you carry at least Arizona’s minimum liability insurance: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, and $15,000 for property damage.
How long you need it
- 3 years from the end date of your suspension after a court DUI conviction suspension, a test-refusal suspension or an alcohol/drug revocation.
- The whole time you hold a SIIRDL (interlock restricted license).
- Not required for a SIIRDL that comes only from an Admin Per Se suspension.
Don’t let it lapse
If your SR-22 policy cancels, the insurer tells the MVD and the MVD may suspend your license right away. To fix it you need a new SR-22 and a $10 fee.
No car? Arizona accepts a non-owner SR-22
ADOT says it plainly: if you don’t own a vehicle, you’ll need a non-owner insurance policy. A non-owner SR-22 is usually the cheapest way to meet the requirement.
Your Arizona SR-22 with MIS
- As low as $29/month. Prices vary with your record, the offense and your ZIP code.
- Non-owner SR-22 for drivers without a car. Arizona non-owner SR-22
- Filed electronically, often the same day you buy.
- We compare 25+ companies that work with DUI drivers.
- Se habla español. SR-22 en Arizona en español
Official page: ADOT MVD – Future financial responsibility (SR-22). More: Car insurance after a DUI in Arizona.
Step 7
Getting your Arizona license back
To reinstate after a DUI suspension, the MVD generally asks for:
- The suspension period served.
- An alcohol or drug screening from an approved facility.
- Traffic Survival School and an SR-22, when they apply to your case.
- Your interlock installed, if required.
- Fees: a $10 suspension fee and a $50 Admin Per Se fee (other application fees may apply).
Live in another state?
The MVD may release drivers who aren’t (or never were) Arizona residents from the SR-22 requirement. The interlock requirement still applies wherever you live.
Read more: Arizona DUI: what to do first
Questions Arizona drivers ask after a DUI
Right after the arrest
How long do I have to request an MVD hearing after a DUI in Arizona?
ADOT’s DUI page says 30 days from the date on your suspension notice. Go by the date printed on your own notice. If you miss it, the suspension can’t be challenged.
Can I drive after a DUI arrest in Arizona?
If you surrendered your license, the arresting agency gives you a 30-day temporary license. Requesting a hearing puts the suspension on hold until the hearing is done.
What is Extreme DUI in Arizona?
A BAC of 0.15 up to less than 0.20. A BAC of 0.20 or higher is Super Extreme DUI. A standard DUI is 0.08 up to less than 0.15, and drivers under 21 can’t have any alcohol.
Your license and the interlock
How long is my license suspended after a first DUI arrest in Arizona?
If you took the test and were 0.08 or higher, the MVD suspension is 90 days: at least 30 days with no driving, then you may qualify for a restricted permit. Refusing the test is a 12-month suspension the first time.
How long do I need an ignition interlock in Arizona?
12 months for a DUI (may be reduced to 6 if you meet the conditions), 12 months for Extreme DUI, 18 months for a first Super Extreme DUI and 12 to 24 months for Aggravated DUI. You have 30 days from your conviction to install it.
Do I need Traffic Survival School after a DUI in Arizona?
Yes, Traffic Survival School applies after DUI, Extreme, Super Extreme and Aggravated DUI convictions. The MVD also asks for an alcohol or drug screening from an approved facility.
SR-22 and insurance
How long do I need an SR-22 in Arizona after a DUI?
3 years from the end date of your suspension, after a court DUI conviction, a test refusal or an alcohol/drug revocation. You also need it the whole time you hold an interlock restricted license (SIIRDL), except a SIIRDL that comes only from an Admin Per Se suspension.
What happens if my Arizona SR-22 lapses?
Your insurer notifies the MVD, and the MVD may suspend your license immediately. You’ll need a new SR-22 and a $10 fee to fix it.
Can I get a non-owner SR-22 in Arizona?
Yes. ADOT says that if you don’t own a vehicle, you’ll need a non-owner insurance policy. MIS sells non-owner SR-22 policies in Arizona and files them electronically.
How much is SR-22 insurance in Arizona?
Through MIS, SR-22 insurance in Arizona starts as low as $29/month. Prices vary with your driving record, the offense, your car and your ZIP code. A non-owner SR-22 is usually the cheapest option if you don’t own a car.
What are Arizona’s minimum car insurance limits?
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage, for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2020.
Getting your license back
What do I need to reinstate my Arizona license after a DUI?
Serve the suspension, complete an alcohol or drug screening, finish Traffic Survival School and file an SR-22 if they apply, install your interlock if required, and pay a $10 suspension fee plus a $50 Admin Per Se fee.
I don’t live in Arizona. Do I still need the SR-22 and interlock?
The MVD may release non-residents from the SR-22 requirement. The Arizona interlock requirement still applies wherever you live, and service must be done by an Arizona-authorized installer.
Need your Arizona SR-22 today?
Licensed in Arizona (#3002366873). We compare 25+ companies that work with DUI drivers and file your SR-22 electronically. As low as $29/month. Prices vary.
Or call (800) 726-0640 · Se habla español
Where this information comes from
- ADOT MVD – Driving under the influence (DUI)
- ADOT Executive Hearing Office – Requesting a hearing
- ADOT MVD – Future financial responsibility (SR-22)
- ADOT MVD – Ignition interlock
- ADOT MVD – Restricted driver permits
- A.R.S. 28-1385 · 28-1321 · 28-3319 · 28-4009
Licensed Insurance Agency in Arizona
MIS Insurance Services, LLC · Arizona License #3002366873
Checked October 31, 2026. Rules change, and your MVD notice and court papers control your case. This page is general information, not legal advice. MIS Insurance Services, LLC · Arizona License #3002366873.