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Driving in Arizona

The rules foreign visitors most often get wrong — with the official source for every fact. Always verify directly before you drive.

Key rules

Max rural interstate speed
75 mph [1]
Right turn on red
Permitted after full stop (unless signed otherwise) [1]
Seatbelt enforcement (front)
Secondary enforcement [2]
Handheld phone
Banned for all drivers [3] (as of 2021-01-01)
Texting while driving
Banned [3]
Min liability — bodily injury per person
$25,000 [4]
Min liability — bodily injury per accident
$50,000 [4]
Min liability — property damage
$15,000 [4]
Motorcycle helmet
Required for some riders (see notes)

Under 18 only per ARS §28-964 (verify direct at azleg.gov)

Move-over law
Yes — required to move over / slow for emergency vehicles [5]
Studded tires
Allowed seasonally (see notes) [6]

Allowed Oct 1 – May 1

Marijuana in vehicle
unverified See notes — verify with the state authority.

Recreational illegal; medical only — verify direct with AZ DHS

Primary resources for Arizona

Sources

Every claim above links to its numbered source here. If a link is broken, or you believe a fact is outdated, please let us know.

  1. [1] ADOT — Establishing Speed Limits FAQ — ADOT · accessed 2026-04-23
  2. [2] ADOT — Seatbelt Survey Report AZ-670 — ADOT · accessed 2026-04-23
  3. [3] ADOT — Distracted Driving Awareness — ADOT · accessed 2026-04-23

    ARS §28-914 (HB 2318) handheld ban eff. 2021-01-01

  4. [4] AZ DIFI — Automobile Insurance — AZ DIFI · accessed 2026-04-23
  5. [5] NHTSA — Move Over, It's the Law — NHTSA · accessed 2026-04-23
  6. [6] ARS §28-958 — Studded Tires — Arizona Legislature · accessed 2026-04-23