Overview
That means gifting a car in Arizona to your kid, your neighbor, or a total stranger costs exactly the same: the $4 title fee, VLT based on the car's MSRP and age, and the $8 registration plus $1.50 air quality fee if registration is due. There's no eligible-relative test to pass and no notarized gift affidavit MVD requires - just the standard title and registration paperwork with a bill of sale noting it was a gift (useful for your own records, not required for a tax break that doesn't exist here).
The only real planning point: VLT doesn't disappear because the car changed hands for free. The recipient owes it in full, based on the vehicle's original MSRP and its current age - same as if they'd bought it outright.
01 - Official fees
Arizona gift a car fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title fee | $4.00 | |
| Registration fee (if due) | $8.00 | |
| Air quality research fee (if due) | $1.50 | |
| VLT | $2.80–$2.89 / $100 | based on MSRP and vehicle age, same as any transfer |
| Arizona sales tax on the gift | $0 | gifts fall under the same casual-sale exemption as any private sale |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with Arizona MVD (ADOT) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to gift a car in Arizona
- 1
Sign over the title to the recipient - write 'Gift' as the price on the bill of sale for your own records.
- 2
Recipient applies for title within 15 days of the transfer date, at an MVD office, third-party office, or AZ MVD Now.
- 3
MVD calculates VLT from the vehicle's MSRP and age, exactly as it would for a purchase.
- 4
Pay the $4 title fee, plus registration ($8 + $1.50) if it's due at the same time.
- 5
Giver files a free sold notice online the same day to close out their own liability.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Arizona vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Arizona gift a car FAQ
Do I need a special form to gift a car in Arizona?
No. Unlike states with a dedicated gift-tax affidavit, Arizona doesn't distinguish a gift from any other private transfer for tax purposes, so there's no special form beyond the standard title application and a bill of sale noting the transfer was a gift.
Does the person receiving the gifted car owe any sales tax?
No - Arizona doesn't tax private-party vehicle transfers, gift or sale. They'll owe the $4 title fee and VLT/registration if due, but zero transaction privilege tax on the vehicle's value.
Who counts as 'eligible family' for the Arizona gift process?
There's no such list in Arizona because there's no separate gift-tax rate to qualify for. You can gift a car to a spouse, a cousin, or a friend and the cost is identical - the $4 title fee plus VLT and registration.
Does the recipient still pay VLT even though they didn't pay for the car?
Yes, in full. VLT is based on the vehicle's original MSRP and how many years it's been registered - it has nothing to do with what the current owner paid (or didn't pay) for the car.
What if the giver still owes money on the car?
The lender holds the title until the loan is paid off, so it can't be gifted (or sold) free and clear until the lien is released. Paying it off, or having the recipient take over the loan, comes first.
Is there a federal tax angle to worry about?
Arizona has no state gift tax at all. Very high-value gifts could theoretically brush against the federal gift-tax annual exclusion, but that's an IRS question for the giver, not something Arizona MVD tracks.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.