Effective September 16, two new services will be offered to military veterans by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Veterans applying for an Arizona Department of Transportation license will have the option to request a waiver of the skills test if they meet certain requirements.
In addition, veterans will have the option to have a designation on their Arizona-issued driver license, commercial driver license, identification card or instruction permit denoting their military service.
ADOT Director John Halikowski said the Arizona Legislature and veteran-support organizations helped to make these new services a reality for the thousands of veterans in Arizona.
The first new service will allow a military veteran to request a new credential with the distinguishing mark “VETERAN” added to the front. A new driver license/identification card application is required for this service along with verification of veteran eligibility.
Information explaining the documentation requirements can be obtained online at azdot.gov/mvd/driver-services/MilitaryPersonnel/veteran-designation or by visiting any local ADOT Motor Vehicle Division office or authorized third party office that processes credentials. All requests for the veteran designation mark to be added to a credential must be accomplished in person at an MVD or authorized third party office; there may be a fee for a duplicate credential.
The process to have the veteran designation added can begin with an online application using the “Be Prepared” feature located at azdot.gov/mvd/driver-services. Using the online application will save time when completing the process at an MVD or authorized third party office.
The other new service is for veterans applying for an Arizona-issued commercial driver license. Applicants whose position in the military required the operation of a commercial motor vehicle will have the option during the application process to request a waiver of the commercial driver license skills test.
MVD may waive the commercial driver license skills test for applicants who are on active duty in the military or have separated under honorable conditions in the last 90 days and have driven a commercial motor vehicle for two years prior to their application. Information explaining the waiver requirements can be obtained online at azdot.gov/mvd/driver-services/MilitaryPersonnel/cdl-skills-test-waiver or by visiting any MVD office that handles commercial driver license application processing. For CDL office locations please visit azdot.gov/mvd/driver-services/commercial-driver-license/cdl-office-locations.