We spoke to a representative from the Arizona Motor Vehicles Division of the DOT about your situation. He stated that as long as any tickets you had received in your previous state of California were taken care of then they should not keep you from getting an AZ driver's license and they will not transfer onto your new Arizona license.
So according to the Arizona MVD representative neither the offense nor points will be put on your Arizona driving record for previous offenses you have on your California driving record.
Keep in mind that when you obtain insurance on your car from an Arizona insurance company they will look at both your Arizona driving record and your California driving record. They will pull both the AZ and CA MVRs since your Arizona driver's history will be short so your California driving history will give them more of a full picture of you as a driver and thus rate you accordingly.
The AZ MVD notes that new residents to the State of Arizona are required to obtain an Arizona driver license and to register their vehicles in this State.
Arizona state law requires that a new resident obtain a driver license and registration immediately if any one of the following applies, if you:
- Work in Arizona (other than for seasonal agricultural work)
- Place children in school without paying the tuition rate of a nonresident
- Have a business with an office in Arizona, and that bases and operates vehicles in this state
- Obtain a state license or pay school tuition fees at the same rate as an Arizona resident
- Have a business that operates vehicles to transport goods or passengers within Arizona
- Remain in Arizona for a total of 7 months or more during any calendar year, regardless of your permanent residence
Arizona requires that every motor vehicle operated on their roadways be covered by one of the statutory forms of financial responsibility, more commonly called liability insurance, through a company that is authorized to do business in Arizona. Minimum levels of financial responsibility are:
- $15,000 bodily injury liability for one person and $30,000 for two or more persons
- $10,000 property damage liability
You can get auto insurance quotes online for Arizona here with us.