Arkansas
Vehicle Resource Center
Arkansas is beloved for its natural hot springs and stunning beauty, and so many drivers go through the state without ever considering what it takes to be a resident driver. The state is home to millions of drivers, and each of those drivers needs to meet regulatory requirements while also obeying the different car-related laws.
Ownership and Maintenance
All vehicle owners in Arkansas must maintain their vehicle registrations, keep valid driver's licenses, keep current automobile insurance, and more.
While many states require safety or emissions inspections for their vehicles, Arkansas does not have either of these requirements for its residents.
Meeting Arkansas Liability Insurance Requirements
Every vehicle owner residing in Arkansas must have liability insurance on their vehicle. The insurance must be provided by a state-licensed insurer, and it needs to meet the state's minimum coverage limits. Any vehicle owner caught without the proper insurance coverage can be fined and face legal trouble.
Insurance Minimum Requirements:
The minimum requirements for liability insurance in Arkansas are as follows:
Drivers are legally considered insured when they have an insurance policy that has the coverage amounts listed above, but many policyholders choose to up their insurance limits to higher values for extra protection. Vehicle owners with an open auto loan will likely also have collision insurance that covers the cost of repairing the driver's vehicle in an accident as well, rather than only legal liabilities.
Drivers can obtain additional information about Arkansas vehicle insurance requirements at the state's Insurance link.
Each vehicle owner in Arkansas must maintain proper liability insurance to protect the other drivers around them while using their vehicle. Liability insurance is meant to cover the costs of injuries and property damage that occur during accidents. Drivers caught operating their vehicle without the minimum required amount of liability insurance can face serious fines and potential legal issues.
Minimum Liability Coverage Amounts:
When working with an approved AZ insurance agent, it's essential to get liability coverage within those limits or higher. Some drivers opt to get higher limits, and many also include collision insurance to cover repair costs for their personal vehicles if they are found to be at fault for an accident.
Get more information about liability insurance requirements in Arkansas by reading through the state's insurance page here.
Every year, Arkansas drivers must renew their vehicle's registration. The renewal process is simple and affordable, but only if taxes have been paid on the vehicle, as well as any outstanding fines. Vehicle insurance must be maintained as well to qualify for registration.
If all those requirements are met, renewing the vehicle's registration is fast and affordable. Residents can renew online, by phone, through postage, or in person at one of the State Revenue office locations.
Renew By Phone
Arkansas residents can renew by phone by dialing 1-800-941-2580
Renew by Post
To renew by post, send the renewal notice as well as a check or money order to
Office of Motor Vehicle
P.O. Box 3153
Little Rock, AR 72203-3153
The whole process can be completed in a few weeks, but users must know the exact amount of their fees for using this method.
No matter how Arkansas vehicle owners choose to renew their vehicle registration, the process can be completed easily in just a few steps. Drivers must renew annually, and they should be sure to renew before the registration expires. More information about the renewal process for Arkansas registrations is available at this DFA website.
Every eight years, Arkansas drivers must renew their licenses. The license can be renewed in person through a short process or online. No matter which way it's renewed, drivers must have the renewal fee, their original license, and proof of their identity and residence in Arkansas.
With all of the necessary documents, it's possible to renew an Arkansas driver's license quickly. Licenses are renewed every eight years, but they can only be renewed online sometimes. Drivers are expected to renew in person occasionally; this is in order to update their photos to keep them current.
All the Fees
There are fees to renew licenses and registrations and for annual property taxes. All these different fees raise the cost of owning a vehicle, but they're all costs that drivers should expect.
Driver's License Renewal
It costs an estimated $40 to renew a driver's license in Arkansas. It's important to note that it is $10 to duplicate a license and that is the fee required if a license is lost as well.
Registration Renewal
When renewing a vehicle registration in Arkansas, the cost depends on the weight and type of the vehicle. Fees are between $17 and $30 for most people, and there are costs for postage and validation. Get all the extra registration fees at the Arkansas government website.
Annual Property Taxes
Each year, there are property taxes on vehicles, but the taxes vary based on the estimated value of the vehicle. This is why it's essential to talk with an assessor every year. This professional determines what the vehicle is worth before providing a tax payment amount for the year.
In Arkansas, residents are billed on the value of their vehicles each year. They have until May 31 to have their vehicle's value assessed so they can submit a tax payment on the vehicle. The tax cost is reasonable, but it's an annual requirement that all vehicle owners must meet. Without having a vehicle assessed, it cannot have its registration renewed and will not be legal to drive any longer. Vehicle owners can use this property tax page from the Arkansas government to determine how to pay their local vehicle taxes.
Buying & Selling
Buying or selling vehicles in Arkansas comes with some extra requirements that many buyers and sellers overlook. Everyone should know these rules to help protect themselves from untrustworthy vehicle sellers and buyers.
Complete and Hand in a Notice of Transfer of Ownership
Sellers should have the buyer help them complete form 27-14-911 from the Arkansas Government. The Notice of Transfer of Ownership form is a quick way to tell the government the vehicle has been sold and passed on to a different owner.
Turn in License Plates
During the sale of the vehicle, the seller must remove their license plates from the vehicle and turn them in. They can use them on another vehicle, but the buyer should not leave with the plates.
Provide the Original Title
No vehicle sale can be completed without its original title. The title of the vehicle is the best indicator that a person owns it. That's why it's essential to take out the title and fill out the back before handing it to the buyer. Once the buyer hands in the title to the Arkansas DFA, it's possible to transfer it into their name.
There are important tasks every buyer should complete when going to purchase a vehicle. These tasks include researching the vehicle, acquiring the necessary paperwork, and legally registering and titling the vehicle after purchase.
Get to Know the Vehicle
The selected vehicle should be a good fit for the buyer, but it's impossible to know that without doing some additional research. To learn about the vehicle, it's important to conduct a VIN search or a license plate lookup to determine the history of the vehicle, any open recalls, features and options, and more. All this data helps ensure the buyer is choosing a vehicle with which they can be happy and safe.
Obtain Insurance
Once they know the vehicle well, it's time to obtain insurance on it. The insurance coverage should meet the state's minimum liability requirements. Insurance is mandatory when trying to license the vehicle and must be active.
Have an Odometer and Disclosure Statement Filled
The seller should really provide the document, but buyers can protect themselves by having an Odometer and Disclosure statement. This official document gathers all the information for the vehicle that's required to title and register it.
Get the Original Title
One of the final steps the buyer must take before leaving with the vehicle is to get the original title from the seller. The title should list the seller and the vehicle. Double-check that the VIN matches the vehicle, and get the seller to fill out their portion of the back of the title. This document is essential when registering and titling the vehicle.
Get the Seller to Sign a Vehicle Registration Application
To title the new vehicle, the buyer must have a Vehicle Registration Application (form 10-381) signed by the original owner of the vehicle. Every buyer should print this form and bring it to a vehicle purchase to ensure they have a signed copy.
There are fees associated with buying a vehicle. The buyer should be prepared to pay any taxes, registration, and titling fees.
Taxes
Buyers will pay 6.5%, 3.5%, or 0% taxes on their purchase, depending on the price of the vehicle. Vehicles that sell for more than $10,000 come with a 6.5% tax. Vehicles between $4,000 and $10,000 have a 3.5% tax, and anything less than $4,000 is not taxed.
Registration and Title
When registering the vehicle, there is a flat charge of between $17 and $34, as well as fees based on the type of vehicle and the location in which it is registered. There is also a $10 title fee, and there may be some small extra fees for things like postage, license plates, and more. Get all the details about the fees via this Arkansas government fee page.
Laws and Regulations
Arkansas roadways are carefully regulated throughout the state. Understanding the state's laws helps drivers avoid tickets and to stay safer while on the roads themselves.
Arkansas has very tolerant seatbelt laws that are less strict than many other states. There are still legal requirements for all front passengers to be buckled while riding in the vehicle and for everyone under 15 years old to buckle in every position in the vehicle.
Children under six years old and under 60 pounds must be restrained in a child car seat or booster seat. There aren't specific regulations about the type of seat used, but it's expected that parents use proper seats for their children.
Parents are recommended to use a rear-facing car seat for young children under between 20 and 30 pounds. Once children outgrow the rear-facing seat, they can be moved to a forward-facing car seat with a 3-point harness. They should remain in the harnessed seat until they outgrow the weight and height listed on it. Finally, they should remain in a booster seat until they are tall enough for a seat belt to land on their chest and shoulder appropriately. Children under six years old must remain in a booster seat, at least by law.
The details of the seat belt law can be found in the Arkansas Government seat belt guide.
Vehicle owners often tint their windows in Arkansas to protect their interior from harsh light, to enjoy more privacy, and to remain cooler in the summer. Arkansas has restrictions on the tint that can be applied to windows throughout the vehicle.
By law, drivers found driving while under the influence of alcohol are charged with a DUI in Arkansas and can face jail time, license suspension, and significant fines. The punishments become dramatically more serious each time a driver is charged with a DUI.
What are the Terms of a DUI
Adult drivers must have a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.08 or higher when given a breathalyzer test to be charged with a DUI. Underage individuals can be charged when they have a BAC of 0.02 or higher.
Any police officer who has proof to believe a driver has consumed alcohol can request the driver submit to a breathalyzer test. Drivers who refuse these tests can be charged as well.
Get all the DUI specifications via the National College for DUI Defense's page on Arkansas law.
Any new-car buyer in Arkansas is protected by the state's Lemon law. This law states that buyers of new vehicles must not receive a defective vehicle. Vehicles are determined to be defective if they have serious safety flaws or additional problems that harm their resale value significantly.
Arkansas protects new vehicles for the first 24 months after delivery or the first 24,000 miles driven. During this time, the manufacturer must make repairs to any serious defects covered under warranty. If the manufacturer makes three separate attempts to repair any one defect, or the vehicle is out of commission for 40 or more days due to these repairs, the vehicle is a Lemon under the state's law. The manufacturer is legally required to replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price in these conditions. Learn more specifics about the Arkansas Lemon law via this government Lemon law page.
Useful Things to Know
Arkansas drivers have many important details that they should understand well to avoid getting in trouble while owning and driving vehicles in the state. Much of that information is listed in the guide above, but some extra resources are available below as well:
Find the Nearest EV Charging Station
Arkansas natives with electric vehicles or EVs need to know where to go to charge the vehicles in public. This EV charging station finder makes it easy to find the closest station at all times: EV Charging Station Finder
Arkansas Crash Trends
Driving a vehicle in Arkansas comes with more risks than in most other states. According to 2021 statistics from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), Arkansas has 1.8 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, making it the third most dangerous state to drive in. Each day, new accidents occur, and throughout the year, a total of 693 deaths occurred in 631 total accidents. To see the full picture, read the Arkansas car crash statistics page on GoodCar.
Find a Nearby State Revenue Office
Arkansas automotive administrative tasks are completed at the Department of Finance and Administration revenue offices. The state has many revenue office locations, and finding a nearby office is the most effective way to get help. Use the table at the link below to see each of the revenue office locations: Arkansas Revenue Office Locations
Arkansas Driver's License Study Guide
See an online version of the state's study guide before attempting to take the written test to acquire a driver's license. This guide covers essential state laws and is a powerful refresher for existing drivers as well: Arkansas Driver's License Study Guide
Get the Latest Arkansas Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Arkansas vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN Check and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.