Arizona DUI · MVD Compliance

The alcohol screening you need to get your license back.

In most cases, a substance abuse screening is not optional after a DUI arrest in Arizona — it is the gatekeeper to reinstatement, and you still have to complete it even if your charges are later reduced or dismissed. The real exception is the ADOT hearing: if you request one in time and win it, there is no suspension at all, and no reinstatement requirement to satisfy. Here is exactly what the screening is, where to do it, and what happens next.

Call 520-333-7977 Request a consultation
90 days Standard Admin Per Se suspension after a breath or blood test at or over the limit.
1 year Suspension if you refused testing under Arizona's implied consent law.
30 days Window to request an MVD hearing before the suspension begins.
Winning your criminal case does not restore your license by itself.

The MVD suspension is an administrative action, separate from your criminal case. Even if the charges are dismissed or you are found not guilty, MVD still requires a completed screening from an approved provider before your driving privilege is reinstated. The ADOT administrative hearing — requested within 30 days — is the separate proceeding that can prevent the suspension from ever taking effect. Read how Arizona DUI suspensions work →

The Path Back

Four steps to reinstatement

The order matters. Skipping ahead is the single most common reason people stay suspended longer than they need to.

Step 01

Know your suspension

Check your compliance status at AZ MVD Now and confirm your exact start date and requirements. The suspension typically begins 30 days after service — unless you request a hearing, which puts it on hold until the hearing is decided. See the MVD process →

Step 02

Complete the screening

Book with an ADOT-approved provider. The screening is an interview plus at least one standardized alcohol and substance assessment. The provider reports your completion electronically to MVD.

Step 03

Serve the suspension

Finish the suspension period. Depending on your situation you may be eligible for a restricted permit or an ignition interlock during part of that window.

Step 04

Pay and reinstate

Pay the reinstatement fee at AZ MVD Now or at an MVD office. Install an interlock if required, and confirm the reinstatement actually posted before you drive. All DUI links & forms →

What Actually Happens

The screening itself

A DUI screening is not a urine test, not a blood test, and not any kind of chemical test — and it is not a treatment program. It is a face-to-face assessment that determines whether education or counseling will be recommended.

  • ▸An interview with a licensed behavioral health professional or technician, typically 30 minutes to 3 hours.
  • ▸At least one standardized assessment measuring alcohol dependency or substance use.
  • ▸No cup, no needle. Nobody is testing your urine or blood at the screening — and a clean chemical test on its own does not satisfy the requirement. Lab results are not a substitute for the screening.
  • ▸The provider reports completion electronically to MVD — but always keep your own certificate.
  • ▸Out of state? You can use a driver improvement compliance report (form 99-0211) with a licensed counselor where you live. Download form 99-0211 (PDF) →
Our Recommendation

Cornerstone Healing Center

Cornerstone is based in Scottsdale but serves clients across Arizona. We recommend them for one reason: convenience. Our clients get through the process faster with fewer scheduling headaches.

  • Screening completed by phone — no drive to the Valley
  • If treatment is recommended, hours can be completed self-paced online
  • No fixed log-in windows, unlike many online programs
  • Appears on the ADOT-approved facilities list

Cornerstone may cost more than some local options. In our experience the flexibility is worth it — but you are free to use any approved provider. AJB Law Firm receives no compensation for this recommendation.

Visit Cornerstone

Prefer a local Tucson provider?

ADOT publishes the full statewide list of approved screening, education, and treatment facilities, including several in Pima County. Confirm the provider is still approved and reports electronically to MVD before you pay.

ADOT approved facilities
After The Screening

Education or treatment?

Your screening result drives what comes next. MVD does not force you to complete the recommended classes to reinstate — but if you are convicted of a DUI, the court will.

Typically Level I

DUI Education

Recommended when the screening does not indicate a substance use problem.

  • At least 16 hours of instruction
  • Classroom-based curriculum
  • Provided by a behavioral health professional or technician
  • Certificate must be filed with the court and MVD
Typically Level II

DUI Treatment

Recommended when the assessment indicates a higher level of need.

  • 16 hours of DUI education, plus
  • At least 20 hours of group counseling
  • Based on your screening results or a court referral
  • AA or NA attendance does not count toward these hours
Common Questions

What clients ask us

Do I really have to do this if I beat the charges?

Yes. The license suspension comes from MVD, not the criminal court. Completing the screening at an approved provider is a reinstatement requirement regardless of how the criminal case ends.

That said, the outcome of your criminal case still matters enormously — it drives fines, jail exposure, interlock, and how long the consequences follow you. See how we defend DUI cases →

Is the screening the same thing as the classes?

No. The screening is the assessment. Education and treatment are what the screening may recommend afterward. You need the screening completed to reinstate; you need the recommended hours completed if you are convicted.

What else do I need to do to reinstate?

After the screening and the suspension period, you will need to pay a reinstatement fee through AZ MVD Now or at an MVD office. If you are eligible for an ignition interlock during the suspension, installation is also required. Post-conviction requirements may add Traffic Survival School, a MADD Victim Impact Panel, and additional fees.

See the full DUI checklist and links →

I have an out-of-state license. Does this still apply?

Arizona can still suspend your privilege to drive in Arizona, and your home state may act on the record as well. Out-of-state clients can generally complete screening with an approved counselor in their state using ADOT's compliance report form. More on out-of-state DUI arrests →

Should I request an MVD hearing?

Often, yes — and the deadline is firm. You have 30 days from service of the suspension notice to request an administrative hearing with ADOT. Not "usually" 30 days. Thirty days, every time. Miss it and the suspension goes into effect without anyone ever reviewing it.

It matters because this is the one proceeding that can stop the suspension from happening at all. There are strategic tradeoffs, and the right call depends on the evidence in your case, so have the conversation with your attorney well before the deadline. What is an admin per se hearing? →

Talk it through with us →

Can completing the screening early help my criminal case?

Often, yes. Voluntarily completing screening — and any recommended hours — before sentencing can be meaningful mitigation, and in some cases supports a treatment-focused outcome instead of jail. How substance abuse treatment works as mitigation →

Why mitigation matters →

Keep Reading

Related guides from AJB Law Firm

MVD

Understanding the MVD (ADOT) process after a DUI arrest

The administrative track, start to finish, and how it runs parallel to your criminal case.

 Suspensions

Admin Per Se vs. refusal suspensions, explained

Why one arrest can trigger 90 days and another triggers a full year.

 First Steps

7 critical steps before your first court date

What to do in the days right after a Tucson DUI arrest — and what not to do.

 Penalties

Understanding DUI penalties in Arizona

Fines, jail minimums, interlock, and how the tiers actually stack.

 Evidence

Breathalyzers, BAC devices, and what they really mean

The number on the machine is not the end of the analysis.

 Our Process

What happens after you hire AJB Law Firm

A clear look at how we work a DUI case from intake through resolution.
Resource Directory

Everything else you may need

Tucson & Pima County

Deadlines move whether you do or not.

The 30-day hearing window, the suspension start date, and your first court date all run on their own clock. If you were arrested for a DUI in Tucson or anywhere in Pima County, let's talk before one of them closes.

Request a consultation What to expect

This page is general information about Arizona MVD screening requirements and is not legal advice. Requirements, provider approvals, and fees change — verify current requirements directly with ADOT and confirm your specific obligations with your attorney. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship with AJB Law Firm, LLC.