Welcome to GoDMV.com’s Alaska DMV Information Guide. From this page you can choose from our menu of Alaska online driver services or learn about a specific topic related to Alaska driving.
Our Alaska DMV Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) contain the following sections:
- Alaska driver license information
- Alaska vehicle registration
- Alaska vehicle title issues
Choose from the menu now or read below for our Alaska Driver Frequently Asked Questions.
The DMV, or “Department of Motor Vehicles,” is often the generic term used for the agency that enforced driver license laws in a State. The agency responsible for administering driver license laws in Alaska is the Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles. The Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles is also the agency responsible for administering registration and car title laws in Alaska.
Alaska is America's gem, with a thriving oil and gas industry and an established seafood community. Alaskan seafood is sought after all over the world – there's no better way to taste the difference than to go there yourself, and there's no better way to get there than by road. With thousands of miles of highways, Alaska is a great place to get on the road and drive to.
Please use the information and frequently asked questions below to navigate at your convenience. Our goal is create a resource that will address your needs every time that you visit.
Alaska DMV Driver’s License FAQs- What agency in Alaska provides driver licenses?
- What are the age requirements for getting an Alaska driver’s permit or driver’s license (noncommercial)?
- What are the restrictions for an Alaska driver’s permit or driver’s license?
- What documents are necessary to obtain an Alaska driver’s permit or driver’s license?
- What tests must I take to obtain an Alaska learner’s permit or driver’s license?
- I recently moved to Alaska. How long do I have to get an Alaska driver’s license?
- Must I notify the Alabama Department of Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles, about a change of address? What if I want to change my name?
1.What agency in Alaska provides driver licenses?
The Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles.
2.What are the age requirements for getting an Alaska driver’s permit or driver’s license (noncommercial)?
Like many states, Alaska has adopted a graduated driver license system, which means your license restrictions will be reduced as you gain experience.
You can obtain a learner’s (instruction) permit when you are 14 years of age. If you are under 18, you must have parental consent to obtain a permit.
You must be at least 16 years of age and have held a driver permit for at least 6 months to obtain an original Alaska driver license (which will initially be provisional driver license). If you are under 18, you must have parental consent to obtain a Provisional driver’s license. Once you obtain your provisional license, you must wait for at least six months in order to graduate to a regular driver license. License restrictions are described below.
3.What are the restrictions for an Alaska driver’s permit or driver’s license?
If you have a learner’s permit, you may not drive unless there is a person who is 21 years or older, with a minimum of 1 year driving experience, in the car. That person must also have a valid driver license and be in the passenger seat.
A provisional license (you must have it for a minimum of six months) has certain restrictions*:
- You are not permitted to have passengers in your car who are under age 21, unless they are siblings.
- You are not permitted to drive a motor vehicle between 1:00 am and 5:00 am.
There are some exceptions to these restrictions:
- They do not apply if you are accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years old, as long as that person is licensed to drive the type or class of vehicle being driven.
- They do not apply to or from the place you are employed, or within the scope of your employment. All such driving must be by the most direct route.
* Once you turn 18, these restrictions do not apply to provisional licenses.
To obtain a regular license, you will need a new parental consent form, signed in the presence of a DMV representative or notary public. Also, you will need parental consent to graduate from a provisional license to a regular license.
4.What documents are necessary to obtain an Alaska driver’s permit or driver’s license?
You must provide documents to prove:
DATE OF BIRTH AND LEGAL NAME. The following may be used as a primary documents as proof:
(a) an original certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate (from vital statistics)
(b) an Alaska learner’s permit or state ID card
(c) military ID for active duty, retiree or reservist
(d) certificate of citizenship, naturalization or birth abroad
(e) passport issued from another country, with appropriate immigration documents
If your legal name is not what is printed on your birth certificate, you must bring in documents proving your name change, unless you have previously obtained an Alaska learner’s permit or Alaska state ID with your current name.
RESIDENCY (your current resident address). The following may be used as primary documents as proof (must show residence, not PO Box or other mail facility):
(a) utility bill
(b) Alaska voter registration card
(c) Alaska title and/or registration (issued at least 30 days before driver license application)
(d) paycheck stub
(e) medical assistance card
(f) public assistance card
(g) canceled check or bank statement
(h) mortgage or rental documents
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD. The following may be used as primary documents as proof:
(a) original social security card (not metal)
(b) letter from the social security administration to verify your name and number
(c) letter from the social security administration verifying you have never been assigned a number
PROOF OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE. If you obtain your first driver license after 12/31/04, and you are less than 18 years old, you must provide proof from your parent, legal guardian or employer that you have gained at least 40 hours of driving experience, including at least 10 hours of driving in challenging circumstances (such as bad weather and driving at night)
You can use secondary documents to verify the primary document, such as:
- permit or license from another state
- employee ID
- health insurance card
- IRS or state tax form
- Medical records
- Military dependent ID
- Pilot’s license
- School ID
5.What tests must I take to obtain an Alaska learner’s permit or driver’s license?
To obtain a driver’s license, you must take and pass a written test of your knowledge (unless you can present a valid Alaska learner’s permit, for which you have to take a written test, but not a road test) a road test, and a vision test.
6.I recently moved to Alaska. How long do I have to get an Alaska driver’s license?
If you drive in Alaska more than 90 days, you must obtain an Alaska driver license during that 90 day period.
You must obtain an Alaska driver license within 30 days of becoming a resident if you have a commercial driver license.
7.Must I notify the Aaska Department of Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles, about a change of address? What if I want to change my name?
You must change your address before renewing registration, and you can do so online. All other address changes must be done in writing to the Alaska DMV.
Alaska DMV Vehicle Registration FAQs- Where do I go to register my motor vehicle in Alaska?
- What types of Vehicles will the Alaska Department of Administration, DMV, register?
- What are the prerequisites for registering a vehicle in Alaska?
- Am I required to provide proof of liability insurance to register my vehicle in Alaska?
- Do I have to put my car through an emissions test before I can register the vehicle in Alaska?
- When do I have to title and register a vehicle?
- If I change my address, do I need to change my vehicle registration with the Alaska DMV?
- Can I get a personalized (vanity) license plate from the Alaska DMV?
- What are the restrictions for what I can put on my Alaska personalized license plate issued by the Alaska DMV
1.Where do I go to register my motor vehicle in Alaska?
The Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles, registers ownership of motor vehicles.
2.What types of Vehicles will the Alaska Department of Administration, DMV, register?
Every vehicle in Alaska is required to be registered unless specifically exempted by law.
Alaska will issue a motor vehicle registration for the following:
- Passenger vehicles
- Trucks
- Buses
- Vans
- Motorhomes
- Motorcycles
- Boats
- ATVs
- Snowmachines
- Trailers
For mobile homes/house trailers, the Alaska DMV will issue only title.
Vehicles owned by the following may have a lower registration fee and receive “exempt” license plates:
- Charitable and nonprofit organizations
- Alaska Native Tribal Village Councils
- Church/religious organizations
3.What are the prerequisites for registering a vehicle in Alaska?
The Alaska DMV will require you to provide the following to register a vehicle in Alaska:
- Application for title and registration
- Current-out-of-state registration (if there is no lienholder)
- An I/M certificate (for emissions inspection), if required
If you bought your new or used vehicle from a dealer, it is likely that the deal will submit all of these documents to the Alaska DMV.
4.Am I required to provide proof of liability insurance to register my vehicle in Alaska?
Yes. To register your vehicle in Alaska with the Alaska DMV, you will be required by Alaska law to maintain liability insurance with the following minimum amounts:
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death of any one person
- $100,000 for bodily injury or death for any accident
- $25,000 for property damage
If you fail to maintain the required liability insurance, your Alaska drivers license may be suspended. You will be required to certify to the Alaska DMV that there is a policy in effect that meets the legal requirements for the State of Alaska.
5.Do I have to put my car through an emissions test before I can register the vehicle in Alaska?
The short answer: it depends. Some owners of motor vehicles who reside in the Municipality of Anchorage and Fairbanks North Star Borough are required to get their vehicles inspected for carbon monoxide emission before the vehicle can be registered. These requirements generally apply to passenger cars and trucks with a net vehicle weight of less than 12,000 lbs., that are powered by gasoline driven engines and that have a model year of 1968 or newer in Anchorage of 1975 or newer in Fairbanks. If the vehicle is required to undergo an emissions inspection, the owner must have the vehicle inspected before registering, and to provide proof of the inspection with an Emissions Inspection Certificate at the time of registration.
6.When do I have to title and register a vehicle?
A vehicle owner who is either working in Alaska or establishing residency in Alaska is required to apply for vehicle registration within ten days of entering the state or taking a job within Alaska.
If you are a non-resident, you may operate a vehicle with a current registration from another state for 60 days.
7.If I change my address, do I need to change my vehicle registration with the Alaska DMV?
No. You are not required to file a change of address, or to newly register a vehicle with the Alaska DMV for a change of address. The new address can be written on your current registration.
The address change may be made at the time of renewal of registration with the Alaska DMV or by completing a Vehicle Transaction Application with a request for a duplicate registration. Note: The Alaska DMV has a small fee for changes that are made that are not in conjunction with a renewal.
8.Can I get a personalized (vanity) license plate in Alaska?
Yes. They can be ordered with the Alaska DMV for vehicles that have a current vehicle registration. If your registration will expire soon, you should renew so that your registration is current when you receive the personalized Alaska license plate. If you do renew your registration, make sure to put the new year tab that comes with the Alaska personalized license plates that you receive from the Alaska DMV on your rear Alaska license plate.
9.What are the restrictions for what I can put on my personalized license plate issued by the Alaska DMV?
The following are characters you are permitted to use on a personalized license plate from the Alaska DMV:
- Letters A to Z
- Numbers 0 to 9
- Spaces
The following are things you cannot use on a personalized license plate from the Alaska DMV:
- Ham radio call signals
- Special symbols, for example: -, %, #, &, etc.
- Duplicates of active personalized plates issued by the Alaska DMV
- Any racial, vulgar, ethnic, or indecent references/meanings
Alaska DMV Vehicle Title FAQs- Does Alaska require my vehicle to be titled?
- Where do I get an Alaska certificate of title?
- Must I record my odometer reading to get an Alaska certificate of title from the Alaska DMV?
- What documents do I need to show to apply for an Alaska certificate of title from the Alaska DMV?
- How long does it take to receive an Alaska title?
1.Does Alaska require my vehicle to be titled?
Yes. When you buy a vehicle, you have 30 days from the date of to transfer the vehicle into your name with the Alaska DMV. Vehicle includes: passenger car, motor home, truck, van, trailer and motorcycle.
In Alaska, it is illegal for a purchaser of a vehicle to sell it again without obtaining a title in his or her name first. Under Alaska law, a car purchaser must apply for title in his or her name within 30 days of purchasing the vehicle.
If you have title for your vehicle in your name in another state, and the lienholder is holding the original title outside of Alaska, Alaska will issue a “registration only.” You will be required to present the registration or other photocopy of the title to demonstrate the vehicle is in your name outside of Alaska.
2.Where do I get an Alaska certificate of title?
To obtain a certificate of title, you must provide certain information to the Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles (Alaska DMV) office near you.
The Alaska DMV recognizes that some parts of Alaska (“remote Alaska”) do not allow for easy access to the Alaska DMV offices. There, for people who live in an area that does not have access within 50 miles by road to an Alaska DMV office, it permits mailing the relevant items to the Alaska DMV to transfer title to your name. The Alaska DMV will, however, return the documents unprocessed if they are not mailed from an area that that does have access to a DMV office or where the Alaska DMV office will be closed for at least two weeks.
3.Must I record my odometer reading to get an Alaska certificate of title from the Alaska DMV?
Yes, for vehicles under 12,000 pounds and less than 10 years old, the Alaska DMV will require you to disclose your current and ACCURATE odometer reading. The reading must be put on the ownership document and the application for title given to the Alaska DMV. A separate Odometer Disclosure will be needed if either the purchaser or seller has not attested to the odometer reading.
4.What documents do I need to show to apply for an Alaska certificate of title from the Alaska DMV?
You must provide the Alaska DMV:
- Ownership documents: title, manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO) or comparable document. If MCO is used, the document is required to have the name of the applicant on its face, or the dealership’s name on the face must use the dealer reassignment to reassign the applicant the vehicle.
- Application
- Registration if the vehicle has been previously registered
- Emissions certificate, if applicable
- Fees (http://www.state.ak.us/dmv/reg/feemvrt.htm)
- Notarized power of attorney IF someone is going to the DMV for you
- A lien release, if the MCO shows a lien, and it has been paid
5.Can I receive a vehicle title from the Alaska DMV if I do not have proof of ownership of the vehicle?
Yes.
If you bought a vehicle from someone and lost the title you received from the seller, or the seller did not give you one, you can still obtain a title from the Alaska DMV. If there is inadequate proof of ownership, however, and the vehicle is not a small trailer weighing less than 1,000 lbs., you will be required to purchase a “surety bond” to protect the State in case of a legal dispute over the ownership of the vehicle. You can obtain a surety bond packet at your nearest Alaska DMV office.
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