COMMERCIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION

A commercial vehicle is a vehicle used in a business for the purpose of transporting persons, goods, or property. 

Registration fees are primarily based on the unladen weight of the vehicle; for more information, please visit Motor Vehicle Registration Fees & Taxes

Please Note: Any vehicle that is registered in a business/company name is considered a commercial vehicle for registration fee purposes. Leased vehicles are owned by a business/company, they are automatically considered commercial vehicles for purposes of biennial fees. This includes vehicles that would normally be considered passenger vehicles. Trucks or cargo vans with an unladen weight of greater than 10,000 lbs are considered commercial for registration purposes.

Also, if registered commercially elsewhere, you may qualify for dual commercial registration in Alaska.

Anyone who owns or operates a commercial vehicle with an empty weight greater than 8000 lbs. must provide additional information and documentation to us when registering their vehicles. Commercial vehicle registrations maybe for one or two years.

How to register a commercial vehicle?

For a commercial vehicle with an empty weight of 8,000 pounds or above, you must:

To complete the form, you will need the following information about the carrier responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle:

    • US DOT Number
    • Tax Identification Number (TIN)
    • Gross combined taxable weight of the vehicle (see important HVUT Info below)
      • Proof of payment/suspension for Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT), if applicable

Renewing Commercial Vehicles - including fleets

For commercial vehicle(s) that are less than 8,000 pounds, you may submit a spreadsheet of vehicle information through my.alaska.gov DMV Online Services.

How do I get a USDOT number?

When you obtain a USDOT number, you are entered into the PRISM Program, which will monitor your operations for safety. If you are identified as an unsafe carrier, your registration will be denied.

To get a USDOT number with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):

  1. Complete a Motor Carrier Identification Report (MCS-150 Form)
  2. If you do not have computer access or need help call DOT: (907) 365-1206

If you already have a USDOT number, you must ensure that your MCS-150 form has been updated biennially. You must wait 48 hours to renew your registration after updating this form.

Please Note: You must ensure that your Tax Identification Number (TIN) for the USDOT number matches the TIN you used for your Alaska registration.

What is the PRISM Program?

The Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) program, is a Federal and State partnership that links the commercial vehicle registration processes to motor carrier safety. This program and all participants are monitored by the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section of Alaska's Department of Transportation and & Public Facilities.

For additional information, please read Commercial Vehicle Registration (pdf)

Heavy Vehicle Use Tax

The Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 passed by the US Congress levies a tax on certain heavy vehicles. This usage tax, referred to as Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) is paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Filing of the tax is submitted using IRS Form 2290.

States are required by law to verify proof of HVUT filing before registering a heavy vehicle.

Do I need to pay?

Vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 lbs. or more are subject to the tax and must provide the validated IRS Form 2290 each time the registration is renewed.

The IRS defines taxable gross weight as the sum of:

  • the unladen weight of the vehicle, AND
  • the unladen weight of any trailers or semi-trailers customarily used in combination with the vehicle, AND
  • the maximum load carried on the vehicle and on any trailers or semi-trailers customarily used in combination with the vehicle

Less than 55,000 lbs.

If the taxable gross weight is less than 55,000 lbs, the person registering the vehicle must sign the HVUT Gross Taxable Weight Declaration on the back of the Vehicle Transaction Application (Form V1) and submit here to certify the vehicle is not subject to the tax due to weight. This declaration must be signed each time the registration is renewed.

New Purchase

A heavy vehicle purchased within 60 days of the application for registration, is not required to provide proof of HVUT filing. The date of purchase must be recorded on the sales agreement, title or other sales documents

Other Exceptions

There are several exceptions to the filing of IRS Form 2290, please contact a local IRS Office information.

For more information, please visit: FAQs for Truckers Who e-file (from IRS)

How do I get proof I've paid the tax?

When registering a vehicle, we must see proof the tax was paid or suspended in the form of a validated copy of Schedule 1, IRS Form 2290.

You can obtain your Schedule 1 from the: IRS Trucking Tax Center

Important Information Regarding Alternate Proof of Payment for HVUT:

The Following are acceptable proof of payment for taxpayers who have filed a paper Form 2290 for HVUT for the period July 1 through June 30 and have not received their IRS-Stamped Form 2290 Schedule 1 receipt:

The stamped Schedule 1 from the previous taxable period; July 1 through June 30; listing the VIN of the vehicle to be registered, OR

A photocopy of the 2290 (with the Schedule 1 attached) that was filed with the IRS covering the current tax period for the vehicle being registered, along with:

  • photocopy of both sides of a canceled check; or
  • copy of the confirmation from the IRS electronic funds withdrawal, or
  • copy of the taxpayer’s bank statement showing “IRS USA Tax Payment,” or similar language
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