Farm Vehicles

Farm vehicles play an important role in supporting Alaska’s ranchers, farmers, and dairymen. If you own a qualifying vehicle that is used for agricultural purposes, you may be eligible for special registration under Alaska law.

What is a Farm Vehicle?

A farm vehicle is defined in Alaska statute as a vehicle that meets all of the following requirements:

• Weight limit: The vehicle must not exceed an unladen gross weight of 20,000 pounds.

• Ownership: The vehicle must be owned by a person whose primary livelihood comes from operating a ranch, farm, or dairy.

• Residence: The owner must live full-time on the ranch, farm, or dairy.

• Use: The vehicle must be used exclusively for one of the following purposes:

  1. Transporting the owner’s own agricultural products (such as crops, livestock, dairy products, vegetables, plants, grass seed, sod, or tree seedlings) to and from the market.

  2. Transporting supplies, commodities, or equipment to be used on the ranch, farm, dairy, greenhouse, or nursery.\

• Design: The vehicle must have been designed for normal roadway use and comply with all state and federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect at the time of manufacture. The vehicle may not be an off-highway vehicle such as an ATV or a repurposed military vehicle.

If the vehicle is used for purposes outside of these limits (such as commercial hauling for hire), it does not qualify as a farm vehicle.

Registration Benefits

• Farm vehicles may be registered under this special classification.

• Registration plates are issued with a distinctive design or numbering system that identifies the vehicle as a farm vehicle.

How to Apply

To register a vehicle as a farm vehicle in Alaska, you will need to:

1. Complete a standard vehicle registration application.

2. Provide proof that the vehicle and its use meet the statutory requirements (this may include documentation showing agricultural activity or farm ownership).

3.  Biennial registration is $68. Vehicles registered in some locations may have additional fees. See registration calculator here 

4. Request farm vehicle plates at the time of registration.

Important Notes

• The registration is valid only if the vehicle continues to meet the requirements listed above.

• Farm vehicle plates do not authorize the vehicle for general commercial hauling.

• Misuse of farm registration may result in penalties or reclassification of the vehicle.