GENERAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION, Division of Motor Vehicles, State of Alaska

GENERAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Every vehicle in Alaska must be registered unless it qualifies for an exemption under state law.

If you are working in Alaska or establishing residency, you must register your vehicle within 10 days of entering the state or beginning employment. Non‑residents may operate a vehicle in Alaska for up to 60 days using a valid registration from another state.

Vehicles without a lienholder must also have the title transferred into the owner’s name as part of the registration process. If the vehicle is located outside Alaska, it must be titled in Alaska.

More information about title requirements is available under Titles.
Details for commercial vehicle registration are available under Commercial Vehicle Registration.

Insurance Requirements

Alaska law requires minimum liability insurance coverage of:

$50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person
$100,000 for bodily injury or death per accident
$25,000 for property damage

Failure to maintain required insurance may result in suspension of your driver’s license.

How to Register a Vehicle
To register a vehicle in Alaska for the first time, you may visit any DMV or partner office, or submit your documents by mail. Please include the following: Vehicle Transaction Application Optional how-to guide for completing the application: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H509TW2VjOk Fees (https://online.dmv.alaska.gov/MVRTCost/) If you purchased a new or used vehicle from an Alaska dealer, the dealer will usually submit all documents for you. If you purchased a vehicle outside Alaska, visit Vehicles Purchased Outside Alaska.

How to Register a Vehicle

To register a vehicle in Alaska for the first time, you may visit any DMV or partner office, or submit your documents by mail.

Please include the following:

Vehicle Transaction Application
Optional how-to guide for completing the application: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H509TW2VjOk
Fees (https://online.dmv.alaska.gov/MVRTCost/)

If you purchased a new or used vehicle from an Alaska dealer, the dealer will usually submit all documents for you.

If you purchased a vehicle outside Alaska, visit Vehicles Purchased Outside Alaska.

Renewing Your Registration
Vehicle registrations in Alaska are valid for two years. Most vehicles keep the same expiration month even when ownership changes. If the registration has been expired for less than one year, the full two‑year fee is charged beginning with the original expiration month, even if you recently purchased the vehicle. If the registration has been expired for more than one year—or the previous owner qualified for a fee exemption such as Senior Exemption or Disability Plates—the registration period starts over when you renew.

Renewing Your Registration

Vehicle registrations in Alaska are valid for two years. Most vehicles keep the same expiration month even when ownership changes.

If the registration has been expired for less than one year, the full two‑year fee is charged beginning with the original expiration month, even if you recently purchased the vehicle.

If the registration has been expired for more than one year—or the previous owner qualified for a fee exemption such as Senior Exemption or Disability Plates—the registration period starts over when you renew.

GENERAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION