Repurposed Military Vehicles

Important Information for Purchasers of Repurposed Military Vehicles 

If you’re considering purchasing a repurposed military vehicle for highway use, please be aware of additional requirements before the vehicle can be titled and registered in Alaska.

Vehicle safety standard regulations were first introduced in the early 1960's to combat skyrocketing motor-vehicle-related fatality rates. Military vehicles designed for war time service often have not been manufactured to meet these standards. Although exempt from these regulations when operated by military personnel or as part of military operations once sold to the public are not suitable for general highway use. These vehicles also cannot be retrofitted to accommodate these requirements unless completed and/or certified by the manufacturer.  

Although some vehicles owned and sold by the Federal or State governments are general highway vehicles commonly sold in the US and purposed for government personnel operations in the US or abroad they must still be inspected in the same way. 

Vehicles manufactured for military war time use specifically like the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee) or Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) often display non-standard Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and may lack the standard labeling and safety features required for vehicles intended for civilian use. For these vehicles to be titled and registered as a highway vehicle, they must meet U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to ensure compliance with safety, bumper, and theft-prevention regulations. 

Requirements for Title and Registration:

1. Inspection Requirement: Under AS 28.05.041(b), repurposed military vehicles sold with form SF97 or AK97 from the federal or state governments (or by other means) and any vehicles manufactured after 1981 with non-standard VINs must undergo an inspection. This inspection, using DMV Form 811, verifies whether the vehicle conforms to FMVSS and meets all other requirements of the department.
2. FMVSS Label: Vehicles manufactured after 1981 must display a label stating, “This vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety, bumper, and theft prevention standards in effect on the date of manufacture.” This labeling indicates compliance with safety regulations.
3. Manufacturer’s Letter of Compliance (If No Label): If the vehicle lacks an FMVSS label, a letter from the manufacturer is required. This letter must list the VIN and confirm that the vehicle conforms to all applicable U.S. Department of Transportation safety standards as of its manufacture date and that it was built for highway use.

If you have a repurposed military vehicle that does not meet these standards, it may not be eligible for title and registration until these requirements are fulfilled. This ensures the vehicle meets all safety standards for use on public roads. Off-highway vehicle registration is also an option for vehicles that cannot obtain these documents but they must only be operated in Off-highway areas.