Registration FAQs

The following is a list of frequently asked questions about vehicle registration and titling in Alaska.

How do I renew my registration online?

If you have a valid MasterCard or VISA credit card (debit cards not accepted), and your address is updated in the system, you can renew online. Your registration and tab will be mailed within two business days from successful renewal. If you do not receive the items within 14 days, e-mail: dmv_webmaster@admin.state.ak.us.

The online application works best with Netscape or Microsoft browsers 4.0 or above. You must have cookies selected in your browser. The DMV uses JAVA applets. These features must be selected in your browser.

My mom passed away and left me her car. How can I transfer the title?

Please refer to the section on deceased owner title transfers. Depending on the current registration, you may be able to effect the title transfer yourself, or the estate may be required to go through a formal or an informal probate.

I built my own camper for my truck. Do I need to get it registered or titled?

No, Alaska does not require title or registration for campers. However, your truck must be registered and have current tabs.

Someone parked a car on the edge of my property a month ago. I guess it's abandoned. How can I get rid of it?

The Alaska DMV defines an abandoned vehicle as:

• " ... a vehicle which has been left unattended, standing, parked upon or within 10 feet of the traveled portion of the highway in excess of 48 hours, or a vehicle left standing or parked on private property in excess of 24 hours or upon other public property for more than 30 days, without consent of the owner or person in charge of the property..."

You might write to your local law enforcement agency and request that it remove the vehicle from your property. Once it has been removed, the agency will sell the vehicle at auction to cover the cost of the towing and any storage. You will not incur a fee for an abandoned vehicle on your property.

I need to get disabled plates instead of a disabled placard, but sometimes I need the placard, too. Am I allowed to have both?

Yes, a qualified disabled person may hold both disabled parking identification license plates and a disabled parking identification placard.

I just moved to Juneau from California and am ready to register my car. Where can I get my smog check?

Welcome! We hope you will enjoy it here in beautiful Alaska.

Emissions checks, also known as I/M testing, are only required in certain parts of the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks. Other cities and towns do not require emissions checks at this time.

My friend just gave me a boat that has been stored for a few years. What do I need to do in order to get it all legal?

Alaska does not require a title transfer for boats. If your boat is not powered, it does not need registration or title. If it is powered, please see our section on boat registration for all the details you'll need to make your new watercraft legal.

I built a motorcycle from the remains of a bunch of my old motorcycles. They were all registered and I have all the titles. Is there any way I can get it registered? It runs great!

If all of the motorcycles you used were titled and registered in your name, you won't have a problem. If any of the main components (body, engine, etc.) came from someone else's motorcycle, that person will need to transfer the title of the bike to you.

I'm going to buy a car from a guy in town. It's a good car, but he can't find the title for it and I'm going to need a bill of sale. Can you help?

For the lost title, have the seller fill out a Affidavit of Lost Title to submit to the DMV. If you live in Anchorage or Fairbanks, check our emissions check page to see if the vehicle will require and I/M testing certification.

Here's where you may download and print a handy, blank bill of sale that you may use for the sale of any motor vehicle.

I was in a minor accident that completely ruined my rear license plate. Can I get a replacement?

Yes, you may apply for a replacement license plate by mail or online. The fee for a replacement license plate is $5 for a set of two, and an additional $5 for a set of month/year tabs.

My car was declared a total loss after an accident but I kept the salvage rights to it. Now I want to get rid of it, what can I do?

You have a few options. Our page on salvaged vehicle is a good place to start. You may sell the vehicle as-is to a private party, an automotive recycler, or to an auto dismantler.

My wife and I just retired and downsized from a house to a mobile home. Do we need to get a title and registration?

If you mean that you purchased a motor home, then yes, you will need to register your RV or motor home. If you purchased a mobile home that does not run on its own motive power (must be towed or moved on a flatbed) then you will be required to transfer the title of the mobile home. Either way, happy retirement!

I'm new to Alaska, too. Can I get personalized license plates here?

Welcome to Alaska! You certainly can get personalized and specialized license plates here. Here's a link to everything you'll need to know about getting personalized and specialized license plates, including how to order them online, and the fees for each plate choice.

I built my dad a little trailer for his tractor so he could haul hay out to the sheep he keeps on his large property. Do I need to have it registered or anything?

The DMV has rules regarding the titling of home-built trailers, but that only applies to trailers that will be used on public roads. If your father only uses his trailer on his property and does not intend to use the trailer with a vehicle away from the farm, then he need not register the trailer.

How do I replace a lost registration?

You can obtain a duplicate by visiting a DMV office or requesting a duplicate through the mail. Either way, you'll be required to complete a Vehicle Transaction Application and pay a $2 duplicate registration fee.

If you opt for mail, here's the address:

• State of Alaska

• Division of Motor Vehicles

• Attn: Correspondence

• 1300 W. Benson Blvd., Suite 200

• Anchorage, AK 99503-3600

How do I request a duplicate title?

You can either visit any DMV office or request a duplicate via mail. Regardless of which avenue you choose, you'll be required to submit a notarized Affidavit of Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Title, a lien release (if the title has a lien), and a $15 fee.

Mail to:

• State of Alaska

• Division of Motor Vehicles

• Attn: Correspondence

• 1300 W. Benson Blvd., Suite 200

• Anchorage, AK 99503-3600

What if my registration does not arrive in the mail?

Contact Alaska's DMV at dmv_webmaster@admin.state.ak.us and be sure to include your license plate number and your current mailing and residential address. If you feel more comfortable talking to a live voice, you can also get help by calling your local DMV office.

How do I obtain replacement tabs?

Easy. Complete a Vehicle Transaction Application and pay a $5 tab fee. You can do this in person at any DMV office or mail the application to:

• State of Alaska

• Division of Motor Vehicles

• Attn: Correspondence

• 1300 W. Benson Blvd., Suite 200

• Anchorage, AK 99503-3600

What about nonoperational venhicles?

You do not need to register a vehicle that's in storage or in nonoperable condition, provided you keep the vehicle entirely off public roads.

When you bring the vehicle back to life, register it as you would any vehicle's registration renewal.

I’ve heard the IRS honors a tax deduction that has to do with my vehicle registration fees. Is this true?

Yes. The scoop is that the IRS counts a vehicle registration fee that's based on your vehicle's value as a personal property tax, which is deductible. This is true even if your state calls the fee a "registration fee" or a "vehicle use fee." Check out page 146 of the IRS's Publication 17 for more details.

But before you start entering your registration fees on line 7 of the 1040A form, double check to make sure your state calculates the car registration fee based on the car's value. For example, if your state charges you 1% of the car's value each year as a vehicle fee, and you pay $100 based on your car's value ($10,000), then you can deduct $100. If your state charges you for 1% of the car's value, plus a bunch of other miscellaneous fees, then you can still only deduct the $100. The fees might be itemized on your vehicle registration card or registration renewal form.

Other states ignore the car's value and charge only based on the vehicle weight; in those cases, you can't take the deduction.

If you aren't sure about whether the state charges this fee or you can't find the fee, contact your local motor-vehicle office. If you have questions about taking the deduction, call a tax professional or the IRS.