I'm a new resident in Alaska: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from Alaska. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in Alaska

Each rule comes from the Alaska driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Tests when you transfer a license

  Written and vision tests; no driving test if licensed within 5 years in U.S., Canada or South Korea.

  What the manual says

  • Whether you test

    • Transferring a license means passing a written test on Alaska driving standards and a vision test, and providing acceptable identity and residence address documents.
    • No driving test is required if you hold, or held in the last five years, a license from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea.
    • Show your previous license by surrendering it or, if it is lost, provide a certified driving record. An applicant holding an out-of-state license may be required to surrender it before an Alaska license is issued.
    • A valid motorcycle license or endorsement from another jurisdiction transfers if the Alaska Motorcycle Knowledge test is passed in addition to all other requirements.
    • The written test may be attempted only once per day.

  • Whether you test

    • Transferring a license means passing a written test on Alaska driving standards and a vision test, and providing acceptable identity and residence address documents.
    • No driving test is required if you hold, or held in the last five years, a license from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea.
    • Show your previous license by surrendering it or, if it is lost, provide a certified driving record. An applicant holding an out-of-state license may be required to surrender it before an Alaska license is issued.
    • A valid motorcycle license or endorsement from another jurisdiction transfers if the Alaska Motorcycle Knowledge test is passed in addition to all other requirements.
    • The written test may be attempted only once per day.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Liability insurance

  Owner or driver must carry liability insurance; minimum $50,000/$100,000 injury or death, $25,000 property damage.

  What the manual says

  • The law requires either the vehicle owner or the driver to carry liability insurance.
  • The minimum is $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury or death.
  • The minimum is $25,000 for property damage.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 10

• How long the license lasts

  Expires on your birthday in the eighth year after issue; under 21: 90 days after turning 21.

  What the manual says

  • How long a license lasts

    • State law sets expiration on the licensee’s birthday in the eighth year following the issuance of a new license.
    • A license issued to a person under 21 expires 90 days after the person turns 21.
  • A driver’s license of a person under 21 expires 90 days after the 21st birthday.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 5

  Source: [1] [3]

Road rules

• Teen driving hours

  Provisional license: no driving 1-5 a.m. unless with a parent, guardian or licensed person 21+; direct work trips excepted.

  What the manual says

  • A provisional license holder may not operate a motor vehicle between 1:00 am and 5:00 am unless accompanied as described.
  • Driving between 1:00 am and 5:00 am is allowed to or from work or within the scope of employment, along the most direct route.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 6

• Passengers for teen drivers

  Provisional license: no passengers unless a parent, guardian or person 21+ is along; siblings are allowed.

  What the manual says

  • A provisional license holder may not carry passengers unless one is a parent, legal guardian, or a person at least 21 years of age.
  • The manual says a provisional license holder may carry, without a parent in the vehicle, passengers if they are siblings.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 6

• Alcohol limit under 21

  Any amount of alcohol while driving under 21 is an offense; the DMV revokes the license.

  What the manual says

  • The offense covers operating a motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft after consuming alcohol in any amount.
  • The manual says the DMV will revoke your license, privilege to drive, or privilege to obtain a license.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 16

• Refusing a chemical test

  Refusal brings DUI and Refusal charges, 90-day first-offense revocation, and no limited work driving privilege.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says refusal results in two criminal charges, DUI and Refusal, which the court can treat separately.
  • The first-offense administrative revocation is 90 days.
  • The manual says there is no limited work purpose driving privilege for a person who refuses chemical testing.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 14, 16

• Seat belts

  All passengers, regardless of age, must use a belt or restraint; passengers 18 and older are cited.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says Alaska law requires all passengers, regardless of age, to use a seat belt or appropriate restraint device (car seat or booster seat).
  • The manual says passengers 18 and older will be issued a citation for failure to wear a seat belt.
  • The manual says the driver is responsible for all passengers under the age of 16 years.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 22, 21

• Child safety seats

  Rear-facing seat: under 1 or under 20 lb. Booster: over 4, under 8, under 57 in, 20 to under 65 lb.

  What the manual says

  • The law requires such a child to be properly secured in a rear-facing child safety seat that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards.
  • The law requires a booster seat secured by a seat belt system or another approved child passenger restraint system for a child of that age, height and weight.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 21

• Phone use while driving

  Texting, web surfing and reading email while driving are against the law.

  What the manual says

  • The "X the Text" tip says never to text and drive, surf the web or read email, and that it is dangerous and against the law in Alaska.
  • The manual says Alaska has a law aimed at reducing driver distraction.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 24, 26

• Move Over law

  Stationary emergency vehicle on four-lane road: move to the lane opposite the vehicle if safe; otherwise slow down.

  What the manual says

  • The manual says that on a four-lane road drivers must pull to the lane opposite the emergency vehicle or tow truck if it is safe to do so.
  • The manual says that on a two-lane road, or if it is not safe to change lanes, you must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed when passing.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 64

• Headlights

  Half hour after sunset to half hour before sunrise; by day if visibility is 1000 feet or less.

  What the manual says

  • The lighting law requires headlights from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
  • The lighting law requires daytime headlights when visibility is reduced to 1000 feet or less.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 55

• Right turn on red

  Allowed after a full stop when safe, unless a "No turn on red" sign prohibits it.

  What the manual says

  • Right turns on red are permitted only after a full stop, when safe, and not restricted by a “No turn on red” sign.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 50

• Speed limits

  Unposted maximums: business district 20 mph, residential 25, any other roadway 55.

  What the manual says

  • The speed laws set the maximum in a business district at 20 mph.
  • The speed laws set the maximum in a residential district at 25 mph.
  • The speed laws set the maximum on any other roadway at 55 mph.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 29

• Left lane and keeping right

  On controlled access multi-lane roads, slow moving vehicles must keep right.

  What the manual says

  • Under passing, the manual says slow moving vehicles must keep right.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 57

• Points and suspension

  12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months means mandatory suspension or revocation.

  What the manual says

  • Accumulating 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months requires mandatory suspension or revocation.

  Source: Alaska Driver Manual (Revised October 2025), page 11

Official steps for moving to Alaska

• Visitors and the 90 days

  Visitors with a valid out-of-state or foreign license may drive in Alaska for up to 90 days. If you are moving to Alaska, the DMV’s Visiting or New to Alaska page explains when and how to transfer your license; read it for how it applies to you.

  Source: [2]

• Whether you test

  • Transferring a license means passing a written test on Alaska driving standards and a vision test, and providing acceptable identity and residence address documents.
  • No driving test is required if you hold, or held in the last five years, a license from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea.
  • Show your previous license by surrendering it or, if it is lost, provide a certified driving record. An applicant holding an out-of-state license may be required to surrender it before an Alaska license is issued.
  • A valid motorcycle license or endorsement from another jurisdiction transfers if the Alaska Motorcycle Knowledge test is passed in addition to all other requirements.
  • The written test may be attempted only once per day.

  Source: [1] [2]

• Members of the armed forces and their families

  • U.S. armed forces members, and their spouses over 18, with a valid license from the state where they keep their permanent residence are exempt from needing an Alaska license. Dependents are not exempt.
  • Active-duty military stationed in Alaska who remain residents of another state (and their spouses) need no Alaska license; dependents must surrender their out-of-state license and get an Alaska license.

  Source: [1] [4]

• Drivers from other countries

  • All documents must be original, valid and unexpired.
  • Eligibility depends on your immigration admittance class. The DMV’s page lists the eligible and not-eligible classes; holders of some classes (for example C-1 to C-4, D-1, D-2 and the temporary visa waiver) are not eligible for a license, permit or state ID card.
  • The DMV verifies immigration information through the federal SAVE program. If SAVE cannot verify it immediately, a USCIS staff review (second-step verification) is needed, which can take approximately 8 weeks.
  • For classes requiring an I-94, print a copy at cbp.gov/i-94 and include it with the application.
  • The license or ID may have a duration under 8 years to match the authorized stay in the United States.
  • Documents that are not in English need an English translation.

  Source: [5] [6]

Sources

1. Alaska Driver Manual (DMV), REV. 10/2025, English (dmv.alaska.gov) — Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration
2. Visiting or New to Alaska (dmv.alaska.gov) — Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration
3. Alaska Statutes Title 28, Chapter 15 (Driver Licensing), sections 28.15.011-28.15.999 (akleg.gov) — Alaska State Legislature (akleg.gov)
4. Military & Veteran Services (dmv.alaska.gov) — Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration
5. New to Alaska from another country (dmv.alaska.gov) — Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration
6. Alaska Administrative Code, 2 AAC 90.400-90.490 (driver licensing) (akleg.gov) — Alaska State Legislature (akleg.gov, Administrative Code)