Driving Tests

Moving to Alaska: Transfer Your Driver's License in 90 Days

informational·how to guide·Published May 19, 2026

How long do I have to get an Alaska driver's license after I move?

You have 90 days. Alaska law counts them from the day you enter the state, and commercial drivers have 30 days. To transfer your license, you pass a written test and a vision test, show identity and residence documents, and hand over your old license. You skip the road test if you held a license from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea in the last 5 years.

Where the transfer rules come from

The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) sets the steps on its visiting or new to Alaska page. The 90-day limit is in Alaska Statutes AS 28.15.021. The test and vision details come from the Alaska Driver Manual (the official handbook). The documents, fees, military and vehicle details come from the DMV first-license, license fees, military and veteran services, road test, business partners and frequently asked questions pages, and from the DMV practice knowledge test page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.alaska.gov) before you drive.

How to transfer your license to Alaska

1
Mark your 90-day deadline
Count the 90 days from the day you enter Alaska, and plan the tests and the DMV visit inside that time.
2
Study the Alaska Driver Manual
The written test covers only the manual: traffic laws, safe driving practices and highway sign recognition.
3
Pass the written test and the vision test
Take the written test in person, online or with a proctor (an approved testing place). The DMV checks your vision before it issues the license.
4
Gather your documents
Bring identity and residence documents, your Social Security number and your out-of-state license.
5
Apply in person at a DMV office
Submit Form D1, hand over your old license and pay the fee. You can fill out and print the form in advance.

Which rule applies to you?

Which rule applies to you?
Your situation	Alaska license needed?	Road test?
New resident with a license from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea (held in the last 5 years)	Yes, within 90 days	No
New resident who never had a license, or has not had a valid license for the past 5 years	Yes, within 90 days	Yes
Active duty military stationed in Alaska who keep another state as their home	Not for you or your spouse. Dependents who plan to drive must get one	Not needed for you or your spouse
Visitor with a valid out-of-state or foreign license	Not for the first 90 days	Not needed to visit

What is on the Alaska written test?

The General Knowledge Test at the DMV has 20 questions, gives you 25 minutes and needs 16 correct answers to pass. Every applicant who is not currently licensed in Alaska takes it, so a license from another state does not let you skip it. You may attempt it only once per day, so after a fail you retake it the next day. You can take it in person, online, or with a proctor such as a business partner, a Village Public Safety Officer, a trooper, a police department, a school or a government office. Our free Alaska knowledge test format question and retake timing question cover these two rules.

How does the Alaska vision test work?

The DMV tests your vision before it issues any license or permit, and this includes an original license, so you take the test even if you hold a license from another state. The DMV uses a tele binocular device (a machine you look into). You need at least 20/40 vision in each eye or with both eyes together. If you normally wear glasses or contacts, bring them. Instead of the test, you can submit a certified statement from a licensed physician or optometrist that your vision meets the DMV standard.

Do you need an Alaska road test?

You hold, or in the last 5 years held, a license from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea

You do not take the driving test. Your old license is the proof: you hand it over when you apply, or, if you lost it, you bring a certified driving record.

You never had a license, or you have not had a valid license for the past 5 years

You take the road test. You cannot get the fee back, but you can reschedule at no fee at least 24 hours before your appointment. Bring proof of insurance that names the car you will use and its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The guide to the Alaska road test shows what the examiner checks.

What documents do you bring to the DMV?

You apply in person at a DMV office with Form D1. Bring one document from each of four categories: a primary document (proof of your legal name, date of birth and lawful presence), proof of your residence, your Social Security number and, if your legal name changed, proof of the name change. The residence proof must show a physical address, not a post office box. You put your Social Security number on the application; without one, bring a Social Security Administration document that shows no number was issued to you. The guide to what to bring to the Alaska DMV lists the documents for each category.

What a transfer costs in 2026

Non-commercial driver or motorcycle license: $20 (U.S. dollars) for a standard license, $40 for a REAL ID. A REAL ID is optional, you apply for it in person, and it needs two documents that verify Alaska residency.
Road test, only if you need one: $15 at the DMV (fees at third-party testers vary).
Written test at a business partner: these privately owned businesses charge a fee for service.

When must you register your car in Alaska?

If you intend to establish residency, apply for Alaska vehicle registration within 10 days of entering the state or taking a job in the state. A non-resident may drive on a current registration from another state for 60 days. Full-time college or university students do not need Alaska registration.

What if you are in the military?

Active duty service members and their spouses have a special exemption from the 90-day rule. Alaska law exempts a member of the armed forces, and a spouse who is 18 or older, who has a valid license from another jurisdiction while their permanent residence stays in that jurisdiction (AS 28.15.021). So if you are stationed in Alaska and remain a resident of another state, neither you nor your spouse needs an Alaska license. Dependents other than the spouse who plan to drive must surrender their out-of-state licenses and get an Alaska license. You may also keep your home-state vehicle registration while it stays valid and unexpired.

Key takeaways

Get your Alaska license within 90 days of entering the state (commercial drivers: 30 days).
Plan for a written test (20 questions, 16 to pass) and a vision test (20/40).
No road test if you held a license from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canada or South Korea in the last 5 years.
Register your car within 10 days if you plan to stay.
Next step: practice on our free Alaska Class D permit practice test before your written test.

Frequently asked questions

Can I register my car in Alaska before it arrives?

In most cases, yes. You can get Alaska registration while the vehicle is still in transit if you bring its most current title or Manufacturer Certificate of Origin (MCO). If your lender holds the title while you make payments, show your registration from the other state instead, as long as it has not been expired for more than 60 days.

How much does it cost to register a car in Alaska?

Registration is generally good for two years from the date you apply. The fee depends on your location and the vehicle type, and the DMV's registration calculator gives the amount for your vehicle. Every trailer needs registration too, whatever its size.

Does my motorcycle license transfer to Alaska?

Yes. A valid motorcycle license or endorsement from another state transfers to your new Alaska license. You must pass the Alaska Motorcycle Knowledge Test as well as meet all the other license requirements, and the Alaska Motorcycle Rider manual helps you prepare.

Can I get an Alaska license if another state suspended mine?

Not until the suspension ends. Alaska does not issue a license to a person whose driving privilege is suspended, canceled or revoked in Alaska or in another state. If another state took the action, get written proof from that state that the suspension or revocation has ended, and bring it to the DMV.