How To Sell a Car in Alaska

Selling a motor vehicle in Alaska requires a valid transfer of ownership through the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In a private sale, the seller must properly assign the existing title, deliver the ownership documents to the buyer, and notify DMV that the transfer is pending. The buyer must then apply for a new Alaska title within the statutory deadline.

What You Need To Know Before Selling a Car in Alaska

Private vehicle sales in Alaska are governed by DMV title procedures and Alaska statutes that address title transfers, transfer notices, and registration-related requirements. Under AS 28.10.271, the owner must notify the department after transferring or assigning title or an ownership interest in a vehicle.

Title Law and Ownership Requirements

For most ordinary on-road vehicles, Alaska uses the certificate of title as the primary ownership document. Titles are issued by the DMV for passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, vans, motorhomes, motorcycles, trailers, and manufactured homes. In a private transaction, the seller must sign and assign the existing title to the buyer, and a private party may not use dealer reassignment to pass ownership without first titling the vehicle in that party’s own name.

Vehicles Exempt From Title Requirements

The Alaska DMV does not identify a general age-based title exemption for standard motor vehicles used on public roads. However, camper shells are not titled, and ATVs and snowmachines do not require titles. As a result, a private sale involving an ordinary passenger car, pickup, van, or motorcycle generally requires an assigned title even if the vehicle is older.

Satisfying an Existing Lien

If a lien appears on the title, the lienholder’s interest must be released before the DMV can issue a clear title. A title showing an unreleased lien must be accompanied by an acceptable lien release, and a “paid” stamp by itself is not sufficient. If the original title is lost, the DMV also requires a lien release before issuing a duplicate or clear title.

Inspection or Emissions Requirements

Alaska does not currently operate an active vehicle emissions inspection program. The Fairbanks inspection and maintenance program was suspended in 2010, and the Anchorage program was discontinued in 2012. The Alaska DMV also does not require a routine inspection for an ordinary in-state private sale, although it does require a physical inspection in special situations, such as when a vehicle is presented with foreign ownership documents on Form 811.

Documents Required To Sell a Car in Alaska

Certificate of Title

The certificate of title is the document that establishes ownership for most private sales. The seller of a vehicle must sign where indicated on the title and complete the assignment to the new owner. If more than one owner is listed, signature requirements depend on the conjunction shown on the face of the title: one signature is sufficient for “OR,” while all owners must sign for “AND,” for another conjunction, or if no conjunction appears.

Bill of Sale

The Alaska DMV does not treat a bill of sale as a substitute for a title, but the DMV recommends having one signed for the protection of both parties. The DMV advises that the bill of sale include the serial number or VIN, a description of the vehicle, the date of sale, the printed names of the buyer and seller, and the signatures of both parties. A bill of sale may also help the buyer obtain temporary registration while the title application is pending.

Odometer Disclosure Statement

Federal and state title processing rules require mileage disclosure for non-exempt vehicles at the time of transfer. The DMV requires the seller to disclose the current odometer reading on the reassigned title or on the form accepted by the titling state. If the title does not contain a completed mileage statement, the Alaska DMV directs the parties to use Form V6. DMV lists exemptions for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 16,000 pounds or more, vehicles that are not self-propelled, and vehicles outside the applicable federal age-based disclosure period.

Lien Release

A lien release is required when the title shows a lien that has been satisfied. The release may appear on the title if supported by a notarized lien release letter, or it may be provided as a separate notarized statement on the lienholder’s letterhead identifying the vehicle and the person signing for the lienholder. The release should include the date, signature, and official capacity of the person issuing it.

Other State-Specific Documents

The buyer’s application for title and registration is filed on Form V1, which Alaska DMV requires to be completed in full and signed by the vehicle owner. If another person signs for the owner, a notarized power of attorney is required.

Additionally, if the Alaska title has been lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged prior to the sale, a duplicate title application on notarized Form 809 must be submitted before ownership can be transferred.

How To Transfer a Car Title in Alaska

Step 1: Complete the Title Assignment

The seller should complete the assignment section on the title exactly as printed on the document. Alaska DMV states in its new vehicle title procedure that the title must be properly released by the previous owner and assigned to the applicant and that private parties may not use dealer reassignment. Blank spaces should not be left in the assignment.

Step 2: Prepare the Bill of Sale

Although the bill of sale does not transfer title, it should be prepared and signed as a record of the transaction. The VIN, vehicle description, date of sale, the parties’ printed names, and both signatures must be included in the bill of sale.

Step 3: Complete the Odometer Disclosure

If the vehicle is not exempt, the seller must provide the mileage statement at the time of sale, and the buyer must acknowledge it. The Alaska DMV instructs the parties to place the disclosure on the title when possible and to use Form V6 if the title does not contain the required completed odometer statement.

Step 4: Deliver Documents to the Buyer

At delivery, the seller should provide the properly assigned original title and any supporting paperwork required for the buyer’s DMV filing, including the bill of sale and, if applicable, the lien release. A private purchaser may use proof of purchase, such as a bill of sale, together with a completed V1 application to obtain temporary registration while the title and registration application is being processed.

Step 5: Buyer Applies for a New Title

The buyer must submit the ownership document, the completed Form V1, the applicable fees, and any required odometer or lien documents to the Alaska DMV. An Alaska resident must apply for a title within 30 days of purchasing the vehicle.

Title Transfer Fee Schedule in Alaska

Alaska DMV’s current title-related fees are listed below.

Registration fees, municipal motor vehicle registration taxes, and other transaction-specific amounts may also apply depending on the vehicle and the owner’s location.

Sales Tax on Private Vehicle Sales

Alaska does not impose a statewide sales tax, although several municipalities do levy local sales taxes.

Local tax treatment may differ by borough or city. Municipal sales tax rates range from 1% to 7%, and both a borough and a city may impose tax in the same area. If a private vehicle sale is taxable locally, payment responsibility and timing depend on the applicable municipal ordinance, so the parties should verify local rules through the state’s tax jurisdictions directory.

What To Do After Selling a Car in Alaska

After the sale, the seller should notify Alaska DMV that the transfer is pending. Alaska DMV provides a detachable notice at the bottom of the title and also offers an online sale report that asks for the VIN or plate number, the date of sale, and the buyer’s name and address. Filing this notice helps establish that the seller has assigned and delivered the title and no longer retains an ownership interest in the vehicle.

Plate handling depends on the type of plate. Standard-issue plates are not transferable from one vehicle to another. The DMV fee chart explains that a standard plate stays with the vehicle when it is sold, a personalized or special-issue plate is surrendered or retained by the prior owner, and a generic plate is issued during transfer.

Insurance records should also be updated promptly after the transfer is completed. Under AS 28.22.101, the owner of a motor vehicle subject to registration is required to maintain liability insurance, so once the ownership transfer has been completed and reported, the seller should arrange for cancellation or revision of coverage associated with the sold vehicle.

Copies of the completed title assignment, bill of sale, lien release, and transfer notice should be retained. Alaska DMV notes in its frequently asked questions that proof of sale may be required in certain post-sale matters, including some registration refund requests.

Contact Information

Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
4001 Ingra Street, Ste. 101, Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 269-5551
Official Website: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles