The short answer
| Item | Alaska answer |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $15. Add $15 if a lien is recorded. |
| Tax | No state sales tax on a car purchase. |
| Deadline | 30 days from the date of sale. Alaska has no late title fee. |
| Registration | $100 for two years for a passenger car. |
| Plates | Plates don't come with the car. You get new plates with your registration. |
| Typical total | Private purchase, no loan: $15 + $100 = $115. |
How much does a title transfer cost in Alaska?
The title is the document that proves who owns the car. Putting it in your name costs $15.
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Title fee | $15 | Every title transfer |
| Lien recording | $15 | Only if a lender is listed on the title (a lien is the lender's claim on the car until the loan is paid) |
| Duplicate title | $15 | If a title is lost or damaged |
| Replacement plate | $5 | Only if you need a new plate |
Worked example: passenger car bought from a private seller
No loan, so no lien. The buyer titles and registers the car at the same time.
- Title fee: $15.00
- Two-year registration, passenger car: $100.00
Total: $115.00.
With a lien recorded: $115 + $15 = $130.00.
Two things can add to this. Doing it in person at a DMV office can add a $10 fee. And some communities add a local registration tax (next section).
The Alaska calculator below starts from the same $115.00. Tick "Recording a lien" to see $130.00.
Do you pay sales tax on a car in Alaska?
No. Alaska has no state sales tax or use tax on a car purchase. (Use tax is the tax some states charge on a car bought somewhere else.)
- Municipal registration tax. Some municipalities chose to add a motor vehicle registration tax. It's collected with your registration. For a passenger car it runs from $121 down to $16, depending on the car's age. The calculator shows Anchorage's as a separate line.
- Local sales tax. Some cities and boroughs have their own sales tax. Rates vary, and there's no single statewide figure.
How many days do you have to transfer a title in Alaska?
30 days from the date of sale.
- Bought from a dealer? The dealer must apply for the title within 30 days. The dealer can give you a 60-day temporary permit to drive meanwhile.
- Alaska charges no late title fee. Missing the 30 days doesn't add a title penalty.
- Registration is where lateness costs you. If a car's registration expired less than a year ago, you pay the full two-year fee counted back to the month it expired. So time already lost is still paid for.
What documents do you need?
- The title, signed over to you by the seller.
- Form V1 (Vehicle Transaction Application), filled in and signed in ink.
- The odometer reading, written on the title or on Form V6, for vehicles under 12,000 lbs and under 20 years old.
- A lien release, if the title still shows a loan that has been paid off.
A bill of sale is not enough. In Alaska a bill of sale doesn't transfer ownership. It's only a record for your own files. The signed title does the transfer.
Plates and registration
Plates belong to the owner, not the car. Standard plates don't transfer from the seller. The DMV issues you new plates, and they're included in the registration fee.
Already have a plate from a car you sold? You can move it to your new car for $5.
A passenger car pays $100 for a two-year registration. Alaska has no extra fee for electric or hybrid cars.
Adding or removing an owner, and family transfers
Alaska treats these the same as a sale. You use the same documents and pay the same $15 title fee. There's no separate gift form, and no state tax on a gifted car.
Where to apply
At any DMV office or DMV business partner location, or by mail to the DMV's Anchorage correspondence address.
Seller's steps
- Sign the title over to the buyer and hand it over when you deliver the car.
- Send the Notice of Vehicle Sale (the bottom part of the title) to the DMV.
- Take off personalized or specialty plates. They stay with you.
Forms
- V1: Vehicle Transaction Application.
- V6: Odometer disclosure.
- 814: Release a plate to another person.
What this guide doesn't cover
Commercial vehicles, local sales tax rates, municipal registration tax outside Anchorage, special plates, and dealer paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Alaska?
$15 for the title, plus $15 if a lien is recorded. With the $100 two-year registration for a passenger car, a private purchase comes to $115, or $130 with a lien.
Do I need a bill of sale to transfer a title in Alaska?
A bill of sale doesn't transfer ownership in Alaska. You need the title signed over by the seller and Form V1. A bill of sale is only a record for your files.
How long do I have to transfer a car title in Alaska?
30 days from the date of sale. If you buy from a dealer, the dealer applies within 30 days and can give you a 60-day temporary permit.
Do the license plates stay with the seller in Alaska?
Yes. Standard plates don't transfer with the car. You get new plates with your registration, or move your own plate from a car you sold for $5.
Is there a late fee for a title transfer in Alaska?
No. Alaska charges no late title fee. If the registration has expired, though, you pay the full two-year fee counted back to the month it expired.
See title transfer fees for all 50 states
Calculate your Alaska fees
Totals cover a 2-year registration.
Example for a $30,000 car. Enter your own price to update it.
- Registration (2 yrs)Noncommercial, 10,000 lbs or less$100.00
- Title fee$15.00
Total excludes items marked "not available".
What you'll pay later
Renewal at today's rates: $100.00 for 2 years
5-year total: not shown, because it is a 2-year registration.
Estimate only, at today's rates for the same car.
Rates and sources for every fee are on the Alaska car registration fee calculator page.
- Alaska Statutes AS 28.10.441 (fee schedule: title $15, lien $15, duplicate title $15, replacement plate $5)
- Alaska DMV – Titles (30 days from the date of sale; Form V1; odometer reading; a bill of sale doesn't transfer ownership)
- Alaska Statutes AS 28.10.321, AS 28.10.421, AS 28.10.431 and AS 28.10.493 (cited by name, not linked)
- Alaska DMV – New Vehicle, License Plates, Selling a Vehicle, Add or Remove an Owner, and Dealer Titles pages (cited by name, not linked)
- Alaska Department of Revenue, Tax Division (cited by name, not linked)
General information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and tax rules change; confirm with the agency listed before you pay.
Related guides
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