Alaska DMV Exam FAQ 2026
How do I get my first driver's license in Alaska?
You apply through the State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Most people begin with an instruction permit, which you can get at 14 by passing the vision and knowledge tests, then practice under supervision before taking the road test. The standard passenger-vehicle credential is the Class D license, and applicants who are 16 or 17 must hold a valid instruction permit for at least six months before a license can be issued. You pass the knowledge (written) test, a road (driving) skills test, and a vision screening, and under-18 applicants need parental consent on Form D1.
What is the minimum age to get an instruction permit in Alaska?
You can apply for an instruction permit at 14 years old. The permit is valid for two years and may be renewed once. Applicants under 18 need parental consent using Form D1, and a parent or guardian who signs may be held liable for the minor's negligence behind the wheel. The instruction permit lets you practice driving under supervision while you build the experience needed to qualify for a Class D license at 16.
What is the path to a license for drivers under 18 in Alaska?
Alaska uses a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system. A first-time applicant under 18 must hold a valid instruction permit for at least six months, have a parent, legal guardian, or employer certify at least 40 hours of driving experience — including at least 10 hours in progressively challenging conditions such as inclement weather and nighttime — and have no traffic-law conviction in the six months before applying. After meeting these requirements you can be issued a provisional Class D license at 16.
What restrictions apply to a provisional license in Alaska?
During the provisional stage — a minimum of six months, and it can last until age 18 — you may not carry passengers unless one passenger is a parent, legal guardian, or a person at least 21, though siblings are allowed without a parent present. You also may not drive between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or a licensed person at least 21, with an exemption for employment-related travel by the most direct route. After six months of conviction-free driving with no alcohol or drug convictions, the restrictions can be removed with new parental consent and a $15 new license fee.
How does an adult over 18 get an Alaska license?
Adults follow the same core steps but without the GDL requirements. You still must pass the knowledge (written) test, the road skills test, and the vision screening, and provide the required identity and residency documents. The knowledge test is required for applicants who are not currently licensed in Alaska, whose privileges have been expired for more than one year, or whose privileges have been revoked. There is no minimum six-month permit-holding period for applicants 18 and older.
How many questions are on the Alaska written test and what score do I need to pass?
The Alaska Class D knowledge test has 20 questions, and you must score 80 percent or higher to pass. That means you need at least 16 correct answers, so you can miss no more than 4 questions. The test covers only information found in the Alaska Driver Manual, including traffic laws, safe driving practices, and highway sign recognition. If you fail, the manual states the test may be retaken the following day.
Can I take the Alaska knowledge test online?
Yes. Alaska offers the written test through the official online "Alaska KnowToDrive" system at ak.knowtodrive.com, and you can also take it in person at a DMV office or through an authorized third-party proctor. KnowToDrive supports multiple languages and audio playback, and it gives immediate pass or fail results. Whichever method you choose, the test still consists of 20 questions with the same 80 percent passing standard.
What documents do I need to bring to the Alaska DMV?
You must prove your identity and, if you want a federally compliant card, meet REAL ID document requirements. Applicants under 18 must bring parental consent on Form D1, and those completing the GDL path bring certification of at least 40 hours of driving experience. If you are transferring from another state your out-of-state license helps establish your driving history. Always check dmv.alaska.gov for the current list of acceptable identity, Social Security, and Alaska residency documents before your visit.
What is the road (driving) test in Alaska?
After you pass the knowledge test and hold your permit for the required time, you take a road skills test that checks your ability to control the vehicle safely and follow Alaska traffic laws. The driving test fee is $15 through the DMV. The examiner evaluates skills such as signaling, turns, lane use, following distance, and obeying signs and signals, all of which come directly from the Alaska Driver Manual you studied for the written test.
How much does an Alaska driver's license cost?
A non-commercial driver license costs $20 for a standard card or $40 for a REAL ID (federally compliant) card. An instruction permit is $15 standard or $35 REAL ID, and a motorcycle license is $20 standard or $40 REAL ID. A commercial driver license (CDL) is $100 standard or $120 REAL ID. The driving test fee is $15 through the DMV, and a copy of your driving record costs $10.
When do I renew my Alaska license and what about under-21 licenses?
Under-21 licenses are handled differently: they expire 90 days after the holder's 21st birthday, and an alcohol awareness written test is required to renew. In fact, a separate alcohol awareness written test must be taken after your 21st birthday before an original or renewal license is issued. You must also report any name or address change to the DMV within 30 days. Your vision must meet at least 20/40 in each eye or with both eyes together, and if you need corrective lenses to reach that standard they become required while driving.
What is a REAL ID and do I need one in Alaska?
A REAL ID is a federally compliant driver license or ID card that meets national identification standards. In Alaska it costs more than a standard card — for example $40 for a REAL ID driver license versus $20 for the standard version. You are not required to get a REAL ID, but a standard card cannot be used for federal purposes such as boarding domestic flights or entering secure federal facilities. Choose the option that fits how you plan to use your card and bring the additional documents the DMV requires to verify identity for a REAL ID.
Can I transfer my out-of-state license to Alaska?
When you become an Alaska resident you must obtain an Alaska license. The knowledge (written) test is required for applicants who are not currently licensed in Alaska, whose privileges have been expired for more than one year, or whose privileges have been revoked. If you hold a valid current license from another state, the DMV determines which tests apply. You must also report your Alaska residential address, and any later name or address change must be reported to the DMV within 30 days.
How does Alaska's point system and suspension work?
Convictions for moving violations carry point values from 2 to 10. Accumulating 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months requires a mandatory suspension or revocation, and no limited "work purpose" license is available. A warning letter is sent at the halfway mark. You can earn credits for violation-free driving or by completing a Defensive Driver Course once every 12 months. A provisional license holder who reaches 6 or more points in 12 months, or 9 or more in 24 months, must complete a driver improvement course.
What are the point values for common violations in Alaska?
Sample values include 10 points for DUI, driving while suspended or revoked, reckless driving, refusing a breath sample, fleeing or eluding police, racing, or vehicular negligent homicide. Leaving the scene of a crash is 9 points. Six points apply to negligent driving, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, failure to stop for a school bus, driving without insurance, a minor operating after consuming alcohol, speeding in a school zone, or speeding 20 or more over the limit. Careless driving, following too close, and speeding 10 to 19 over are 4 points, and most other moving violations, including speeding 3 to 9 over, are 2 points.
What is the legal BAC limit for driving in Alaska?
For adults 21 and older, operating a motor vehicle with a breath or blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more means you are presumed by law to be driving under the influence. For commercial vehicle drivers the limit is 0.04. Alaska has an Implied Consent law, so by operating a vehicle you consent to a chemical breath test, and refusing after a lawful DUI arrest is a separate criminal charge. A DUI, .08-or-more, or refusal carries an administrative license revocation of 90 days for a first offense, one year with one prior, three years with two priors, and five years with three or more.
What are the alcohol rules for drivers under 21 in Alaska?
Alaska has a zero-tolerance rule for anyone under 21. It is illegal for a person under 21 to consume alcohol, and operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol in any amount — any quantity detected on a breath test — triggers administrative revocation of driving privileges. The revocation period is 30 days for a first offense, 60 days if previously revoked, 90 days with two priors, and one year with three or more. Using a license fraudulently to obtain alcohol brings a 60-day revocation for a first offense and one year for later offenses.
What are Alaska's speed limits?
Where not otherwise posted, the statutory maximums under favorable conditions are 20 mph in a business district, 15 mph in an alley, 20 mph in a school zone, 25 mph in a residential district, and 55 mph on any other roadway. Selected highways may be posted at 65 mph. Alaska's basic speed law requires driving at a careful and prudent speed no greater than is reasonable for traffic, road surface, width, and weather, and never faster than allows stopping within the assured clear distance ahead. You also may not drive so slowly that you block the normal flow of traffic.
What following distance and seat belt rules does Alaska teach?
Alaska teaches the four-second rule as the easiest way to keep a safe following distance: pick a fixed point and count "one thousand and one" through "one thousand and four," and if you pass the point before finishing, you are too close. Increase to six seconds or more when towing a trailer or on wet or slippery roads, and use the four-second rule at night so you don't overdrive your headlights. Everyone in a vehicle must wear a safety belt; the driver is responsible for all passengers under 16, while passengers 18 and older are cited for their own failure to buckle up.
What are Alaska's insurance and crash-reporting requirements?
Alaska has both Financial Responsibility and Mandatory Insurance laws. The minimum liability coverage is $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, plus $25,000 for property damage (50/100/25), and you must carry proof of insurance in the vehicle. Failing to provide proof when uninsured leads to a 90-day license suspension for a first occurrence and one year for a second. If a crash causes injury, death, or property damage of $2,000 or more, you must report it, and you must report the crash to the DMV within 10 days unless a police officer investigated.
