To get your driver’s license in Alaska, you’ll be required to go through Alaska’s Graduated Driver’s License program and pass a written test, a vision test, and two road tests. You’ll then be able to apply for your full, unrestricted license at the age of 18. You’ll also need to offer proof of residency and pay any necessary fees.
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What are the requirements for a driver’s license in Alaska?
In Alaska, you can apply for your full, unrestricted license at the age of 18, so long as you’ve held a provisional license for at least six months. Before heading to the DMV, you’ll need to gather some documents that you’ll be required to present, including:
A document proving your full name, such as a U.S. Passport or birth certificate
A document proving your date of birth, such as your birth certificate
Proof of your Alaska residency, such as your rental or lease agreement, a utility bill, voter registration confirmation, etc.
Proof of your Social Security number, such as a Social Security card, a W-2 form, a pay stub, etc.
For a full list of documents you can use to prove your identity in Alaska when getting your driver’s license, check out your DMV’s website
. You’ll also need to pay a $20 fee for a standard Class D license. The same fee applies for a motorcycle license—M1, M2, or M3.
What are the requirements for young drivers?
Alaska has a Graduated Driver’s License program, meaning that young drivers will have to wait until they are at least 18 years of age before they can get their full unrestricted license. Alaska’s system has two stages before drivers can get their full license:
Learner’s permit
Starting at age 14, Alaska residents can get an instruction permit to begin learning how to drive. This means they must have a licensed driver at least 21 years of age in the passenger seat of the vehicle at all times. The older driver must be licensed to drive the type of vehicle the learner is operating.
Instruction permits last for two years and can be renewed only once. Teens with an instruction permit from another state are required to get an Alaska learner’s permit if they wish to continue to learn in Alaska.
To get a learner’s permit, head to your local
DMV and do the following: Complete Application Form D1
Complete Parental Consent Form 433
for cars or 433M
for motorcycles Pass a written knowledge test, a vision test, and pay a $15 fee
You’ll need to prove your legal name, date of birth, Alaska residency, and provide your Social Security Number. You can practice the written test ahead of time here
. Restricted license
At age 16, Alaskans can apply for a restricted license at their local DMV office, so long as they have had a learner’s permit for at least six months.
When applying for a restricted license, bring the following:
Completed Parental Consent Form 433
or 433M
Completed Application Form D1
Parents must prove that the applicant has accumulated 40 hours of driving experience, 10 of which must have been in challenging conditions, such as during bad weather or driving at night.
What are the requirements for out-of-state drivers?
If you are at least 16 years of age and hold an out-of-state driver's license from another state, territory, or country, you are allowed to drive in Alaska. If you are driving in Alaska for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for an Alaska driver’s license at the DMV. If doing so, you’ll need to do the following:
Surrender your out-of-state driver’s license
Pass a written, vision, and alcohol and drug test at age 21
Prove your name, date of birth, Alaska residency, and provide your Social Security number
If you hold a license from another U.S. state, territory, or a Canadian driver’s license, you will not be required to take a road test. If your license is from outside the U.S. and Canada, you will be required to take a road test.
Key Takeaway For out-of-state drivers intending to stay in Alaska for more than 90 days, you may have to take additional tests to get your Alaska driver’s license.
How to get a driver’s license in Alaska
Once you have held your provisional license for at least six months, and are at least 18 years of age, you can apply for your full unrestricted Alaska driver’s license. Before swapping your provisional license for a Class D license, you’ll need to fill out Form D1
and take a road test. You’ll be expected to know the rules of the road, Alaska traffic regulations, and demonstrate safe driving habits. You’ll need to provide your own vehicle and proof of insurance for the test, as well as the following:
Your valid instruction permit
Current knowledge test scores
Current vehicle registration and proof of insurance
If renting a car for the road test, you must be listed on the rental agreement. You also cannot have been convicted of a citation for the past 6 months.
Be sure your vehicle is up to par with the following being fully operational:
A properly working horn, front and rear lights, turn signals, steering wheel, and rear-view mirror
Functional headlights, windshield wipers, and seatbelts
An adequate level of fuel
Clear windows for good visibility
On your road test, expect to perform some or all of the following maneuvers:
Observing the right of way
A quick stop from driving 20 miles per hour
Signaling, turning, and passing
Your Alaska state examiner will watch you closely to ensure you practice safe driving habits, follow traffic rules and signals, and make full and complete stops. Once you pass your test, you’ll receive your full license in the mail within a few weeks.
How to save money on car insurance in Alaska
Once you’ve passed your driver’s license, you’ll need a robust and affordable car insurance
plan in order to hit Alaska’s roads. Using Jerry
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