Vehicle owners must apply for an Alaska car title through the state Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 30 days of acquiring a new or used vehicle. When motorists apply for a new or used car title, they transfer the vehicle into their name to display proof of ownership. Furthermore, drivers must apply for an auto title in person at a DMV office, unless they reside in a remote part of the state.

After applying for a vehicle title in AK, car owners must register their vehicles. However, drivers may apply for a DMV car title and registration simultaneously, if they wish. To learn more about how to get car titles and the ways in which titles relate to registering a vehicle, review the sections below.

Where to Apply for a Car Title in Alaska

When drivers need to obtain a title for cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, motorhomes or manufactured homes, they may complete the process in person at a DMV branch if they purchase the vehicle new or used from a third-party seller. The state does not accept new car title requests through the mail.

However, the process of getting car titles is slightly different when motorists purchase a vehicle from a dealership. In this case, the dealership submits the AK certificate of title application to the DMV on behalf of the vehicle owner.

Furthermore, the process of how to get a car title varies when vehicle owners reside in a remote part of the state that does not provide access to a DMV office, or if they live further than 50 miles from a DMV branch. Drivers may apply for a pink slip (title) through the mail, in this case. To apply for an Alaska car title using the mail-in method, drivers must send all paperwork to the following address:

State of Alaska
DMV
ATTN: CORRESPONDENCE
1300 W Benson Boulevard STE 200
Anchorage AK 99503-3600

When a dealer submits the DMV car title paperwork on behalf of a car owner, the dealer may provide the buyer with a 60-day driving permit so the vehicle owner may operate the car before the DMV transfers the vehicle’s title into the buyer’s name.

The Alaska Auto Title Application

Drivers may apply to get car title documentation and registration paperwork simultaneously if they wish to simplify the process of registering a new vehicle. To apply for a new car title and registration at the same time, vehicle owners must complete a Vehicle Transaction Application (Form 812) and check the applicable boxes at the top of the form to request both a title and registration. Additionally, drivers who need to obtain an Alaska car title and registration must provide the following information when completing the application:

• The vehicle’s year, make, model, body style, color, odometer reading, weight and vehicle identification number (VIN).
• The vehicle’s license plate number.
• Vehicle ownership information (including co-owner information, if applicable).
• The name and address of the lienholder (if applicable).

To obtain a pink slip in AK, all vehicle owners must sign and date the application before submitting it.

Documents You Must Provide When Applying for a New Car Title in Alaska

When getting a car title in Alaska, a driver must visit a DMV office to submit all titling paperwork, unless the car owner purchases the vehicle from a dealership. In this case, the dealership must submit all vehicle title paperwork on behalf of the buyer. However, a purchaser who acquires a vehicle from a third-party seller or private party must visit a DMV branch to submit the following documentation:

• Proof of vehicle ownership (such as the vehicle’s previous car title or the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin).
• The vehicle’s previous registration card (if applicable).
• A Vehicle Transaction Application (Form 812).
• If the vehicle’s previous certificate of title does not allow enough space for an odometer reading, drivers must submit an Odometer Disclosure Form (Form 839) Drivers must include an odometer reading if the vehicle is under 10 years of age and weighs less than 12,000 lbs.
• A lien release (if applicable).
• The name and address of the lienholder (if applicable).
• Payment for all applicable new or used car title and registration fees.

When applying for a DMV car title in Alaska, drivers must also present a valid driver license. If vehicle owners cannot visit a DMV office on their own, they must complete and notarize a Power of Attorney (Form 847).

Note: Vehicle owners who live in a remote location and need to get a car title through the mail must send the above documentation to the DMV. Motorists must allow between two and four weeks for processing.

What is an Alaska car registration?

An AK vehicle registration card and certificate of title are two separate documents that motorists must obtain whenever they purchase a new or used vehicle. Under state law, drivers must obtain auto registration documentation before car owners may operate the motor vehicle on state roadways. After completing the DMV car registration process, the state issues license plates as proof of vehicle registration.

However, drivers may only apply for car registration documentation after applying for a new title, or they may complete the two processes at the same time. Alternately, the dealer submits all motor vehicle registration and titling paperwork to the DMV when motorists purchase a vehicle from a dealership.

Note: To obtain a new car registration in Alaska, drivers must present proof of liability auto insurance, along with the vehicle’s title and current out-of-state registration (if applicable).

What is the difference between a car title and a vehicle registration in Alaska?

You must get car registration documentation and a new certificate of title before you may legally drive your vehicle in the state. While your vehicle’s title displays proof of vehicle ownership, your motor vehicle registration shows that the DMV allows you to drive the vehicle on state roadways.

However, you may apply for an Alaska car registration and title at the same time when you complete the Vehicle Transaction Application (Form 812). Note that, you may apply for each document separately, but you cannot operate your vehicle until you obtain both a title and registration.

Car Title Costs in Alaska

The standard car title cost in Alaska is $100. However, there are additional fees for a vehicle with an active lien, such as the added cost of $15.

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