A salvage title in Alaska is a legal document issued to vehicle owners whose cars have been damaged and proclaimed as salvaged. The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the Department of Administration (DOA) does not issue a salvage certificate for motor vehicles that have been damaged. Instead, the department issues titles for reconstructed or home built vehicles, depending on the way the vehicle has been rebuilt.

Prior to getting a rebuilt salvage title in Alaska, vehicle owners may need to satisfy certain eligibility requirements as part of the application procedure. The procedure may vary from one situation to another, depending on the damages to the vehicle and the degree of reparation that must be performed. To learn more information about how to get a salvage title in Alaska, continue reading the sections below.

What is an Alaska salvage title?

An Alaska salvage title is a certificate issued by the AK DMV for motor vehicles whose repair cost is higher than the value of the vehicle. When it comes to salvage title cars in AK, the state DMV allows vehicle owners to choose whether they want to reconstruct or to rebuild their motor vehicles. A reconstructed vehicle is a motor vehicle whose important parts – such as the chassis, body and engine – have been removed, added or substituted from the original constructed vehicle. Moreover, the term home-built vehicle in Alaska in most cases refers to the trailers that have been built by a person, instead of by a manufacturer. Therefore, motorists must know the difference between a reconstructed and a home-built vehicle before they apply for the appropriate title certificate.

Note: Apart from the home-built and reconstructed car salvage in AK, a motor vehicle may be also proclaimed as a non-repairable or “parts only” vehicle. Corresponding titles may be issued only when the car cannot be titled or registered as a result of being damaged, burned or wrecked to that extent that its residual value is a source of parts or scrap metal.

Alaska Salvage Title Eligibility Requirements

Prior to buying a salvage title car in Alaska, motorists who are purchasing or reconstructing the motor vehicle may be mandated to satisfy certain eligibility requirements. The AK DMV determines the eligibility criteria according to the motorists’ specific situations. For instance, vehicle owners may get a reconstructed or home-built salvage certificate for their motor vehicles, depending on the type of vehicle they own. Therefore, they need to learn the eligibility requirements that apply to their situation before applying for a rebuilt salvage title for reconstructed or home-built motor vehicle.

Note: If the motor vehicle is recently purchased, new owners are required to obtain a title by transferring it into their names within 30 days of the date of sale.

How to Get a Salvage Title in Alaska

When applying for a reconstructed salvage title in Alaska, vehicle owners need to perform the corresponding procedure by satisfying certain requirements. To get a reconstructed or home-built vehicle title, motorists need to do the following:

• Complete an Application for Title and Registration.
• Complete a Reconstructed Vehicle Affidavit.
• Have the vehicle inspected by a DMV representative.
• Submit a completed Verification of Vehicle Inspection.
• Provide the original titles from all motor vehicles which were used in the reconstruction.
• Provide bills of sale and invoices for the major parts that have been used in the reconstruction.
• Submit lien release, if applicable.
• Pay the required fees.

Since a salvage vehicle inspection for a reconstructed or home-built vehicle must be conducted by a DMV representative, the application procedure may be performed in person at a local AK DMV branch.

Note: When titling home-built trailers, vehicle owners may be mandated to provide weight slips in addition to the above-listed requirements.

Salvage Car Inspections in Alaska

An Alaska salvage vehicle inspection is a procedure that vehicle owners must perform as part of the requirements for getting a reconstructed or home-built title certificates. Motorists need to inspect their reconstructed or home-built motor vehicles in order to verify the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the identity of the vehicle they own.

Vehicle owners who are preparing for a home-built or reconstructed salvage vehicle inspection may have to visit a local DMV branch or a police station in order to perform the required procedure. Motorists must have their motor vehicles inspected by either a DMV representative or by a law enforcement officer.  To bring the reconstructed or home-built vehicle at the nearby AK DMV location, owners may have to first obtain a permit. The permit is a special document that allows a one-way trip to the AK DMV without getting any kind of penalty if pulled over by a police officer.

Alaska Salvage Title Fees

One of the mandatory steps when getting a reconstructed or rebuilt title in Alaska requires vehicle owners to submit payment for the applicable fees. Motorists who are reconstructing or home-building their motor vehicles may be required to pay certain reconstruction fees.

In addition to the salvage title value, vehicle owners may also be mandated to submit another payment for the applicable car registration taxes. To discover the exact fees that must be paid, depending on the vehicle type, model year and plates, motorists may consult the AK DMV fees calculator, available at their website.

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