Pro tip: As you prepare for an adventure across Alaska's vast terrains, ensure you're adept in driving techniques. Enhance your driving skills with our tutorials on manual transmissions and parking skills. Gain knowledge on reversing into a parking lot and executing efficient three-point turns. Perfect your mirror adjustments for safe driving. Refine your abilities with our Online Driving Simulator, and if you're from abroad, check out the international driver's license guidelines for Alaska.
An instruction permit is required for everyone learning to drive on a street or highway. While you are learning to drive, you must be accompanied by a licensed driver. The licensed driver must be at least 21 years of age and have at least one year of driving experience.
A special instruction permit may be issued to those enrolled in an approved high school, community college, commercial driver training course, or approved medical program.
Primary documents: a U.S. birth certificate or passport, foreign passport with appropriate immigration status, a resident alien, temporary resident alien, or employment work authorization document issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Secondary documents: school ID, medical records, health insurance card, employee ID.
Do I have to get an instruction permit if I live in an Alaskan rural community? No, you are not required to get an instruction permit. However, the DMV strongly encourages you to get one so that you can practice supervised driving. You can apply by mail by doing the following:
Juneau Driver Services
State of Alaska
Division of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 110221
Juneau AK 99811-0221
Hold an instruction permit for at least 6 months
You must make sure you have practiced driving and haven’t been convicted of traffic law violations in 6 months.
Practice supervised driving and get it certified
Provide written certification from your parent or guardian that you have had at least 40 hours of supervised driving, including at least 10 hours of driving at night or in poor weather.
Apply in person
Visit your local DMV office. To locate a nearby DMV office, check here. Walk-ins are welcome, but some offices offer online scheduling.
Complete the application form
You can download form 478 and complete it at home, however, you are required to sign it in front of a DMV representative.
Provide your parent or guardian consent
As you are under 18, your parent or guardian is asked to complete form 433 and sign it in the presence of a Notary Public or DMV employee.
Bring your instruction permit
Alternatively, you can bring proof of your scores on the written knowledge test.
Pay the road test fee
$ 15.00 paid by Visa, MasterCard, a personal check or money order.
Pay the license fee
$20.00 by Visa, MasterCard, a personal check or money order made out to the State of Alaska or the DMV.
Get your provisional license
After you turn 18 and have held your provisional license for at least 6 months, you can visit your local DMV office to exchange your provisional license for a full Class D driver's license.
Exceptions for residents of Alaskan rural communities:
You can get a provisional license without the usual restrictions if you use it in the areas not connected to the land highway system or is not connected to a highway where average daily traffic volume is 499 or greater. Requirements:
Your legal name, date of birth and citizenship. You must bring one primary and one secondary document.
Primary documents: a U.S. birth certificate or passport, foreign passport with appropriate immigration status, a resident alien, temporary resident alien, or employment work authorization document issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, an Alaska instruction permit or Alaska State Identification card.
Secondary documents: school ID, medical records, health insurance card, employee ID, IRS or state tax form.
If you are a resident of an Alaskan rural community and would like to get an Off-Highway Class D license, you must surrender your instructional permit or provisional license and submit a new Application for Remote Area Driver License (Form 480) to:
Juneau Driver Services
State of Alaska
Division of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 110221
Juneau AK 99811-0221
The Off-Highway restriction can be removed at any time following the successful completion of a road test at a DMV office or at a Third-Party Testing Provider.
Your car will be checked for the following equipment in working condition:
Consider the following:
Listen to the examiner and follow the instructions. You should be able to demonstrate the following maneuvers:
Critical Errors
You will automatically fail if you commit one of the following:
If you have a driver's license from another country except Canada or U.S. territory, the procedure for transferring your foreign license is similar to that applying for a new Alaska driver's license. Check here the complete guide how to apply for your AK driver's license.
If your license is from Canada or US territory, the procedure of transferring your driver's license is the same as the transfer of an out-of-state license.
