Alaska driving laws
The rules your permit test asks about, in plain English. Each one is quoted from Alaska’s statutes or an official DMV page. Handbooks are often years out of date, so where the law has changed we follow the law.
Checked October 2, 2026.
The short version
- Phones and texting
- Alaska bans texting and reading or typing any non-voice message while driving, and driving with a video screen operating in the driver's view.
- Alcohol and drugs (DUI)
- It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or more (.04 in a commercial vehicle) or while under the influence.
- Seat belts and child seats
- Everyone in the vehicle must be buckled up or in the right child seat.
Phones and texting
Alaska bans texting and reading or typing any non-voice message while driving, and driving with a video screen operating in the driver's view. There is no separate phone rule for permit or provisional drivers.
Official wording (3 sources)
“Alaska has a law aimed at reducing driver distraction. It is illegal to drive with a visual screen device operating. Texting while driving is prohibited by the law.”
dmv.alaska.gov“AS28.35.161(f)(1) Electronic Devices while Driving (No Injury) 500 2”
public.courts.alaska.gov“Provisional License Restrictions You may not carry passengers under the age of 21, except siblings. You may not drive between 1:00 & 5:00 a.m.”
dmv.alaska.gov
Alcohol and drugs (DUI)
It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or more (.04 in a commercial vehicle) or while under the influence. Drivers under 21 may not drive after drinking any alcohol. Refusing a breath test is a separate crime and brings the same 90-day DMV revocation as a failed test.
Official wording (6 sources)
“Your breath alcohol test result is .08 or greater Your breath alcohol test result is .04 or greater while operating a commercial vehicle You refuse to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test”
dmv.alaska.gov“The revocation periods are: 90 days for a first offense 1 year if you have one prior conviction of DUI or refusal”
dmv.alaska.gov“If you are under 21 you cannot drive or operate a motor vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft after consuming ANY alcohol.”
dmv.alaska.gov“Refusal to submit to chemical testing will result in two criminal charges – DUI and Refusal – which the court can treat separately.”
dmv.alaska.gov“Average cost of a first DUI $24,265 3 Days in Jail $330 Court Fines $1,500”
dmv.alaska.gov“If you have been convicted of only one DUI or Refusal you will need to have the IID installed for a minimum of six (6) months.”
dmv.alaska.gov
Seat belts and child seats
Everyone in the vehicle must be buckled up or in the right child seat. Adults 16 and older can be ticketed for not wearing a belt, and the driver is responsible for every passenger under 16. Alaska's belt law is a primary law: police can stop you for it.
Official wording (6 sources)
“Alaska law AS 28.05.095 requires everyone in a motor vehicle to use a safety belt. Drivers must wear a safety belt.”
dmv.alaska.gov“The driver is responsible for ensuring that all passengers under the age of 16 are properly restrained in the vehicle.”
dmv.alaska.gov“AS28.05.095(a) Failure To Wear Safety Belt (Age 16 15 or And Older: Passenger Or Driver)”
public.courts.alaska.gov“to reduce deaths and injuries caused by impaired drivers and to increase compliance with Alaska's primary seat belt law.”
dot.alaska.gov“Children less than 1 year of age or children older than 1 year but less than 20 pounds to be secured in a rear-facing car seat.”
dmv.alaska.gov“Children over 4 and less than 8 years of age who are under 4’9” and less than 65 pounds to be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat.”
dmv.alaska.gov
Move Over law
When you approach a stopped emergency, police or fire vehicle, a tow truck picking up a vehicle, a road maintenance or service vehicle, or an animal control vehicle with flashing lights, move out of the lane next to it if the road has two or more lanes your way. If you can't change lanes safely, or there is only one lane, slow to a reasonable and prudent speed.
Official wording (4 sources)
“vehicle, law enforcement vehicle, tow truck in the act of picking up a vehicle, vehicle”
akleg.gov“in the act of performing maintenance or road service work, or animal control”
akleg.gov“impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, slow to a reasonable and prudent”
akleg.gov“When encountering stationary emergency vehicles or tow trucks with overhead flashing lights on a four-lane road, drivers must pull to the lane opposite the emergency vehicle/tow truck if it is safe to do so.”
dmv.alaska.gov
School buses
Stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and its stop sign out, whether you are behind it or meeting it, and stay stopped until the stop sign is retracted and the red lights go off. You need not stop for a bus going the other way on a highway with separated roadways and two or more lanes each way.
Official wording (3 sources)
“Drivers approaching a school bus from the rear may not pass the school bus when red signal lights are flashing and shall bring their vehicles to a complete stop before reaching the school bus when it is stopped.”
dmv.alaska.gov“shall bring the vehicle to a complete stop when school bus stops, red lights flash, and stop sign is extended.”
dmv.alaska.gov“Driver upon a highway with separated roadways providing two or more lanes in each direction need not stop when approaching a school bus which is headed in the opposite direction”
dmv.alaska.gov
Speed limits
Unless signs say otherwise, Alaska's maximum speeds are 15 mph in an alley, 20 mph in a business district or school zone, 25 mph in a residential district, and 55 mph on any other road. Some highways are posted at 65 mph.
Official wording (3 sources)
“The following speed limits are established by law as the maximum to be driven under favorable conditions on highways which are not otherwise posted.”
dmv.alaska.gov“Business district, 20 mph.* Alley, 15 mph. * School zone, 20 mph.* Residential district, 25 mph.* Any other roadway”
dmv.alaska.gov“Local authorities or the State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities may alter speed limits (13 AAC 02.280). Speed limits on selected highways may be posted at 65.”
dmv.alaska.gov
After a crash
If a crash injures or kills someone, or causes $2,000 or more in total property damage, call the police (or Alaska State Troopers outside a city) right away, and send DMV a crash report within 10 days unless a police officer investigated. Every driver must also give DMV proof of insurance within 15 days for any crash with injury or more than $501 in damage.
Official wording (4 sources)
“If there is an injury, or total property damage is $2000 or more, and the crash occurred within a municipality, immediately contact the local police department by dialing 911.”
dmv.alaska.gov“Report the crash to the Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles, within 10 days.”
dmv.alaska.gov“This report is not required if the crash was investigated by a police officer.”
dmv.alaska.gov“If you are involved in a crash, which results in bodily injury or death to a person, or property damage in excess of $501, you must provide - within 15 days - proof of insurance to the Division of Motor Vehicles.”
dmv.alaska.gov
Insurance
Alaska requires liability insurance of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for injury or death, and $25,000 for property damage (50/100/25). Some roadless areas are exempt.
Official wording (2 sources)
“The minimum amounts for this policy are: $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury or death $25,000 for property damage”
dmv.alaska.gov“Insurance is not required in areas where registration is not required. However, a driver who has received a ticket for a violation of 6 points or more within the last 5 years must have liability insurance.”
dmv.alaska.gov
Motorcycle helmets
Riders under 18, all passengers, anyone on a motorcycle instruction permit, and anyone taking a motorcycle road test must wear a helmet. Licensed riders 18 and older may ride without one. Operators must wear eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windscreen.
Official wording (3 sources)
“Who has to wear a helmet? Anyone under 18 operating a motorcycle All motorcycle passengers Anyone with a motorcycle instruction permit Anyone taking a motorcycle road test”
dmv.alaska.gov“13AAC04.350(a) Helmet Required-Minors/Passengers 75 0 F03 AS28.90.010(c) inf.”
public.courts.alaska.gov“13AAC04.350(b) Eye-Protective Device Required When No Windscreen 50 0 F03”
public.courts.alaska.gov
Motorcycle permit rules
With parental consent you can get a motorcycle instruction permit at 14. It is valid for two years and can be renewed once. Permit riders must be supervised by a rider 21 or older with an endorsement on a separate motorcycle, ride only in daylight, and carry no passengers.
Official wording (4 sources)
“You can apply for a permit with parental consent at 14. If you are under 18 years old, you must have an instruction permit for 6 months before you can apply for your license.”
dmv.alaska.gov“To practice with you permit you must be accompanied by, and under the supervision and visual observation of, a rider on a separate motorcycle who is at least 21 years of age and who has a valid motorcycle endorsement; operate only during daylight hours; and carry no passengers.”
dmv.alaska.gov“The permit is valid for two years from the date of issue. A permit may be renewed one time only.”
dmv.alaska.gov“may have the road testing requirement waived by completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course and presenting the completion certificate to DMV. The certificate is valid to waive the test for the current or previous calendar year.”
dmv.alaska.gov
Lane splitting
Lane splitting is illegal in Alaska. A motorcyclist may not pass a vehicle in the same lane or ride between lanes or rows of traffic, and no more than two motorcycles may ride side by side in one lane.
Official wording (2 sources)
“13AAC02.427(b) Motorcycle Passing In Same Lane As Other Motor Vehicle”
public.courts.alaska.gov“13AAC02.427(a) Motorcycles More Than Two Abreast 50 2 M40”
public.courts.alaska.gov
This page summarizes the law for study purposes and is not legal advice. Laws change; confirm with State of Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles.