An Alaska Vehicle Bill of Sale is required when selling or buying a vehicle in the state of Alaska. It acts as proof of ownership when the buyer needs to register the vehicle. When registering, you need to bring both; the bill of sale and the title of the vehicle to a Department of Motor Vehicles center.
A vehicle bill of sale, when used in a private sale, gives legal proof that both the buyer and seller have agreed to the terms of the sale. It’s a document that can be used in court as legal proof as long as regulations have been followed and it was completed properly.
An Alaska Vehicle Bill of Sale can be completed by either the seller or the buyer, as long as all of the relevant details are correct and both parties have signed the document.
Vehicle registration must be done by the buyer unless they have completed an Alaska Motor Vehicle Power of Attorney, which allows a buyer to grant temporary rights to another for the purpose of buying or registering the vehicle.
You will also need an Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 839) when transferring or registering a vehicle.
Alaska Vehicle Bill of Sale Form
Registering a Vehicle in Alaska
When registering a vehicle in Alaska for the first time, the buyer has 10 days from the date of sale to register the vehicle. If you are an out-of-state buyer, you have 10 days from the time that you have registered as a resident. Vehicle registrations run for 2 years at a time. When your vehicle is up for renewal, you will get a letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles as a reminder to re-register. This document is usually sent out within 30 days before the expiry of registration.
If it is not the first time that you are registering the vehicle, you can renew the vehicle using Alaska’s Online Renewal System.
Where to Register
If you are a resident that lives within a 50-mile radius of a DMV center, you are required to register the vehicle in person. Alaska does have many remote areas, and for residents who do not live within a 50-mile radius of a DMV center, you can complete a Title Application (Form 812) on the Remote Alaska Title Procedures website, and then email the required documents.
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There is a $10.00 walk-in fee when registering in person. If you register by mail, it can take up to 6 weeks to process.
Documents Required for Registration
There are a few documents that are involved as necessary requirements in the process of registration of a motor vehicle in the State of Alaska.
Such as:
- Completed Alaska Vehicle Bill of Sale
- Odometer Disclosure Statement (required for vehicles under 10 years old)
- Title of the vehicle (In situations where a lien is in place against the vehicle, and the vehicle is being registered in Alaska, but from outside of the state, you will need to show a photocopy of the title)
- Lien release, if applicable. This is given by the lienholder when the final payment has been made on the vehicle
- A completed Vehicle Transaction Application (Form 812)
- For a leased vehicle, or in situations where someone is signing on behalf of another, you will need a notarized Vehicle Power of Attorney
- A check for the correct Registration Fees
- Proof that the vehicle has been insured and has the following minimum coverage:
- $50,000 to cover bodily injury or death for any one person
- $100,000 to cover bodily injury or death for any accident
- $25,000 to cover property damage.
Vehicles must be registered and titled within 30 days of the purchase date. If you do not have the title, you can use a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO), which you should be given when buying a vehicle from a dealership. A Verification of Vehicle (Form 811) may need to be completed by a vehicle inspector if you have neither the title nor the MCO.
For sellers
When you are selling a vehicle in Alaska, you need to take some steps to protect yourself from liability after the sale. Make sure that you complete the Notice of Vehicle Sale for Transfer, which will be attached at the bottom portion of your original title. Make sure that you deliver or send this off to the DMV as soon as you can.
If mailing the document in, send it to:
State of Alaska
Division of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: MAILOUTS
3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101
Anchorage AK 99503
Alternatively, you can also send the DMV an email message or record the sale online.
General considerations
On the title document, be sure that you complete the Assignment of Vehicle Title by Owner section and give this to the person buying the vehicle from you.
Keep in mind that a vehicle bill of sale is not a valid document for transferring ownership. It is an important document to have once you are no longer in possession of the vehicle, should the new owner of the vehicle receive tickets on the vehicle.
Under Federal law, the DMV is prohibited from making the title transfer if the assignment is not properly completed. This also includes the odometer reading document. Check that you haven’t left any blank areas on the Assignment of Vehicle Title document. If the vehicle is under 10 years old, you will need to have the odometer reading certified. Check that you have signed the reassignment section of the transfer document.
In situations where the lower part of the title is missing or has been passed on to the buyer, you can complete a Notice of Transfer Pending.
In situations where the vehicle title has been lost, it is the responsibility of the owner who is listed on the DMV records to apply for a duplicate title, regardless of whether the seller or buyer has lost it. This needs to be done before transferring ownership of the vehicle. For titles that were issued by the state of Alaska, a duplicate title must be applied to the state.
Language requirements
All forms provided by the Alaska DMV are in English only and the state will not provide a translator for those who do not speak English fluently. In this instance, you would need to provide your own translator or interpreter.
A Vehicle Bill of Sale can be written in another language, as long as both the seller and buyer understand it. However, when filing a copy for the state, it must be translated into English.
Copies required
In situations where a transaction requires a Vehicle Bill of Sale, a copy will be needed for the Alaska DMV. You should also have copies for both the seller and the buyer for personal record keeping.
Salvage or junk vehicles
A junk or salvaged vehicle can be listed on a bill of sale, so long as the seller has listed it as such on the documentation.
Final Words
Purchasing and registering a motor vehicle in Alaska is a rather challenging task, but it can be made considerably easier if there is the ease of a well-prepared and proper, free-of-cost Alaska vehicle bill of sale available for the seller or the buyer involved, which can be found on this website.
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