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All state guides Alaska dealer license

How to get a used car dealer license in Alaska

You send a paper packet to Alaska DMV Dealer Services in Anchorage to register as a motor vehicle dealer. The defining items are a $100,000 surety bond, liability insurance written on an auto dealer's form, a permanent office with a fixed sign, and a $50 fee that covers two years.

  • Sourced to Alaska DMV
  • Checked October 2026
  • Free
License
Motor vehicle dealer license (dealer registration under AS 08.66)
Surety bond
$100,000
State fee
$50 for two years
Pre-license course
None required
Background check
Signed statement, no fingerprints
License term
2 years, renew before January 1
What the state asks for

Alaska dealer license requirements

The figures a first-time used car dealer needs before applying to Alaska DMV. Each row shows how well it is supported.

Surety bond
$100,000Official source

A surety bond in favor of the state, kept in force the whole time you are registered. A dealer that sells only motorcycles posts $25,000. Submit the original or a certified copy.

State license fee
$50 for two yearsOfficial source

The biennial registration fee, paid by check or money order to the State of Alaska. Dealer plates are a separate charge that depends on where the dealership is located.

Pre-license education
None requiredOfficial source

The DMV checklist of items required for a dealer license has no course or exam on it.

Background check
Signed statement, no fingerprintsOfficial source

You certify that nobody holding 5% or more of the business has a felony conviction for fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation of property in the past five years. Each owner also supplies a photo.

Insurance
Liability on an auto dealer's formOfficial source

Bodily injury and property damage liability written on an auto dealer's form, which is usually a garage liability policy. DMV's packet does not state minimum limits.

Business location
Permanent office and fixed signOfficial source

The dealership must operate from a permanent office with a permanently affixed sign, at a location that meets zoning and business requirements. You prove the location with a lease, deed or notarized permission.

License term and renewal
2 years, renew before January 1Official source

Registration is biennial. You renew before January 1 every two years and pay the $50 biennial fee. Your bond stays valid for renewal unless the surety has sent a cancellation notice.

Sales allowed without a license
Fewer than 5 in 12 monthsOfficial source

Anyone who sells, leases or arranges the sale of five or more vehicles in any 12 consecutive months is a dealer, no matter who owns them. Selling a vehicle you actually used yourself is excluded.

Processing time
Up to 10 business daysOfficial source

DMV asks you to allow up to 10 business days once it has a complete packet. Incomplete applications are returned.

“Official source” means the state agency’s own page, form or law. Where the state’s sources did not settle a point, the row says so instead of showing a guess.

Who issues the license

Alaska Department of Administration, Division of Motor Vehicles

License you apply for

Motor vehicle dealer license (dealer registration under AS 08.66)

Official licensing page

The packet mixes current and older forms

DMV's checklist was revised on 9/15/2025 and tells you to send the packet to 4001 Ingra Street, Ste 101, Anchorage. The bond form in the same packet dates from 2021 and still lists 3901 Old Seward Highway for cancellation notices. File at the Ingra Street address. The packet also gives no minimum insurance limits, so confirm the limits DMV will accept before you buy the policy.
Step by step

How to get a Alaska dealer license

The order that works for a first application. Tick each step off as you finish it.

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  1. Get your Alaska business license

    Register the business with the Alaska Department of Commerce and get a current Alaska business license. The dealer application must use the exact registered business name. Identify every owner, partner, officer or member now, because each one signs the application.

    Alaska business license

  2. Set up the permanent office and sign

    DMV requires a permanent office, a permanently affixed sign and a location that meets zoning and business requirements. Have one proof of location ready: a lease in the business name, a deed or mortgage statement, or a notarized permission letter if you share the space.

    Lease, deed or notarized letter

  3. Get the $100,000 bond and dealer insurance

    The bond goes on DMV's own form, signed by an owner, officer or member as principal, notarized and sealed. If an attorney-in-fact signs for the surety, attach the power of attorney. Send the original or a certified copy. Ask your insurer for liability coverage written on an auto dealer's form, usually a garage liability policy.

    AS 08.66.060 and AS 08.66.085

  4. Complete Form DLR-001 and DLR-003

    On Form DLR-001, check New Dealer and Used Motor Vehicles. Every owner, partner, officer or member signs. Signing certifies that no one holding 5% or more has a recent felony conviction for fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation of property. Sign the temporary permit acknowledgment, DLR-003, even if you never plan to issue temporary permits.

    Form DLR-001, DLR-003

  5. Add the owner and sign photos

    Include a clear, recent head-and-shoulders photo of each owner, partner, officer or member, one person per photo, labeled with the full legal name. A driver license photo is acceptable. Add a photo of the permanent sign at the dealership.

    One photo per owner

  6. Mail or deliver the packet with the $50 fee

    Pay by check or money order to the State of Alaska and send everything to Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, ATTN: Dealer Services, 4001 Ingra Street, Ste 101, Anchorage, AK 99503. Allow up to 10 business days. You are registered when DMV assigns your dealer number.

    $50, up to 10 business days

  7. Order dealer plates if you need them

    Dealer plates are requested on Form DLR-002 and are not part of the $50 fee. The first plate costs $88 to $276 depending on where the dealership is located, and each additional plate costs $50 to $238.

    Form DLR-002

Practical advice

Put the attachments in the same order as DMV's checklist and keep a scan of the signed packet, because incomplete applications are returned. Make the business name identical on the business license, the application, the bond and the sign. If you share a lot, get the notarized permission letter before you pay for the sign or the bond.

Before you apply

Seven things to settle before any state application: the business, the owners, the money and the property.

Read the startup playbook
The lot and the office

Alaska dealer location requirements

What the state checks at the business address.

  • The dealership must operate from a permanent office.
  • The business sign must be permanently affixed, match the name on your application or DBA, and be clearly legible.
  • The location must comply with zoning and business requirements.
  • Prove the location with a lease in the business name signed by you and the property owner or manager, or with a deed or mortgage statement.
  • For shared space, DMV accepts a notarized letter of permission stating the address, the authorization and how long it lasts.
  • Send a photo of the permanent sign at the dealership location with your application.

Zoning comes first

A site that meets the state’s rules can still fail local zoning. Get written approval for vehicle sales from the city or county, and ask the landlord for a lease that depends on the license being issued, before you sign.
Once you are licensed

Keeping a Alaska dealer license

Renewal and ongoing duties

Renew before January 1 every two years. Keep the $100,000 bond and the auto dealer liability policy in force for as long as you are registered. Record every temporary permit you issue, keep that record for two years, and write the permit number on each title and registration application. Give every buyer your dealer registration number.

Federal rules that apply here too

  • The FTC Buyers Guide, posted on every used vehicle you offer for sale.
  • The FTC Safeguards Rule: a written plan for protecting customer financial information.
  • IRS Form 8300 when a customer pays more than $10,000 in cash.
  • A federal odometer disclosure on each transfer.
How each federal rule works
FAQ

Alaska dealer license FAQ

The questions first-time dealers ask most.

How do I get a used car dealer license in Alaska?

Get an Alaska business license, set up a permanent office with a fixed sign, and buy a $100,000 surety bond and liability insurance on an auto dealer's form. Then complete Form DLR-001 and the DLR-003 temporary permit acknowledgment, add owner photos, a sign photo and proof of your location, and mail or deliver the packet with the $50 fee to DMV Dealer Services in Anchorage.

How much is the dealer bond in Alaska?

$100,000 for a dealer that sells cars and trucks. A dealer that sells only motorcycles posts $25,000. The bond is filed with the application, runs in favor of the state and must stay in force for as long as you are registered.

How much does an Alaska dealer license cost?

The state registration fee is $50 and covers two years. Dealer plates are extra: the first plate costs $88 to $276 depending on where the dealership is located, and additional plates cost $50 to $238 each. The bond premium, insurance and your Alaska business license are separate costs.

Do I need a pre-licensing course in Alaska?

No. The DMV checklist of items required for a dealer license does not include a course or an exam.

Can I get an Alaska dealer license without a car lot?

You need a permanent office with a permanently affixed sign at a location that meets zoning and business requirements. DMV's packet does not set a minimum lot size or number of display spaces. Shared space can work if you supply a notarized letter of permission that states the address, the authorization and how long it lasts.

How many cars can I sell in Alaska without a dealer license?

Up to four. Alaska law treats anyone who sells, leases or arranges the sale or lease of five or more motor vehicles in any 12 consecutive months as a dealer, regardless of who owns the vehicles. Selling a vehicle you bought and actually used for yourself or a family member is excluded, as long as it was not done to get around the dealer law.

Sources

Checked October 2026. This is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Fees, bond amounts and forms change, and local zoning rules vary. Confirm current requirements with Alaska DMV or your attorney before you sign a lease or pay a fee.

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