How To Transfer a Car Title in Alaska
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In Alaska, having a valid title for most types of vehicles is mandatory. If you have recently bought a car, it's essential to legally transfer ownership by collaborating with the buyer.
This can be achieved by completing a title transfer process that involves submitting the necessary documents and fees to your local DMV office.
Selling a car in Alaska can be time-consuming. The title transfer process usually entails filling out paperwork, paying a small fee, and visiting the DMV.
This article will provide comprehensive information on how to transfer a car title in Alaska, the needed documentation, and the cost.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Title Transfer?
- Documents Needed To Transfer Car Title in Alaska
- How To Transfer Car Title in Alaska
- How To Transfer Car Title in Alaska If You're the Seller
- How To Transfer a Title in Alaska After a Lease Buyout
- How To Register a Car in Alaska
- Best Car Deals by Category
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Title Transfer?
Transferring vehicle ownership is called a title transfer, which involves signing over the title document.
This process involves two steps. First, the seller signs the title to give up their vehicle ownership. Second, the buyer takes the signed title to the DMV to obtain a new title and registration.
The procedures for transferring car titles vary from state to state. In some states, additional documents such as a bill of sale or recording the current odometer reading may be necessary in addition to signing the title.
Documents Needed To Transfer Car Title in Alaska
Purchasing a car in Alaska can be an exhilarating experience. After discovering your perfect automobile, test-driving it, and presenting an offer, you are undoubtedly anxious to embark on your journey with your newfound vehicle.
It's imperative to note that transferring the title mandates the signature of specific documents by both parties involved.
Thus, it's recommended to expedite these procedures without any delay. To legally acquire ownership of the vehicle, gather the following documents and sign them either in person or with e-signatures:
- Vehicle Transaction Application Form.
- Lien release.
- Odometer verification.
- Bill of sale (optional).
How To Transfer Car Title in Alaska
Transferring car titles in Alaska involves two procedures, with distinct obligations for buyers and sellers.
Seller Requirements (Step 1):
- Sign and date the title.
- Record the mileage if the vehicle is less than ten years old (not required if over ten years old).
- Complete the Notice of Car Sale for Transfer, which can be accessed online or is at the lower end of the car title, and send it to the address below:
State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles: Mailouts, 1300 W Benson Boulevard STE 200 Anchorage, AK 99503
- Remove any personalized license plates.
- While providing a bill of sale is recommended, it's not mandatory as per state regulations.
Buyer Requirements (Step 2):
- Sign and date the title.
- Obtain and complete an application for title and registration, and bring it along with the signed and dated title to the DMV office.
- Pay the $15 transfer fee, which is doubled to $30 if the vehicle has a lien.
- The same information can be sent to the address mentioned above without the "attention" line for residents of remote regions in the state.
How To Transfer Car Title in Alaska If You're the Seller
When selling a vehicle in Alaska, preparing the required documentation before visiting an AK DMV to transfer the title is advisable. To perform an Alaska title transfer, the following actions need to be taken:
- If the car is less than a decade, sign and date the title, including the mileage. In case of a lost title, a replacement can be ordered.
- Notify the Alaska DMV of the vehicle sale through online submission or by completing a notice of transfer pending.
- Complete the "Notice of Car Sale for Transfer" section of the title, which can be printed and submitted in person at an Alaska DMV office or mailed to the State of Alaska, Division of Motor Vehicle: Mailouts, 3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101, Anchorage, AK 99503.
- Provide the buyer with a signed title for the vehicle.
- Optionally, obtain a bill of sale for yourself as the seller.
- Remove any personalized or specialized license plates from the vehicle.
Please note that you cannot sell a vehicle that has outstanding liens on the title. The buyer is responsible for registering the car in their name and completing the title transfer process with the Alaska DMV.
How To Transfer a Title in Alaska After a Lease Buyout
As an Alaskan, you must retitle your recently procured automobile within 30 days from the date of sale.
The Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles handles title transfers for various vehicles, including cars, trucks, buses, vans, et cetera. However, they don't transfer titles for camper shells.
If you want to transfer ownership of a car from another state or change the conjunction on your Alaska vehicle title, follow these steps after a lease buyout:
Provide ownership documents, such as the vehicle's title or Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO).
The documents must have your name printed on the front, and if the vehicle was purchased from a dealership, the dealership name must also be printed on the front, along with a Dealer Reassignment to transfer the vehicle to you.
Fill out an Original Vehicle Transaction Application (Form 812), which needs to be signed in ink by the vehicle owner. Vehicles under ten years old and weighing over 12,000 pounds require an odometer reading.
In the "contact information" section of the title application, provide your complete mailing and residence address.
- Registration is required if you are purchasing a used vehicle with Alaska plates.
- Pay the applicable fees.
- Provide a Notarized Power of Attorney, which is required for all transactions if you sign the title on behalf of the vehicle's owner, including leased vehicles.
- Provide a Lien Release, necessary when a lien is present on the MCO and has been paid.
By following these steps, you ensure a smooth transfer of ownership for your vehicle without a title in Alaska.
How To Register a Car in Alaska
In addition to the title transfer, it is essential to register your vehicle in Alaska. Car owners in the state are obligated to renew their registration biennially.
If one elects to relocate to Alaska from a different state, it is obligatory to perform vehicle registration within ten days from arrival.
The registration charge is $100 for passenger cars, non-commercial trucks, and cargo vans, whereas motorcycles are subject to a $60 fee.
Ancillary charges may also be applicable contingent on variables such as vehicle type, weight, and city of residence.
If you choose to make an in-person payment at a DMV office, an additional $10 fee shall be levied. Those 65 or older and residents of Alaska are exempted from the registration fee.
1. Recording a Lien
Alaska's law permits to record of a primary lienholder's name on the title. In contrast, secondary lienholders can register their liens in the recorder's office of their residing district by a Uniform Commercial Code or UCC filing.
Applications received by mail from outside Alaska are unacceptable, except when there is no change of ownership and the customer has an Alaska title in their name.
To record a lien, applicants must submit an application for title & registration, a title, or a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
A $15.00 lien recording fee and a $15.00 title fee ($100.00 for manufactured homes) are required. Additional charges and registration requirements may exist if the vehicle is not registered.
The vehicle's registered owner must sign the application, while a Power of Attorney is acceptable for someone other than the registered owner to sign the application and title.
After recording a lien on a title, it will be automatically mailed to the lienholder.
2. Releasing a Lien
After fulfilling the final payment of your vehicle, the lienholder will waive their interest in the vehicle and give you the original title.
After obtaining the title, applying for a "clear" title with the Division of Motor Vehicles is necessary.
To acquire a new title, the following documents are required:
- The original title with the lien released or a letter from the lienholder indicating their release of interest. The lien release must include the signature, date, and title of the person releasing the lien. A "PAID" stamp is not considered an acceptable lien release.
- A completed application for title & registration (provided the last title issued was not an Alaska title).
- A fee of $15.00.
