Selling or buying a vehicle in Alaska? While a bill of sale is not legally required by the Alaska DMV, it is strongly recommended — and in some situations, it is your only proof that a transaction took place.
This free template is formatted for Alaska’s requirements and includes a Notice of Vehicle Sale section at the bottom of the title for the seller’s records.
Click Get This Template below to open it in Google Docs, then click Use Template to save a copy to your Drive.
For templates for all 50 states, visit the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Templates →
On this page:
- What Is an Alaska Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?
- Is a Bill of Sale Required in Alaska?
- Alaska-Specific Requirements
- Free Alaska Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
- How to Fill Out the Template
- How to Transfer a Car Title in Alaska
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is an Alaska Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?
An Alaska motor vehicle bill of sale is a written record of a private vehicle sale.
It documents the seller, buyer, vehicle description, purchase price, and date — and creates a paper trail both parties can rely on after the transaction.
Unlike most states, Alaska does not use “County” — instead, the state is divided into Boroughs and Census Areas. Your template reflects this correctly in Section 1.
Is a Bill of Sale Required in Alaska?
Alaska does not require a bill of sale for most standard private vehicle transfers — the signed Certificate of Title is the primary ownership document.
However, a bill of sale is required or very useful in several situations:
- When applying for a temporary registration permit — the Alaska DMV accepts a bill of sale as proof of purchase
- When the vehicle is from out of state and additional proof of the transaction is needed
- As a permanent record of the purchase price for personal tax purposes
- If you move to another state that requires a bill of sale for title transfers
Even when not required, having a bill of sale protects both parties in any dispute about the sale.
Alaska-Specific Requirements
1. Borough and Census Area — Not County
Alaska does not have counties. The state is divided into Boroughs (such as Anchorage Municipality or Fairbanks North Star Borough) and Census Areas (such as Bethel Census Area).
In Section 1 of your template, enter your Borough or Census Area in the location field instead of a county.
2. Seller: Complete the Notice of Vehicle Sale
The bottom portion of the Alaska Certificate of Title includes a Notice of Vehicle Sale for Transfer section. The seller should complete and detach this slip and mail it to the Alaska DMV after the sale.
If that section is missing or you have already given the title to the buyer, you can complete a Notice of Transfer Pending form through the Alaska DMV.
3. Odometer Disclosure
Alaska requires written odometer disclosure on the title at the time of sale for vehicles under 12,000 lbs and less than 20 years old.
The odometer reading must be entered on the title — do not guess, as it cannot be changed once submitted.
4. Joint Ownership Signing Rules
If the title shows “OR” between owner names, only one owner needs to sign to release the title.
If the title shows “AND,” a blank space, or any other conjunction, all owners must sign before the title can be transferred.
5. Specialized License Plates
If the vehicle has specialty or personalized license plates, the seller must remove those plates before handing over the vehicle. Standard plates are handled differently — check with the Alaska DMV for your specific plate type.
6. New Residents: 10-Day Deadline
If you are new to Alaska and bringing a vehicle from another state, you must register it with the Alaska DMV within 10 days of establishing residency.
7. Notarization
Alaska does not require notarization for a standard private party vehicle bill of sale. Notarization is optional but recommended for high-value sales.
Free Alaska Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
This template opens in Google Docs. Click Use Template to save a copy to your Drive, fill it out digitally, or print and complete by hand.
How to Fill Out the Template
In Section 1, enter your Borough or Census Area — not a county. Enter the seller’s name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Title.
In Section 3, copy the VIN character by character from the dashboard plate and the title. Enter the odometer reading accurately — Alaska requires this on the title and it cannot be changed after submission.
Both parties sign Section 11. If the title shows “AND” or a blank between owner names, all owners must sign.
For a complete field-by-field walkthrough of every section, see: How to Fill Out a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale →
How to Transfer a Car Title in Alaska
For the Seller
Sign and date the title. Record the vehicle mileage if the vehicle is less than 20 years old.
Complete and detach the Notice of Vehicle Sale slip at the bottom of the title and mail it to the Alaska DMV. Remove any specialty or personalized plates before handing over the vehicle.
For the Buyer
Complete Form V1 (Application for Title & Registration) in full and in ink. Submit the signed title, completed V1, proof of Alaska insurance, and valid ID to the Alaska DMV — in person at a DMV office or by mail to DMV Headquarters in Anchorage.
The standard title transfer fee is $15. Additional registration fees apply. If the vehicle is from out of state, a VIN inspection (Form 811) may be required.
Lost Title
The owner shown on DMV records must apply for a duplicate title before ownership can be transferred. Contact the Alaska DMV at dmv.alaska.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — Alaska does not require a bill of sale for most standard private vehicle transfers. The signed Certificate of Title is the primary ownership document. However, a bill of sale is accepted as proof of purchase for temporary registration permits and is strongly recommended for both parties’ protection.
Alaska does not have counties. The state is divided into Boroughs (such as Anchorage Municipality or Fairbanks North Star Borough) and unorganized Census Areas. Enter your Borough or Census Area name in the location field of Section 1.
The standard title transfer fee in Alaska is $15. Additional registration fees apply depending on the vehicle type and weight. Contact the Alaska DMV at dmv.alaska.gov for current fee schedules.
No. Alaska does not require notarization for a standard private party vehicle bill of sale. Notarization is optional but recommended for high-value sales as additional fraud protection.
New Alaska residents have 10 days after establishing residency to register their out-of-state vehicle with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles.
Yes. Alaska does not require a specific state-issued form for private party vehicle sales. Any bill of sale that includes the vehicle description, VIN, purchase price, date of sale, and signatures of both parties is acceptable. This template is formatted to meet Alaska’s requirements, including the Borough/Census Area field.
This template and all information on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Contact the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles at dmv.alaska.gov to confirm current requirements before completing your transaction.