Alaska Title Transfer Cost Calculator
Alaska is one of a handful of states with no statewide sales tax on vehicle purchases. That means a private-party sale generally leaves you with just Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles title and registration charges to settle — sometimes a small fraction of what the same transaction would cost elsewhere. The calculator below covers the DMV side; the notes that follow cover the local-tax exceptions.
Alaska title transfer cost — quick answer
Title fee
$15.00
flat statewide fee
Base registration
$100.00
statewide base (county fees extra)
Deadline applies: Late filing adds penalties — check the official source for the exact deadline in your state.
Source: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles — use the calculator below for your specific estimate.
Estimate your Alaska title transfer cost
Enter the sale price to see an estimated total. Numbers update as you type. County and dealer-specific add-ons are not included — see What this excludes below.
Used only to remind you that your county may add local fees not shown here.
Alaska title transfer fee breakdown
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title transfer fee | $15.00 |
| Base registration fee | $100.00 |
| State sales/use tax rate | Check official source |
| Plate fee | Check official source |
| Weight / value-based components | Biennial passenger registration is a flat $100 for non-commercial motor vehicles; motor-home, truck, and commercial fees are tiered by weight and use class. |
Alaska charges a $15 vehicle title fee and a $100 biennial registration fee for non-commercial passenger vehicles. Alaska has no state sales tax, but several boroughs and municipalities (including Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Wrangell) levy local sales tax that can apply to vehicle purchases.
Alaska sales and use tax on vehicle transfers
How Alaska calculates the tax
Because Alaska has no state sales or use tax on vehicles, private-party purchases generally trigger no state tax. The price you negotiate plus DMV fees is usually the final number — unless you are buying from a dealer inside a municipality that levies local sales tax, in which case the dealer collects that local rate at signing.
Source ↗Dealer purchase vs. private-party sale
Alaska dealers collect any applicable local sales tax and usually handle the title and registration paperwork on behalf of the buyer. Private-party sales require the buyer to file Form 812 directly with the DMV and present the signed certificate of title from the seller within 30 days.
Source ↗What may change your final title transfer cost in Alaska
These factors are specific to Alaska and are common reasons the final amount you pay differs from the calculator estimate.
County and local fees in Alaska
Alaska itself has no statewide sales tax, but municipal and borough sales taxes apply in many areas — typically 1.5% to 7%. Juneau charges 5%, Ketchikan 6.5%, Sitka 6%, and Wrangell 7%. Anchorage and the Fairbanks-North Star Borough levy no local sales tax. Tax is collected by the seller (dealer) at the point of sale.
Source ↗Late title-transfer penalties
Alaska expects the new owner to apply for a title transfer within 30 days of acquiring the vehicle. The DMV may assess late fees and require submission of the prior owner's release of interest before issuing the new certificate.
Source ↗Safety inspection requirements
Alaska does not require a statewide safety inspection for routine passenger-vehicle registration or title transfers. Commercial vehicles and certain salvaged/reconstructed titles still require inspection by an authorized facility.
Emissions testing in Alaska
Alaska repealed its statewide vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) emissions testing program; no county currently requires emissions testing for ordinary passenger vehicles.
Source ↗If the vehicle has a lien
If the vehicle has a lien, Alaska records the lienholder on the title certificate. The lienholder typically receives the title and forwards it to the owner once the loan is paid in full. There is a separate lien-recording fee billed in addition to the title fee.
Source ↗Where you actually file in Alaska
Alaska has no county-level DMV — the state Division of Motor Vehicles operates regional offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, Kenai, and a handful of smaller communities. In rural areas, registrations can also be processed by mail or through commission agents.
Example title transfer estimate in Alaska
Maria buys a 2020 Toyota RAV4 from a private seller in Anchorage for $19,500 and titles it in her name.
| Vehicle purchase price | $19,500.00 |
| Title fee | $15.00 |
| Registration / base fee | $100.00 |
| Estimated total out the door | $19,615.00 |
Anchorage levies no municipal sales tax, so the sale itself triggered no tax. Maria pays $15 for the title and $100 for two years of registration — $115 in DMV fees on top of the purchase price. If Maria had bought the same vehicle from a Juneau dealer, she would have added Juneau's 5% city sales tax (~$975) at signing.
Required Alaska forms
Official Alaska sources
Related Alaska resources
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Alaska?
The Alaska title transfer fee is $15.00, plus any applicable state sales/use tax, registration fees, and county or local add-ons. Use the calculator above for an estimate; confirm the final number with Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles before paying.
Why is there no state sales tax when I buy a car in Alaska?
Alaska is one of only five U.S. states with no statewide sales or use tax. Vehicle purchases are no exception at the state level. The catch: about 100 of Alaska's municipalities and boroughs levy their own local sales tax, and several of those — Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell — apply it to vehicle sales. If you buy from a dealer inside a taxing jurisdiction, the dealer collects that local rate.
How does Alaska's biennial registration affect my title transfer cost?
Alaska registers most non-commercial vehicles for two years at a time, not one. The $100 fee covers both years upfront. When you transfer a title, the remaining months on the prior owner's registration generally do not transfer to you — plan on paying the full biennial fee at the time of title transfer if registration has expired or you want plates issued in your name.
Do I owe local sales tax if I live in Anchorage but buy a car in Juneau?
Local sales tax in Alaska is destination-based for some boroughs and origin-based for others. Anchorage levies no local sales tax, but a Juneau dealer is generally required to collect Juneau's 5% city sales tax at the point of sale unless the vehicle is delivered outside the borough. Confirm the dealer's tax-collection policy before you sign.
Last reviewed: 2026-01-01 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Based on official Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles sources · Independent resource · Not legal advice