Your First-Time Alaska Drivers License Guide

by Jim Thompson | Last Updated: May 12, 2021

Most first-time drivers in Alaska must complete a drivers ed course to learn how to drive safely. This step is required by the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (AK DMV) to obtain a driving permit or a drivers license. Fortunately, it’s not difficult going through one of these courses, and there are plenty available to choose from.

Steps to Getting Your Alaska License

If you’re looking to get your Alaska drivers license, we’re here to help. Welcome to our step by step guide to get you off of your couch and out onto the road. We know you have a lot of questions, so let’s get going.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, getting your first license can be an exciting, scary, and confusing time, sometimes all at the same time. First off, let’s clear up some Alaska DMV terms. In some cases, it seems they’ve gone out of their way to make it confusing.

Terms (and abbreviations) you should know:

• Classroom Driver Education—A.K.A. “drivers ed.” A state-approved course that will cover driving law and basic driving skills.
• Instruction Permit (IP)—A.K.A. “Learners Permit” or “Driving Permit.” This permit will allow you to practice drive legally before applying for your license.
• Class D License—The license you’re shooting for, allowing you to drive any vehicle besides a motorcycle or commercial vehicle.
• Off-Highway Class D License—A specialized license for drivers in remote rural areas (more on this one in a minute)
• PDL—A.K.A. “Provisional License.” A “Class D” with some restrictions. These restrictions will apply if you are under 18.
• Driving Knowledge Test—A.K.A. “Written Driving” or “Permit” Test, it’s the one you’ll have to pass to get a permit.
• Road Test—A.K.A. “Road Skills Test,” “Behind-the-Wheel Test,” or just plain ‘ol “Driving Test,” it’s the one you’ll have to pass to get your license.
• Alcohol and Drug Awareness Knowledge Test—A test you’ll take at age 21 to remove the restrictions from your provisional license

See? I told you they made it confusing!

Who Must Take Alaska Drivers Ed?

Alaska is one of the few states with no drivers ed requirement. However, it’s probably not a bad idea for anyone to take a drivers ed course before getting their first license. You can enroll in drivers ed at age 14. 

The Path to a Alaska License in a Nutshell

The quick and dirty looks like this:

• Take drivers ed (if you choose)
• Get a learner’s permit
• Complete 40 hours of practice driving
• Pass a road skills test

Now let’s take a look at what it’ll take to get those four steps done.

Step 1—Take Drivers Ed

An Alaska drivers ed course is comprised of a classroom portion and behind-the wheel practice. The classroom portion teaches topics like:

• Getting Ready to Drive
• Effective Visual Awareness
• Sharing the Roadway
• High Traffic Driving Skills
• How to properly use brakes
• Road Rage & Aggressive Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Impaired Driving
• Adverse Driving Conditions
• Roadside Emergencies

The classroom portion of Alaska drivers ed can be completed online or at an approved driving school.

Perhaps the easiest way is to complete the classroom portion of drivers ed is online. Taking drivers ed online means you can complete this portion at a pace and on a schedule that works best for you.

If you (or your folks) would prefer a traditional driving school experience, check out our guide to selecting the best driving school. 

Step 2—Getting Your Permit

In Alaska, you can apply for your instruction permit at age 14.

Application for a permit will happen at your local DMV office. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If there isn’t a DMV office in your community, please follow the instructions in the AK DMV Guide to Rural Driving Information.

When you arrive, be sure to have the following:

• A completed Form 478
• A completed parental consent form
• 4 or 5 documents that prove your name, birthdate, address, and Social Security number. Examples include things like your birth certificate, school ID’s, and utility bills.You can find a complete list of acceptable documents on the DMV website. 
• You’ll also need to bring
  • Your eyeballs (for a vision test)
  • Check, cash, or credit card to pay your application fee.

After you have shown all of this to the folks at the DMV, hold on to it! You’ll need much of it again when you apply for your license.

Now it’s time for your written permit test

The test will include questions about:

• Driving laws and their penalties
• Various kinds of driving skills, such as turning, signaling, lane changing, and parking
• Differences between highway driving and city driving, including speed limits
• Procedures to be used in accidents or emergencies
• Distinguishing various signs and their meaning based on color and shape
• Meanings of pavement markings on both highways and streets

To pass the 20-question multiple-choice test, you’ll need to score 80%. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare.

Another way to give yourself a leg up on passing the permit test is to consider one (or more) of the following:

• Study the Alaska Drivers Manual 
• Take a driver prep course, a great way to get you ready for your license. (Learn more)
• Quiz yourself with an Alaska permit practice test

A permit practice test has everything the “real” test does, except the pressure. That’s because practice tests feature questions taken from actual DMV exams. It’s like seeing all the answers before the test even begins! Don’t head to the DMV without a dress rehearsal, you want to pass the first time.

What If Your Test Didn’t Go Like You Planned?

What if you get to the testing center and, despite all your best preparation, your nerves get the best of you, and you wind up failing the test? First, don’t panic. Nearly 1 out of 3 test-takers fail on their first attempt.

If you do happen to fail, the DMV will give you two more chances, but you’ll have to wait until at least the next day to try again.

Another Note—If you’re new to Alaska and started this whole license dance somewhere else, here are some tips that might help.

Step 3—40 Hours of Practice Driving

Now it’s time to put that learners permit to good use, and you are required to use it for six months before you can apply for your license.

Before you can take a driving test, you’ll have to complete 40 hours of practice driving, and at least 10 of those will need to happen in “challenging conditions” like bad weather or after dark. 

Your permit does come with some restrictions. You must be accompanied at all times by a licensed driver who is:

• 21 or older
• Has had their license for at least one year

While you might be nervous at first, do your best to enjoy this time and always pay close attention to what’s going on around you. You never know the kinds of things, good and bad, that you might learn from the drivers around you. Take time to learn all you can from the licensed driver who is with you.

Also, do yourself the favor of driving in as many conditions as you can, places like:

• On the highway
• In neighborhoods
• On winding or hilly roads
• In downtown areas
• In bad weather

It’s better if you don’t see these things for the first time on your own. 

Since you’ll be using your permit for six months, there’s no reason not to drive WAY more than 40 hours! It can only do you good.

BTW—If you are planning a family road trip, you may get the chance to do some practice driving in another state. Check this out to see if you can.

Step 4—Pass a Driving Test

Finally, the last hurdle, your driving test. It’s all good. You got this.

You must be 16 years old to apply for a full license. You must also have:

• Held a valid instruction permit for at least six months
• No moving violation convictions in those six months 

You must schedule an appointment with the DMV for a driving test. You can do this online or in person. You can also take your road test at an AK DMV approved driving school.

When you arrive for your appointment, be sure to have the following with you:

• Instruction Permit
• A completed Form 478
• A completed parental consent form
• Parental proof that you have completed 40 hours of practice driving 
• 4 or 5 documents that prove your name, birthdate, address, and Social Security number. Examples include things like your birth certificate, school ID’s, and utility bills.You can find a complete list of acceptable documents on the DMV website. 
• Check, cash, or credit card to pay your application fee.

Told you that you wanted to hang on to all the stuff from when you got your permit!

• A vehicle to take the test in. The vehicle must:
  • Be insured
  • Be properly registered
  • Be in “Working Order”

According to the DMV, “Working Order” means the vehicle has the following:

• All lights (headlights, parking lights, brake lights, tail lights, front and back turn signals, 4-way flashers) must be actual lenses not tape
• Windshield (cannot have cracks in the field of vision)
• Working windshield wipers
• Defroster
• Muffler 
• Good tires
• Brakes (including emergency/parking)
• All mirrors in working order
• A working horn
• Passenger seat
• Seat belts for driver and examiner
• Front and back license plates with current month & year tabs on rear plate
• Working speedometer
• Doors that open from inside and outside
• Enough fuel for a 30 minute exam (1/4 tank)

As for the test itself, here is what the DMV says about what to expect concerning things you’ll be expected to do/understand during your test:

• Use of vehicle equipment (mirrors, brakes, etc).
• Parallel parking
• Backing
• Quick stop
• Left and right turns
• Changing lanes
• Entering and exiting a freeway
• 3-point turn
• Traffic signal
• Speed control
• Following a vehicle
• Intersection observance
• Stop signs
• General driving

 And here are some rules you’ll have to follow during the test: 

• Animals and passengers are not allowed to accompany you on a road test.
• Your cell phone must be turned off during the test.
• Please do not wear perfume or cologne to your road test appointment.

What if I Fail?

If you were to fail your driving test, what happens next depends on where you took it.

If you took it at the DMV—You will get two more chances within 90 days.

If you took it at a driving school—Retake rules at these alternate locations are determined by the individual location. You may want to ask about their policies before scheduling an appointment.

Using Your New License

Per the rules of the Alaska Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) Program, your new license will come with some restrictions concerning when you can drive and who you can have in the car with you.

TIME: If you are under age 18, you can’t drive state-wide from 1 A.M. to 5 A.M. except when driving:

• To or from work
• To or from school
• With a licensed driver 21 or older

PASSENGERS: If you are under age 18, you may not transport any passengers under age 21 except for family members.

A Final Note

Any licensed driver will tell you that you will never face a driving situation as complicated, nerve-wracking, and time-consuming as getting your license. By no means should you let your guard down once you’re behind the wheel but, rest assured. You’ll never face anything on the road that will compare with the process it took to get you your license.

Good luck as you work your way through this. Can’t wait to see you out on the road!

A Final Final Note

If you’ve made it this far, may we suggest you bookmark this page? You’ll probably be coming back to it often as you work your way through this!