Getting a used car dealer license in Alaska

In Alaska, used-car dealers are licensed by Alaska DMV Dealer Services.

Before your first retail sale you’ll need a $100,000 surety bond and a business location that meets the state’s rules.

This page gathers what a new independent lot needs, each fact linked to the official source it came from.

Sources checked

At a glance

License
Motor vehicle dealer registration/license dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Issued by
Alaska DMV Dealer Services dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Surety bond
$100,000 for motor vehicle dealers; $25,000 motorcycle-only. Original/certified bond, signed and notarized with power of attorney. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab) That’s the bond’s face amount, not what you pay: a surety company charges a yearly premium, usually a small percentage of it, set mainly by your credit.
Official fees
$50 registration for two years. DLR002 rev. 11/17/2022 lists first-plate totals $88–$276 depending on local tax area. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Renewal
Two-year registration, $50; statutory renewal before January 1 every two years. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Step by step

  1. Make sure you need a dealer registration

    Alaska's DMV Dealer Services registers motor vehicle dealers. Buyer's agents and motorcycle-only dealers are different, and a motorcycle-only dealer's bond is lower. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Set up the business and premises

    Get an Alaska business license and keep the owner and entity names identical throughout. You need a permanent office with a lease or deed (or notarized permission to share space, with its duration), a photo of the site, local zoning compliance, and a fixed, permanent, legible sign matching your dealer name, with a photo of it. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) dmv.alaska.gov › dealer-license-app.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Get the $100,000 bond

    Motor vehicle dealers need a $100,000 bond: an original or certified bond, signed and notarized, with a power of attorney. You don't pay that amount: a surety company charges you a premium, a fraction of it, set mainly by your credit. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  4. Get dealer-form liability insurance

    The insurance must be on an automobile-dealer form; ordinary auto insurance isn't accepted. Also make sure you comply with workers' compensation rules. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) dmv.alaska.gov › dealer-license-app.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  5. Complete the application

    Fill in the Dealer License Application (DLR001) and the Temporary Permit Acknowledgment (DLR003), which is required even if you won't issue temporary permits. Attach a photo of each owner, member or officer and your occupancy evidence; the application also asks for your tax ID and recent fraud-related felony disclosures. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) dmv.alaska.gov › dealer-license-app.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  6. Submit it with the fee

    Send the signed packet with the $50 fee, which covers two years. Allow up to 10 business days for a complete application; incomplete ones are returned. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) dmv.alaska.gov › dealer-license-plate-application.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  7. Get plates after approval

    Once DMV approves you, apply for dealer plates on form DLR002. The first plate costs $88 to $276 depending on your local tax area. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) dmv.alaska.gov › dealer-license-app.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

  8. Keep it current

    Registration runs two years and costs $50; renew before January 1 every two years. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

The location

Display lot
Permanent premises evidence required. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Office
Permanent office; lease/deed or notarized space-sharing permission with duration; site photograph. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Sign
Fixed, permanent, legible business sign matching dealer name; provide photo. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)
Zoning and home-based lots
Local zoning compliance required. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Before you apply

Alaska business license; ownership/entity names matching throughout; photo of each owner/member/officer; workers-compensation compliance; automobile-dealer-form liability insurance. Application asks tax ID and recent fraud-related felony disclosures. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Forms

DLR001 Dealer License Application; DLR003 Temporary Permit Acknowledgment in packet (required even if not issuing permits); DLR002 Dealer License Plate Application. Bond template also linked on dealer hub. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

Get the current versions from dmv.alaska.gov; we don’t host copies.

Not the license you’re after?

Buyer’s agent and motorcycle-only dealer differ; motorcycle-only bond is lower. dmv.alaska.gov (source, opens in a new tab)

What trips people up

Our read of the requirements above, not official guidance or statistics.

The hardest part: qualifying for the $100,000 bond and obtaining the correct dealer-form insurance.

Easy mistakes:

Questions

How much does an Alaska dealer license cost?

$50 for a two-year registration, plus $88 to $276 for the first plate depending on your tax area. The premium on the $100,000 bond and dealer-form insurance are the big costs. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) dmv.alaska.gov › dealer-license-plate-application.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

How long does it take?

Allow up to 10 business days for a complete application. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

Will my regular auto insurance work?

No. You need liability insurance on an automobile-dealer form. dmv.alaska.gov › interested-dealer-packet.pdf (source, opens in a new tab) dmv.alaska.gov › dealer-license-app.pdf (source, opens in a new tab)

Sources

Not affiliated with the Alaska DMV. Not legal advice. Requirements change; always confirm with the state.