Alaska car insurance requirements

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Alaska requires 50/100/25 liability coverage: $50,000 for injury or death to one person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. That is double the bodily injury minimum found in many other states, reflecting how costly medical care and repairs can be in a remote state where treatment and parts often travel long distances.

Driving conditions add their own risks. Moose and other wildlife collisions, long winters, icy roads and gravel-strewn highways all feed into comprehensive and collision claims, so many Alaskans weigh those coverages carefully even though neither is required by law. Enforcement has also changed: for years the state relied largely on an honor system, but since 2019 the DMV has been able to verify insurance electronically at registration and through random checks. Lacking required insurance can lead to a license suspension, and in Anchorage a vehicle may be impounded. Insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and credit information may be used only within state limits.

Alaska minimum liability limits

To register and drive a car in Alaska you need at least this much liability coverage:

• $50,000 for injuries to one person in an accident you cause.
• $100,000 in total for injuries to everyone in that accident.
• $25,000 for damage to other people's property, such as their car.

Alaska has one of the higher state minimums, with bodily injury limits double those of many states.

Other required and offered coverage

Alaska law (AS 21.89.020) requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on liability policies; the written-waiver rules are in the statute and the Division of Insurance can explain them.

Learn more about uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.

Is Alaska a no-fault state?

Alaska is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and property damage, which is normally paid by that driver's liability insurance. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer or, in some cases, sue.

Alaska uses pure comparative negligence, so an injured driver's recovery is reduced by their share of fault but not eliminated.

Read more: at-fault vs. no-fault states explained.

Can insurers use your credit in Alaska?

Status: Restricted. Alaska allows credit information in underwriting and rating only with limits: insurers must disclose its use in writing, weigh it with other factors, and may not consider an absence of credit history or medical accounts.

See how credit affects car insurance for the bigger picture.

Penalties for driving uninsured in Alaska

Failing to carry required insurance may result in suspension of your driver's license. In the Municipality of Anchorage the vehicle may also be impounded. Proof of liability insurance must be carried while driving and shown on demand to a peace officer.

Alaska historically relied on an honor system; since 2019 the DMV has been able to check insurance electronically during registration and through random checks.

After a suspension, the Alaska DMV requires proof of future financial responsibility, usually an SR-22 certificate filed by an insurer, and the certificate must be recent when you reinstate. Ask the DMV or court how long you must keep the filing.

If you are ordered to file proof of insurance, see what SR-22 insurance is.

Tips for Alaska drivers

• Carry proof of insurance whenever you drive. Alaska requires you to show it on demand to a peace officer, and Anchorage can impound a vehicle that lacks coverage.
• Because the state minimum is already 50/100/25, check whether your policy meets it before assuming a policy bought elsewhere will. Out-of-state policies written for lower limits may fall short.
• Ask about uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Alaska insurers are required to offer it, and you can ask what limits they offer relative to your liability limits.
• Wildlife strikes fall under comprehensive or collision depending on the policy and the incident, so ask your insurer how a moose collision would be handled.
• If your license is suspended for an insurance violation, the DMV requires proof of future financial responsibility. Ask an insurer whether it files SR-22 certificates before you apply.
• Windshield and glass claims are common on gravel roads. Check how glass is treated under your comprehensive coverage and what deductible applies.

When you shop, compare quotes from several insurers using the same limits and deductibles, so the prices are like-for-like.

Official resources

• Insurance regulator: Alaska Division of Insurance
• Motor vehicle agency: Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles

Your state insurance department can answer questions about your rights and handle complaints about insurers.

Frequently asked questions

What are the minimum car insurance limits in Alaska?

Alaska requires at least $50,000 for bodily injury or death to one person, $100,000 for bodily injury or death in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage. This is written as 50/100/25. The Alaska DMV lists these limits on its mandatory insurance page, and they are higher than the minimums in most other states.

What happens if I drive without insurance in Alaska?

The Alaska DMV says failing to have proper insurance may result in suspension of your driver's license. In the Municipality of Anchorage, the vehicle may also be impounded. You must carry proof of liability insurance while driving and show it to a peace officer on request. Exact fines and suspension lengths should be confirmed with the DMV.

Does Alaska require insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage?

Yes. Alaska Statute 21.89.020 requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage with automobile liability policies, with limits that may not be lower than the state minimums. The coverage is an offer rather than a purchase requirement, so you decide whether to buy it. Ask your insurer or the Division of Insurance how waivers must be handled.

Is Alaska a no-fault state?

No. Alaska is an at-fault state, so the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the damages. It uses pure comparative negligence, which means your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault but is not barred entirely, even if you were mostly at fault.

Can Alaska insurers use credit to price auto insurance?

Alaska allows it only with restrictions. Insurers that use credit information must disclose that in writing at application and renewal, must consider it together with other factors, may not consider the absence of credit history or medical accounts, and must give specific reasons if an adverse decision is based on credit.

Sources

• Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles – Mandatory Insurance
• Alaska Department of Administration – DMV auto insurance news release
• Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles – Reinstate Your Driving Privileges
• Alaska Statutes – Sec. 21.89.020 Required motor vehicle coverage (Justia)
• NAIC – Use of Credit Reports/Scoring in Underwriting (state chart, Summer 2025)