Overview
The one thing worth checking before you hand over the keys: the DMV's own registration rules say the Motor Vehicle Registration Tax is 'not collected again if the vehicle changes ownership... during the registration period unless registration is expired.' In plain terms, gifting a car with valid, unexpired tags doesn't trigger a fresh MVRT bill - the recipient just retitles it and keeps driving on the existing registration until it's due for renewal anyway.
01 - Official fees
Alaska gift a car fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title transfer (any recipient) | $15 | |
| Lien recording (only if new financing) | $15 | |
| MVRT if current registration is still valid | $0 | not re-collected mid-cycle on an ownership change |
| MVRT if registration has already expired | $0–$300 | recipient pays the normal renewal + MVRT for the vehicle's age |
| Local sales tax | $0 | unless the sale/gift occurs in Juneau or the Kenai Peninsula Borough, where local rules on gifts should be confirmed locally |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to gift a car in Alaska
- 1
Sign over the existing Alaska title to the recipient, noting it's a gift with no sale price.
- 2
File Form 812 (Application for Title) within 30 days of the transfer.
- 3
If the current registration is still valid, the recipient can generally keep driving on it - no new MVRT is due until the next renewal.
- 4
If the registration has already lapsed, register it as new, paying the state fee plus whatever MVRT applies for the vehicle's age in the recipient's borough.
- 5
Update insurance into the recipient's name before they drive it.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Alaska vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Alaska gift a car FAQ
Is there a gift tax on cars in Alaska?
No - Alaska has no sales tax at the state level, so there's nothing to exempt a gift from in the first place. The only fee that applies to essentially any transfer, gift or sale, is the flat $15 title fee.
Does the recipient have to re-pay the Motor Vehicle Registration Tax when I gift them my car?
Not if the current registration hasn't expired. The DMV's own rules state MVRT is collected only at original issuance or renewal - an ownership change mid-cycle doesn't reset it. If the registration has already lapsed for any reason, though, the recipient pays the normal registration plus MVRT to bring it current.
Do I need a notarized gift affidavit like some states require?
No special gift affidavit is required in Alaska the way some sales-tax states use one - since there's no tax being avoided, the title transfer paperwork (Form 812) is the same whether the vehicle is sold or given away.
What if I'm gifting a car in Juneau or the Kenai Peninsula Borough, where there's a local sales tax?
Those two jurisdictions do tax retail vehicle sales locally, but a genuine gift with no money changing hands typically isn't a taxable 'sale' under most municipal sales tax codes. Confirm the exact treatment with the Juneau or Kenai Peninsula Borough sales tax office before assuming, since we didn't find a published gift exemption specific to either.
Can I gift a car that still has a loan on it?
Only once the lien is released - the lender holds the title until the loan is paid off. Get the lien release first, then complete the title transfer as a gift.
Does the recipient need to live in the same borough as me to keep the MVRT unchanged?
No, but if the registration is still valid it doesn't matter where they live - MVRT isn't reassessed until the next renewal regardless of address. At that renewal, though, it will be calculated using the recipient's registered borough, which could be higher or lower than yours.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.