Overview
A brand-new truck in the Kodiak Island Borough owes $300 in MVRT; the identical truck in Fairbanks North Star Borough owes zero, because Fairbanks simply isn't on the taxable-location list. Anchorage and the Mat-Su Borough share one schedule that runs $150 down to $70 as the vehicle ages past 8 years old; Juneau charges a flat $70 no matter the vehicle's age. Pick your location and vehicle age below for the real number.
01 - Official fees
Alaska registration fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger, motorhome, pickup, cargo van, APV | $100 | biennial |
| Motorcycle / moped / autocycle | $60 | biennial |
| Non-commercial trailer | $30 | biennial |
| Qualifying farm vehicle | $68 | biennial, no MVRT charged |
| Anchorage / Mat-Su MVRT (passenger) | $70–$150 | by vehicle age |
| Juneau MVRT (passenger) | $70 flat | same at any vehicle age |
| Kenai Peninsula MVRT (passenger) | $30–$140 | by vehicle age |
| Kodiak MVRT (passenger) | $140–$300 | by vehicle age |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough MVRT | $0 | not a taxable location |
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 register a vehicle in Alaska
- 1
Have your Alaska title (or dealer paperwork) and proof of insurance ready.
- 2
Look up your borough's MVRT bracket by your vehicle's model-year age on the DMV chart, or just use the calculator below.
- 3
Register online at online.dmv.alaska.gov, by mail, or in person (in-person adds a $10 fee).
- 4
Pay the state's flat base fee plus whatever MVRT your registered address requires.
- 5
Your plates and registration are valid for 2 years from the assigned expiration month.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Alaska vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Alaska registration fees FAQ
How much does it cost to register a car in Alaska?
The state charges a flat $100 for two years. What you actually pay also depends on your borough's Motor Vehicle Registration Tax: $0 in Fairbanks, $70 flat in Juneau, $70–$150 in Anchorage/Mat-Su based on the vehicle's age, and up to $300 for a brand-new vehicle in the Kodiak Island Borough.
Why does my car's registration go down every year even though I don't do anything?
That's the MVRT depreciating on schedule. Alaska's chart assigns a lower tax bracket as the vehicle's model year ages - a car in Anchorage or Mat-Su, for instance, drops from $150 to $70 in MVRT alone by the time it turns 8 years old, even though the $100 state registration fee never changes.
Does every borough charge MVRT?
No. It's optional for each municipality to adopt, and several - including the Fairbanks North Star Borough - never have. If your registered address isn't on the DMV's published taxable-location list, you pay only the flat state fee.
Is MVRT collected again if I move to a different borough mid-registration?
No - MVRT is only assessed at the time you originally register or renew. If you move to a higher-MVRT borough partway through your 2-year cycle, you don't owe the difference until your next renewal.
How is vehicle age calculated for MVRT purposes?
By model year, not purchase date. A vehicle is treated as 1 year old throughout its model year and turns a year older every January 1st after that - so a 2025 model year vehicle becomes 2 years old on January 1, 2027, regardless of when in 2025 or 2026 it was actually built or bought.
Do farm vehicles pay MVRT?
No. A qualifying farm vehicle - used exclusively for a working ranch, farm, dairy, greenhouse, or nursery under 20,000 lbs - registers at a flat $68 with no MVRT charged, regardless of borough.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.