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Alaska2026Enacted

SB239

Alaska Motor Vehicle Rules: Imports, Tests, and Insurance

Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 12:25 AM

In one sentence

This law allows the registration of legally imported vehicles at least 25 years old without current federal safety standards, lets driving test applicants retake only failed portions, and sets longer insurance requirements for repeat suspensions due to unpaid judgments.

What it does

  • Allows the state to register vehicles that are at least 25 years old if they were legally imported into the United States without requiring them to meet current federal safety standards.
  • Stops the department from refusing, suspending, or canceling a vehicle title just because an older, legally imported car does not meet modern safety rules.
  • Requires drivers with multiple license suspensions for unpaid judgments to keep proof of financial responsibility (insurance) for longer periods based on how many times they have been suspended: one year for the first suspension, three years for the second, ten years for the third, and indefinitely during their driving privilege period for a fourth or subsequent suspension.
  • Permits the department to let driving test applicants retake only the specific part of a commercial motor vehicle license test that they failed or did not finish.

Who it affects

  • Owners of vehicles at least 25 years old that were legally imported into the United States.
  • Drivers who have had their licenses suspended for nonpayment of court judgments more than once.
  • People applying for a commercial motor vehicle license or taking driving tests in Alaska.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law requires insurance companies to notify customers about new rules within six months but does not specify how they must deliver these notices.
  • The text defines time limits for keeping proof of financial responsibility but does not list specific dollar amounts or coverage types needed.

Plain language

Terms to know

Proof of financial responsibility
Evidence that a driver has insurance to pay for damages if they cause an accident, often required after legal suspensions.
Certificate of title
An official document issued by the state that proves who owns a vehicle.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

MOTOR VEHICLES: REG/COMM EXAM/INSURANCE An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle licensing examinations; relating to the registration and titling of legally imported motor vehicles; relating to proof of financial responsibility for suspension for nonpayment of judgments; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER3132
  2. (S) SIGNED INTO LAW 6/24 CHAPTER 39 SLA 263132
  3. (S) 3:55 P.M. 6/15/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR2992
  4. (S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)2992
  5. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2824
  6. (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N-2824
  7. (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP2823
  8. (H) VERSION: SB 239 AM H2957
  9. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED2957
  10. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GALVIN, EISCHEID, MCCABE, SADDLER, JOSEPHSON, MINA2955
  11. (H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 292905
  12. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2904
  13. (H) PASSED Y39 A12904
  14. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 239 AM H2904
  15. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC2904
  16. (H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION2904
  17. (H) AM NO 3 ADOPTED UC2903
  18. (H) AM NO 2 NOT OFFERED2903
  19. (H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION2903
  20. (H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC2901

Changes

Amendments

3 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC 2901

AM 2

AM NO 2 NOT OFFERED 2903

AM 3

AM NO 3 ADOPTED UC 2903