Short answer: Alaska requires liability insurance of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage, on vehicles that must be registered. You must carry proof while driving. Areas that do not require registration are generally exempt, unless you have a six-point-or-higher ticket within the last five years.
What the DMV requires
The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles mandatory insurance page says the Mandatory Insurance Statutes require the owner of a motor vehicle subject to registration to keep a liability policy that complies with Alaska Statute 28.22.101. The minimum amounts listed there are:
| Coverage | Alaska minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury or death | $50,000 / $100,000 |
| Property damage | $25,000 |
The Alaska Division of Insurance consumer guide to automobile insurance (revised September 2020) repeats the same 50/100/25 figures and notes that the Division of Insurance administers Title 21 while DMV administers Title 28.
Proof you must carry
Under AS 28.22.019, as summarized in the Division of Insurance guide, you must keep in your immediate possession a copy of the policy, a certificate of self-insurance, an insurance identification card or a mobile electronic display of insurance verification whenever you drive.
If you are in an accident that causes bodily injury, death or property damage exceeding $501, you will be required to show proof of insurance. Failure to have insurance can result in suspension of your driver's license. Before reinstatement, the guide says you must supply proof of financial responsibility (an SR-22) and pay reinstatement fees. The SR-22 must be filed with DMV for three years following an accident in which the driver was uninsured.
In the Municipality of Anchorage, DMV warns that your vehicle may be impounded if you lack proof of insurance; recovering it means dealing with Anchorage Police Department procedures.
Remote-area exceptions
Insurance is not required in areas where registration is not required. There is an important carve-out: a driver who has received a ticket for a violation of six points or more within the last five years must still carry liability insurance. AS 28.22.011(1)(A) and (B) list the exempt areas; confirm the current list with DMV if you live or travel off the road system.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
The Division of Insurance guide treats UM/UIM as optional in the sense that you can reject it, but the offer is not casual. When you apply for auto liability insurance, the company must present a written offer that includes limits equal to the liability coverage you selected, with bodily injury and property damage available as separate coverages. You may select both, reject both, or take one and reject the other. If your selection or rejection is not verified by your signature, Alaska law requires the company to issue the policy with UM/UIM limits matching your liability coverage. After a rejection, the company need not re-offer at renewal, though you can add the coverage later.
UM/UIM is designed for crashes where the other party is responsible but uninsured or underinsured, hit-and-run situations, parked-vehicle strikes by an unidentified driver, and injuries as a pedestrian or cyclist.
What the minimum does not buy
Liability pays other people when you are at fault. It does not repair your own car. Collision and comprehensive are optional unless a lender requires them. Medical payments coverage is also optional; it can pay hospital and funeral expenses for people in your vehicle without waiting for a fault decision. The guide stresses that "full coverage" is not a defined product in Alaska law—you have to decide each coverage separately.
Wildlife strikes and comprehensive
The Division of Insurance guide treats a collision with a bird or animal—including a bear or moose—as a comprehensive claim when you carry comprehensive coverage. That matters in Alaska more than in most states. Liability insurance alone will not repair your own vehicle after a moose strike.
Bottom line
Alaska's 50/100/25 package is among the higher statutory liability floors in the country, and the proof and SR-22 rules are strict after an uninsured crash. Compare states in our car insurance minimums by state table.
Questions? Contact Alishahi Insurance or call (877) 711-4545. See insurance in Alaska and auto insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in Alaska?
Liability of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage, for vehicles subject to registration.
Do I have to carry proof of insurance in Alaska?
Yes. AS 28.22.019 requires a policy copy, self-insurance certificate, ID card or electronic display in your immediate possession while driving.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Alaska?
Insurers must offer UM/UIM in writing at limits up to your liability coverage. You can reject it, but an unsigned rejection defaults to matching your liability limits.
What happens if I drive uninsured in Alaska?
Your license can be suspended. After an uninsured accident, reinstatement generally requires an SR-22 filing for three years plus reinstatement fees.
Are there places in Alaska where auto insurance is not required?
Yes, areas where registration is not required are generally exempt, unless you have a six-point-or-higher ticket within the last five years.
Alishahi Insurance · 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · (877) 711-4545 · CA License #4348151. General information only. This isn't legal, tax or financial advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on policy language and underwriting, and rules vary by state.