Alaska Instruction Permit

Alaska's instruction permit is the first credential in the state's graduated driver license program. With parental consent, a teen can apply at age 14 — one of the youngest permit ages in the United States — and begin supervised driving practice with a licensed adult in the passenger seat. The permit must be held for at least 6 months before the holder can move on to a provisional license.

Who can apply

Alaska sets the minimum permit age at 14 with parental consent. A parent or legal guardian must sign the consent section of Form 802 in person at an Alaska DMV office, or have it notarized in advance. Applicants 18 or older may apply without a guardian signature. The permit holder must be enrolled in school or have completed school requirements (Alaska enforces a school-attendance verification at the time of application).

Documents required

To apply for an Alaska instruction permit, bring:

• One identity document — a U.S. birth certificate (with raised seal), valid U.S. passport, or Certificate of Naturalization.
• Proof of Social Security number — Social Security card, W-2, or SSA-1099.
• Two proofs of Alaska residency from two different sources, dated within the past 90 days — utility bill, lease, school enrollment letter, parent's mortgage statement listing the applicant.
• A completed Form 802 with the parental-consent section signed.
• A completed school enrollment verification if the applicant is under 18.

Fees

The Alaska instruction permit fee is $15, plus the standard $15 testing fee for the knowledge exam. Replacement permits cost $15 if lost or damaged. Fees are paid at the field office at the time of issuance.

Knowledge test

The permit knowledge exam is the same 20-question multiple-choice test administered for a full Alaska driver's license. You'll need to score at least 16/20 (80%) to pass. The test is drawn from the current Alaska Driver Manual, which is available free on the Alaska DMV website. Topics commonly tested: winter driving and traction control, moose and bear collision avoidance, right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections, school-bus passing rules, and the BAC limits described in our Alaska DUI laws guide.

If you don't pass on the first try, Alaska allows a retest the same day at most field offices, though some smaller offices require a 24-hour wait. The DMV does not cap the number of attempts but charges the testing fee on each attempt.

Driving privileges with a permit

An Alaska instruction permit comes with strict supervision rules:

• The permit holder must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older who has held a valid license for at least one year, seated in the front passenger seat.
• No driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. except to or from work or school activities.
• The permit holder, supervising driver, and any passengers must wear seat belts at all times.
• No use of mobile phones while driving — Alaska's hands-free law applies to permit holders without exception.
• The permit holder may not transport more passengers than the vehicle has functioning seat belts.

Supervised practice

Before applying for a provisional license, the permit holder must complete 40 hours of supervised driving practice documented in a parental log, with at least 10 of those hours at night. The log is signed by the supervising parent or guardian and submitted at the field office when the applicant tests for the next stage. Alaska's winter conditions effectively guarantee that night-driving practice will include low-traction surfaces — examiners take this as a feature, not a bug.

Holding period and progression

The Alaska instruction permit must be held for a minimum of 6 months. After 6 months and the completed practice log, the permit holder can apply at age 16 or older for a provisional license. The permit itself is valid for 2 years and may be renewed once for an additional 2 years for $15. Permits issued to applicants who turn 16 during the holding period remain valid until their progression test is completed.

Out-of-state permit holders

Alaska accepts out-of-state instruction permits for visiting drivers, but new residents under 18 must apply for an Alaska permit within 90 days of establishing residency. The supervised practice hours from another state typically count toward Alaska's 40-hour requirement at the DMV's discretion, provided the previous log is signed and submitted.