Alaska Provisional License

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Alaska's provisional license is the middle stage of the state's graduated driver license (GDL) program. It bridges the instruction permit and a full unrestricted Class D license, allowing a 16-year-old to drive solo with specific time and passenger restrictions for at least 6 months. Drive that period without violations and the provisional restrictions drop automatically.

Eligibility

To apply for an Alaska provisional license, the applicant must:

Be at least 16 years old.
Have held an Alaska instruction permit for at least 6 months.
Have completed 40 hours of supervised driving, with 10 hours at night, documented in a signed practice log.
Pass an Alaska DMV road test.
Have no traffic violations during the permit period.
Provide a parental certification (form completed by parent or guardian).

Application steps

The applicant brings the signed practice log, parental certification, current permit, and a completed Form 802 to an Alaska DMV office. After a vision screening and the road test, the field office issues a temporary paper license valid for 60 days; the permanent provisional license card arrives by mail in 2-4 weeks. The fee is the standard $20 for a 5-year Class D license.

Driving restrictions

An Alaska provisional license carries restrictions designed to reduce the high crash rate among new teen drivers:

Passenger limit: No passengers under age 21 except immediate family members for the first 6 months. Multiple unrelated teen passengers are a primary contributor to teen crash rates, so Alaska restricts the combination directly.
Curfew: No driving between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. except to or from work, religious activities, or a documented medical emergency. Driving during curfew with no documentation is a violation.
Mobile phone: Alaska's hands-free law prohibits any phone use while driving on a provisional license — including hands-free systems. Voice-activated GPS that doesn't require the driver to look at a screen is generally tolerated.
Seat belts: Every occupant must be belted, regardless of age or seating position.
Alcohol: Zero tolerance. Any detectable alcohol triggers an immediate license suspension under Alaska's underage driving laws.

Violations during the provisional period

Any moving violation during the 6-month provisional period extends the period further. Specifically:

One conviction within the 6-month period: the period extends another 6 months.
Two convictions: the license is suspended for 30 days and the provisional period restarts at the end of suspension.
Three convictions: the license is suspended for 60 days and may require a hearing with the Alaska DMV's driver improvement section.
DUI or refusal: immediate license revocation for at least 90 days, plus the consequences described in our Alaska DUI laws guide.

Lifting the provisional restrictions

The provisional restrictions automatically drop after 6 months without a violation, or on the holder's 18th birthday — whichever comes first. The Alaska DMV does not require a separate test or in-office visit when the restrictions lift; the existing license simply becomes a full Class D when the holder qualifies. Carry the same physical card; the provisional restrictions are tracked in the DMV's database, not printed on the card itself.

Drivers who reach 18 with provisional restrictions still in effect (because of recent violations) must clear those before the restrictions drop. In practice, a careful 16-year-old can hold a fully unrestricted Alaska Class D license by their 16-and-a-half birthday.

School attendance requirement

Alaska law requires applicants under 18 to be enrolled in school or have completed high school graduation requirements (or its equivalent — homeschool with a state-approved curriculum, GED). A documented school-attendance verification is part of the application. A driver who drops out of school may have their provisional license suspended until enrollment resumes or they reach 18.

What about insurance?

Alaska's minimum liability requirement is 50/100/25 on every vehicle a provisional licensee drives. Most parents add the teen to an existing policy rather than opening a separate one, which is generally less expensive. See our Alaska car insurance guide for the full breakdown.