AlaskaAlaska allows older imports to register and sets driver proof rules
Alaska law allows certain older imported vehicles to be registered without current federal safety standards and sets rules for driving tests and proof after judgment-related suspensions.
What it does
Alaska law allows vehicles at least 25 years old that were legally imported into the United States to be registered without meeting current federal safety standards. The department also cannot deny, suspend, or revoke their titles for that reason.
After a judgment-related suspension, drivers must keep proof for one year after a first suspension, three years after a second, and 10 years after a third. After a fourth or later suspension, they must keep it while they hold driving privileges.
If an applicant fails or does not finish part of a required driving test, the department may require them to retake only that part.
Insurance companies doing business in Alaska must tell customers who keep required financial responsibility proof how long they must keep it.
Argument forOwners of older legally imported vehicles could register them without meeting current federal safety standards, which may make registration easier.
Argument againstDrivers with repeated judgment-related suspensions may have to keep financial responsibility proof for years, or as long as they hold driving privileges.
More detail
The department cannot require current federal safety standards for registration or deny, suspend, or revoke a title for failing those standards. These rules apply to registration and titles for qualifying vehicles in Alaska. The vehicle must be at least 25 years old, legally imported into the United States, and registered under AS 28.10.068. These sections took effect immediately.
A person must keep proof of financial responsibility for a period based on how many judgment-related suspensions they have had. After a first suspension, proof must be kept for one year; after a second, three years; after a third, 10 years; and after a fourth or later suspension, while the person has a license or nonresident driving privilege. The period begins when the judgment is stayed, meaning enforcement is paused, or satisfied. These periods apply to suspensions before, on, or after the section's effective date.
The department may require a driving test applicant to retake only the part they failed or did not finish. The rule covers applicants taking a driving test under AS 28.33.100. This applies if the applicant does not successfully complete any portion of a driving test required under AS 28.33.100.
An insurance company doing business in Alaska must notify certain customers about the proof-retention rules. The duty covers insurance companies doing business in Alaska and their Alaska customers who maintain the required proof. The customer must maintain proof of financial responsibility under AS 28.20.330. The company must give notice within six months after the section setting proof-retention periods takes effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 1(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTERLatest
- Jul 1(S) Signed into law 6/24 CHAPTER 39 SLA 26Became Law
- Jun 15(S) 3:55 P.M. 6/15/26 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 15(S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)
- May 20(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Vote recorded (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N- #2824. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20(S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N-
- May 20(S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP
- May 19(H) VERSION: SB 239 AM H
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y39 A1 #2904. Result: pass.Lower
- May 19(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDEDMajor
- May 19(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GALVIN, EISCHEID, MCCABE, SADDLER, JOSEPHSON, MINA
- May 19(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 19(H) PASSED Y39 A1Major
- May 19(H) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 239 AM HMinor
- May 19(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UCMinor
- May 19(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 19(H) AM NO 3 ADOPTED UCMajor
- May 19(H) AM NO 2 NOT OFFERED
- May 19(H) TITLE CHANGE: HCR 29
- May 19(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- May 19(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UCMajor
- May 19(H) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 18(H) NOT TAKEN UP 5/18 - ON 5/19 CALENDAR
- May 18(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/18/2026
- May 7(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): SCHRAGE
- May 6(H) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- May 6(H) DP: VANCE, MCCABE, ST. CLAIR, HOLLAND, HIMSCHOOT, STORY, CARRICK
- May 6(H) STA RPT 7DP
- May 5(H) Minutes (HSTA)
- May 5(H) Moved SB 239 Out of Committee
- May 5(H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120
- May 1(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): SCHWANKE
- Apr 30(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): FIELDS, ST. CLAIR
- Apr 30(H) STA
- Apr 30(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Apr 29(S) VERSION: SB 239
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y20 N- #2414. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 29(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)Passed House
- Apr 29(S) COSPONSOR(S): RAUSCHER, KAUFMAN, MERRICK, YUNDT
- Apr 29(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Apr 29(S) PASSED Y20 N-Passed Senate
- Apr 29(S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 239Minor
- Apr 28(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/29 CALMinor
- Apr 28(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- Apr 28(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/28/2026
- Apr 22(S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- Apr 22(S) NR: WIELECHOWSKI
- Apr 22(S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON, TILTON, BJORKMAN
- Apr 22(S) AM: KAWASAKI
- Apr 22(S) STA RPT 1AM 3DP 1NR
- Apr 21(S) Minutes (SSTA)
- Apr 21(S) Moved SB 239 Out of Committee
- Apr 21(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Mar 31(S) Minutes (SSTA)
- Mar 31(S) Heard & Held
- Mar 31(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Mar 26(S) Uniform Rule 23 Waived -- MEETING CANCELED --
- Mar 26(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Mar 25(S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- Mar 25(S) NR: KIEHL, STEDMAN, TOBIN
- Mar 25(S) DP: BJORKMAN
- Mar 25(S) TRA RPT 1DP 3NR
- Mar 24(S) Minutes (STRA)
- Mar 24(S) Moved SB 239 Out of Committee
- Mar 24(S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Mar 23(S) STA WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE, RULE 23
- Feb 26(S) Minutes (STRA)
- Feb 26(S) Heard & Held
- Feb 26(S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- Feb 11(S) COSPONSOR(S): MYERS, KAWASAKI, BJORKMAN, CRONK
- Feb 11(S) TRA, STA
- Feb 11(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced
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