Guide to Rural Driving Information

Although there is no requirement for rural drivers to obtain an instruction permit, the Division of Motor Vehicles strongly encourages rural drivers to practice driving with a licensed driver by obtaining an instructional permit. An instruction permit (IP) allows drivers to practice driving with a licensed driver.  It is valid for a maximum of two (2) years and can only be renewed one time.

If you are 14 years of age or older, you can get an instruction permit. You are required to:

• Pass the written test (contact a Proctor in your area)
• Pass a vision test
• Pay the fee
• Provide original legal documents verifying date of birth, social security number and identity
• If you are under 18 years of age, you must provide parental consent.

A person who is 16 or 17 years of age may obtain a Class D provisional license. (Please note that a driver with an off-highway license is exempt from all the restrictions that normally apply to a provisional license.)

The following requirements must be met in order to obtain a Class D Provisional License:

• have had an instruction permit for 6 months;
• have certification, from a parent or guardian, of at least 40 hours of driving experience with 10 hours of progressively challenging circumstances, such as driving in inclement weather;
• have had no convictions for traffic violations in the six months preceding the application;

To graduate to an Off-Highway Class D license, rural residents with an instructional permit or provisional license must surrender their last issued license and submit a new Application for Remote Area Driver License, Permit or ID Card (Form 480) to:

The commercial motor vehicle instruction permits (IA, IB, and IC) allow a driver to practice driving the corresponding class of commercial motor vehicle with a licensed commercial motor vehicle driver.  For example, the IA permit allows drivers to practice driving Class A commercial motor vehicles when accompanied by a licensed Class A commercial driver.

If you are 17 years of age or older and have held a valid non-commercial license for a year (Class D), you can get a commercial instruction permit. You are required to:

• provide original legal documents verifying their date of birth and identity, social security number
• pass a vision test
• pass the commercial motor vehicle driver general knowledge written test based on the State of Alaska CDL Manual
• If under 18, provide parental consent

While there is no requirement for rural drivers to obtain an instruction permit, the Division of Motor Vehicles strongly encourages rural drivers to practice driving with a licensed driver.

If you are 19 years of age or older and have a held a license for one year, you can apply for an Off-Highway Commercial Driver License . You are required to:

• Pass the written test (contact a Proctor in your area)
• pass the vision test
• pay the licensing fee
• provide original legal documents verifying date of birth, social security number and identity
• No skills (road) test is required

Off-Highway Commercial Driver Licenses are only valid in the State of Alaska and only in specific communities listed on the link at the top of this page.

No. You cannot apply for an interstate commercial driver license through the mail.  To apply for an interstate commercial driver license, you must be 21 or older, have held a valid license for one year, have passed written and vision tests, payed licensing fees, and successfully passed a skills (road) test. 

A CDL license may also serve as your class D non-commercial license. If your CDL has been canceled due to no longer living in an off-highway community or due to you no longer having a valid CDL medical card, this does not cancel you class D driving privileges. The DMV encourages you to visit your local DMV office and have your canceled CDL converted to a Class D license. If you have further questions contact Anchorage Driver Licensing at 907-269-3770.