Photo: Haydn Blackey, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Under Alaska’s provisional license rules, a 16 or 17 year old may not drive between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. and may carry only certain passengers. These limits last at least 6 months and end at 18 at the latest. This guide is for Alaska teens and parents. It covers who qualifies, the exact restrictions and exceptions, the penalties and how to get the restrictions removed early.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Minimum age: 16, after holding an instruction permit for at least 6 months.
- Curfew: no driving 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., with exceptions for work and for driving with a licensed adult aged 21+.
- Passengers: only a parent or legal guardian, siblings, or people aged 21+.
- Minimum time on the restrictions: 6 months. They stop applying at 18.
- Breaking a restriction: $200 penalty and 2 points.
Who can get an Alaska provisional license?
You must:
- be at least 16
- have held an instruction permit for at least 6 months
- have no traffic conviction and no suspension or revocation in the 6 months before you apply
- have a parent, legal guardian or employer certify at least 40 hours of driving, including 10 in progressively challenging conditions (see the 40 hour certification checklist)
- pass the road test (see Alaska road test tasks and automatic fails)
- bring form D1, proof of relationship and parental consent: a parent in person, or a notarized form 433
The license must be the same class as the regular license you will move up to: Class D for cars, or M1 for motorcycles.
The two provisional restrictions
Every provisional license carries both restrictions as codes on the card.
Restriction A: passengers
The DMV restriction list says you may not drive with passengers unless they are a parent or legal guardian, a sibling, or someone over 21. The manual adds that siblings may ride with you without a parent in the car. In practice:
| Who is in the car | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Your brother or sister, alone with you | Yes |
| Your parent or legal guardian | Yes |
| A friend aged 21 or older | Yes |
| A friend under 21, no one else | No |
| Friends under 21 with your parent or a 21+ passenger also in the car | Yes. The manual says you may not carry passengers “unless one of the passengers” is a parent, legal guardian or person aged 21+ |
Restriction B: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
You may not drive between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless:
- a parent, legal guardian or person aged 21+ who is licensed for the same class of vehicle is with you, or
- you are driving to or from work, or as part of your job, by the most direct route.
Going to school, sports or a friend’s house is not an exception.
What happens if you break the rules
- Breaking a provisional restriction: an infraction with a $200 penalty and 2 points on your record (DMV provisional license page).
- Points: 6 or more points in 12 months, or 9 or more in 24 months, means a driver improvement course. If you do not complete it, the DMV may suspend you.
- Delay: any traffic conviction, or a conviction for repeat minor consuming alcohol, in the 6 months before you apply for a regular license keeps the restrictions in place.
- Alcohol: under 21, driving after drinking any amount means administrative revocation (30 days for a first offense). See zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21.
- Consent withdrawn: the parent or guardian who signed consent can withdraw it in writing at any time before you turn 18. The DMV then cancels the license.
How to remove the provisional restrictions early
- Drive at least 6 months on the provisional license with no traffic convictions and no alcohol or drug convictions.
- Get a new parental consent, on form D1 in person or a notarized form 433 (“Alaska Driver’s License (Class D)” box).
- Visit a DMV office or Business Partner and pay $15 for the new license, according to the manual.
The DMV restriction list puts it as: the restrictions may be removed with a parent’s permission after 6 months of violation-free driving.
Turning 18
At 18 the provisional restrictions no longer apply, whether or not you visit the DMV. Form 433 says a regular license is then optional. A driver 18 or older can get a license without provisional restrictions, and without parental consent, for $15. Licenses issued under 21 expire 90 days after your 21st birthday. You must pass an alcohol awareness test before you renew.
Off-highway licenses
The passenger and curfew limits do not apply to a license restricted to off-highway communities, meaning communities not connected to the road system or connected only to low-traffic roads (check eligibility with the DMV). That license works as an instruction permit in the rest of Alaska. Details are in the full Alaska guide.
Other license restrictions you might see
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Corrective lenses required |
| 2 | Two outside rearview mirrors required |
| 3 | Automatic transmission only |
| 4 | Daylight driving only |
| 5 | Special equipment required |
| 6 | Off-highway communities only |
| A | Provisional passenger restriction |
| B | Provisional hours of operation |
| C | Ignition interlock device |
Common questions
Can I drive my friends on an Alaska provisional license?
Only friends aged 21 or older, unless your parent, legal guardian or another person aged 21+ is also in the car. Siblings can ride with you on their own.
Can I drive home from work after 1 a.m.?
Yes, by the most direct route. Stopping off on the way is not covered.
Can I drive at 2 a.m. with my 22-year-old cousin?
Yes, if your cousin is licensed for the same class of vehicle. A 21+ passenger also lifts the passenger limit.
Does texting count against me?
Texting while driving is illegal for every Alaska driver, as is driving with a visual screen device operating. A conviction would also delay removing your restrictions. See hands-free and texting laws.
I got a ticket on my permit. What now?
You must wait 6 months from the conviction before you can apply for a provisional license.
How does Alaska compare with other states?
See US graduated driver licensing compared.
Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Alaska.
Sources
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Provisional License” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Non-Commercial License Restrictions and Types” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Alaska Driver Manual” (Rev. 10/2025) (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Form 433: Parent/Guardian Consent for a Minor” (dmv.alaska.gov)
- Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, “Form D1: Driver License, Permit or Identification Card Transaction Application” (Rev. 10/13/2025) (dmv.alaska.gov)