Free Alaska DMV Cheat Sheet 2026

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Most-missed Alaska DMV rules

These are the numbers and rules that trip up new drivers most often on the real Alaska knowledge test. Every fact below comes from our free Alaska DMV practice test question bank, which has 180 questions across 9 topics.

Speed limits

The manual sets 55 mph as the default maximum for an unposted 'any other roadway,' unlike the higher defaults common in many other states.
The manual notes that speed limits on selected highways may be posted at 65 mph, above the general default.
Alaska's default statutory speed limit for alleys, absent posted signs, is 15 mph.
Alaska's statutory default for residential districts is 25 mph when no signs are posted.

Right of way

The Alaska manual states the vehicle on the left should yield to the vehicle on the right at uncontrolled intersections, though it stresses right of way is never simply assumed.
Drivers entering a roundabout must yield to vehicles already moving counterclockwise inside it.
Drivers exiting a roundabout must yield to pedestrians and cyclists using the crosswalk at the exit.
A driver turning left across oncoming lanes must yield to vehicles proceeding straight through the intersection, a standard right-of-way principle reinforced by the manual's cautious approach to right of way generally.
The manual states you only have the right of way when the other driver gives it to you, so you should never simply assume it.
Pedestrians already in or entering a crosswalk have the right of way and drivers must yield to them.
Do not cut through or break up a funeral procession. Slow down, be patient, and let it pass. Cutting between the vehicles is unsafe and often illegal.
At an uncontrolled intersection, slow down and yield to any car already in the intersection or approaching from your right.
A left-turning vehicle must yield to oncoming through traffic and to pedestrians. Only turn when the gap is safe.
When entering a roundabout, yield to traffic already circulating and travel counterclockwise. Exit at your street; do not stop in the middle of the circle.
At a T-intersection, traffic on the road that ends must yield to traffic on the through road that continues.
A round green light allows a left turn but does not give you the right of way. Pull into the intersection, yield to oncoming through traffic and pedestrians, then turn when there is a safe gap.

Alcohol and DUI

Alaska presumes DUI for adult drivers at 0.08% or higher blood or breath alcohol concentration, triggering administrative license revocation.
CDL holders face a lower threshold of 0.04% or higher, reflecting the higher standard expected of commercial drivers.
The manual lists escalating revocation periods: 90 days first offense, 1 year with one prior, and 3 years with two priors.
Alaska has a zero tolerance law for drivers under 21, making it illegal to drive after consuming alcohol in any amount.
Alaska law requires a chemical BAC test be administered within four hours of the alleged operating/driving to be used as evidence.
A first-offense DUI in Alaska is a class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum of 72 consecutive hours imprisonment and a minimum $1,500 fine, plus an ignition interlock device for at least six months.
Alaska law bars using pre-driving consumption as a defense against a delayed test result, while post-driving consumption can be raised as a defense.
Refusing a chemical test in Alaska carries the same mandatory minimum jail sentence as the corresponding DUI offense number and a minimum $1,500 fine.

Signals and markings

A flashing red signal requires a full stop, after which the driver may proceed when it's safe, just as at a stop sign.
A flashing yellow light warns drivers to slow down and proceed carefully, unlike a flashing red which requires a full stop.
A solid yellow line on your side of the centerline indicates no passing is permitted from your side of the road.
Double solid yellow lines indicate that passing is not permitted from either direction on that stretch of road.
A solid yellow line facing your direction of travel indicates passing is not allowed from your side of the roadway.
A flashing yellow arrow is a permissive signal allowing a left turn, but only after yielding to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians/cyclists in the crosswalk.
A dashed yellow line means passing is allowed when there is a safe gap in oncoming traffic, unlike a solid yellow line.
A dashed yellow center line indicates passing is generally permitted when it can be done safely, unlike a solid yellow line.
A bike box lets cyclists position ahead of traffic; drivers must stop behind the box rather than within it.
A flashing red signal functions like a stop sign, requiring drivers to come to a complete stop before proceeding when safe.
Hand signals remain a legally valid backup to electric signals; a straight, extended left arm signals a left turn.
A steady red signal requires a full stop; any right turn on red is only allowed after stopping and when safe and not prohibited by signage.
A flashing red signal functions the same as a stop sign, requiring drivers to come to a complete stop before proceeding when safe.
Even on a green arrow, a driver must yield to other vehicles already lawfully in the intersection.
The truck apron is a raised, paved area only meant for large truck wheels; ordinary vehicles should never drive on it.
A flashing red signal functions the same as a stop sign, requiring drivers to stop completely and then proceed only when it is safe.
A flashing yellow signal warns drivers to slow down and proceed carefully through the intersection, unlike a dark signal which is treated as a stop.
A flashing yellow light means slow down, look, and proceed carefully. It does NOT require a full stop the way a red light or STOP sign does.
A flashing hand or countdown means do NOT start crossing. If you are already in the crosswalk, keep going and finish crossing safely.
A steady DON'T WALK hand prohibits starting to cross. Only a WALK signal or walking-person symbol allows you to begin crossing.
Always signal continuously through a turn or lane change even when you see no other cars, because pedestrians or cyclists may be near. Cancel the signal after you finish.
A green downward arrow means the lane is open for you to use. A red X above the lane means it is closed and you may not drive in it.
Double solid yellow lines separate opposing directions and prohibit passing. You may only cross them for a permitted left turn or a legal U-turn into an intersection or driveway.
A broken yellow line on your side of the lane allows passing when it is safe. The solid line on the opposite side means that direction may not pass.
White lines separate lanes going the same direction. A solid white line means stay in your lane and avoid changing lanes, while a broken white line lets you change lanes when safe.
A two-way center left-turn lane is only for preparing to turn left or merging into traffic. You may not use it to drive straight through or to pass.

Parking

Parking regulations generally prohibit stopping too close to a fire hydrant so firefighters have unobstructed access in an emergency.
When parked facing downhill without a curb, wheels are generally turned toward the road's edge so a rolling vehicle moves away from traffic.

Safe driving

The manual warns that moose often travel in pairs or groups, so drivers should watch for additional animals after spotting one.
Alaska's basic speed law requires drivers to adjust for actual conditions like surface, width, weather, and traffic, even if that means driving below the posted maximum.
The manual advises slowing down and being alert for wildlife such as moose during dawn and dusk in known animal crossing areas.
A time based following distance, counting seconds behind the vehicle ahead, adjusts naturally for speed and is the standard safe driving practice.
A minimum three-second following gap gives most drivers enough time to react and stop safely under normal conditions.
The manual sets a specific cutoff allowing mopeds/scooters only on roads posted at 50 mph or lower.
General safe-driving principles call for maintaining an adequate following distance that increases with speed and worsening conditions to allow safe stopping.
The manual requires dimming to low beams at least 300 feet before overtaking or following another vehicle.
Endangering a highway worker with no injury results in a fine of $500 to $1,000, rising to as much as $5,000 if great bodily injury results.
Defensive driving calls for slowing down and preparing to stop when visibility of intersection controls is uncertain.
Safe driving practice calls for maintaining enough distance behind the vehicle ahead to react and stop safely if it brakes suddenly.
A several-second following distance, often cited as at least 3 seconds under normal conditions, provides reaction time to avoid rear-end collisions.
Passengers under 2 years old must specifically be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system.
Hydroplaning occurs when water accumulates faster than tire treads can disperse it, causing loss of contact with the road.
Safe lane changes require checking mirrors, checking blind spots by looking over the shoulder, and signaling the intended move before moving over.
General safe-driving principles hold that adverse weather reduces traction and visibility, requiring lower speeds than posted limits allow in good conditions.
Fatigue slows reaction time and judgment similarly to impairment, and can lead to microsleeps that cause the driver to lose control.
Because posted speed limits assume ideal conditions, the handbook advises reducing speed in rain and other hazardous conditions.
Wet roads increase stopping distance, so drivers should slow down and add extra space to compensate for reduced traction.
A minimum 3-second following distance gives drivers enough time to react to sudden braking by the vehicle ahead.
Advisory speed plates on curve warning signs indicate a safe reduced speed that drivers should slow to before entering the curve.
Posted speed limits are for ideal conditions; drivers should reduce speed further and increase following distance in poor weather like heavy rain or fog.
Work zones require reduced speed and heightened alertness because of workers, equipment, and changing lane patterns.
The safe response to a skid is to ease off the gas and steer smoothly in the direction you want to travel, rather than braking hard or overcorrecting.
The core safety reasoning is that other drivers may not yield as expected, so defensive caution prevents collisions.
The manual advises reducing speed for wet roads, reducing it further for packed snow, and slowing to a crawl on ice, since traction decreases as conditions worsen.
Handbooks generally recommend a multi-second following distance that should be increased in bad weather, at higher speeds, or in heavy traffic.
The manual warns that leaving a large vehicle's wind-sheltered draft can expose your car to a sudden crosswind push, requiring a steering correction.
Work zones are posted at least 10 mph under the normal maximum speed specifically to protect workers and should always be observed.
With a tailgater, open up more space in front of you so you can brake gradually instead of suddenly. Do not brake to retaliate and do not race away.
Strong crosswinds can push your car out of its lane. Hold the wheel firmly with both hands, slow down, and be ready for sudden gusts.
Do not engage. Avoid eye contact, do not brake in retaliation, let them pass, and leave a safe distance between you and that car.
Horses and livestock spook easily. Slow down, do not honk or rev your engine, and pass very slowly with plenty of room so you do not startle them.
When you see a hazard developing ahead, cover the brake and plan an escape route so you can react faster if you have to stop.
In a skid, ease off the gas or brake and steer gently in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Slamming the brakes makes the skid worse.

Road signs

Warning signs (typically yellow, diamond shaped) inform drivers of hazards ahead like curves or crossings, distinct from regulatory signs that state legal requirements.
The stop sign uses a distinctive octagon shape so it is recognizable even from behind or in poor visibility.
A downward-pointing triangle is the standard yield sign, instructing drivers to slow and give right of way to conflicting traffic.
Wildlife warning signage exists precisely because of Alaska's moose and caribou hazards; drivers should reduce speed and stay alert in these zones.
STOP (R1-1): full stop at the line or crosswalk even when empty; yield, then proceed.
YIELD (R1-2): give up the right-of-way; slow and be ready to stop.
DO NOT ENTER (R5-1): entry prohibited; common at freeway off-ramps and one-way streets.
WRONG WAY (R5-1a): you have entered opposing traffic. Pull over safely and turn around when possible.
ONE WAY (R6-1): all traffic flows in the arrow's direction.
NO U-TURN (R3-4): no U-turns at this location. This is not a no-left-turn sign (a different arrow shape) or a no-passing sign (a different shape and color entirely).
NO LEFT TURN (R3-2). A red circle-and-slash always bans the pictured movement.
NO RIGHT TURN (R3-1): no right turns, including on red. Going straight is still fine since the sign only bans the right-turn movement; parking is unrelated to this sign.
White/black = regulatory. Speed Limit is the legal max in ideal conditions; drive slower when conditions are bad (Basic Speed Law).
KEEP RIGHT (R4-7): a median or obstruction is ahead; keep to its right.
The crossbuck (R15-1) stands at the tracks and legally works like a YIELD sign: slow, look both ways, be ready to stop.
Advance warning (W10-1): tracks ahead. Slow down, look, and listen.
School (S1-1): school zone or crossing. Slow down and watch for children; obey the posted reduced school-zone speed limit, which varies by state.
Pedestrian crossing (W11-2): crossing ahead; slow and be ready to stop.
Signal ahead (W3-3): an intersection signal is coming, useful when it hides behind a curve.
Stop ahead (W3-1): a stop sign is coming (often obscured); start slowing now.
Merge (W4-1): traffic joins ahead. Adjust speed and position to let them in safely.
Lane ends (W4-2): merge early; zipper-merge when traffic is heavy.
Two-way traffic (W6-3): you are leaving a one-way road; keep right.
Divided highway begins (W6-1): directions separate around a median; always keep right of it.
Slippery when wet (W8-5): slickest in fresh rain. Slow down, keep distance, steer smoothly.
Curve (W1-2): slow BEFORE the curve; do not brake in the middle of it.
Turn (W1-1): sharper than a curve; slow down hard, follow the advisory plaque.
Winding road (W1-5): consecutive curves; hold a steady lower speed throughout.
Crossroad (W2-1): an intersection ahead with traffic entering from both sides. Hospital signs are blue with an H.
NO PASSING ZONE (W14-3): unique pennant shape, posted on the LEFT side, marks where passing becomes illegal.
The eight-sided octagon shape is reserved exclusively for Stop signs so it can be recognized even from behind or in poor visibility.
Yellow diamond signs are standard warning signs alerting drivers to hazards or changing road conditions ahead.
The octagon shape combined with red coloring is reserved exclusively for stop signs, requiring a full stop.
The handbook's statutory speeds apply only when no other limit is posted, meaning posted signage takes precedence.
The triangular shape is uniquely reserved for Yield signs, telling drivers to slow and give way rather than come to a full stop.
A YIELD sign requires slowing down and stopping only if needed to give way to traffic or pedestrians on the intersecting road.
Regulatory signs like stop and yield signs establish legally mandated driver actions, distinct from purely informational or warning signage.
The downward-pointing red-and-white triangle is the standard YIELD sign, requiring drivers to slow and yield to conflicting traffic.
The five-sided pentagon shape is reserved specifically for school-related warning signs, distinct from all other warning sign shapes.
The five-sided pentagon shape is used nationally to indicate school zones and school crossing warnings.
The eight-sided red STOP sign requires a full stop before entering the intersection, regardless of visible cross traffic.
Diamond-shaped yellow signs are standard warning signs alerting drivers to hazards ahead, such as curves, merges, or intersections.
The downward-pointing triangle is the standard yield sign shape, meaning drivers must slow and give the right of way if needed rather than always stopping.
The handbook instructs drivers at yield signs to slow down and yield to vehicles already in the intersection or approaching.
At a yield sign, drivers must slow or stop as needed to let crossing or oncoming traffic clear before proceeding safely.
Diamond-shaped yellow signs are the standard shape/color combination used for general warning signs about upcoming hazards or conditions.
The eight-sided red STOP sign requires a complete stop at the marked line or intersection before proceeding when safe.
School zone warning signs signal drivers to reduce speed and watch for children, consistent with the guide's emphasis on adjusting speed for conditions and hazards.
Warning signs alert drivers to hazards or changing conditions ahead, while regulatory signs like stop/yield signs impose legally required actions.
Diamond-shaped yellow signs are warning signs, alerting drivers to hazards or changes in road conditions ahead.
Diamond-shaped yellow signs are warning signs, alerting drivers to hazards like curves, merges, or crossings ahead.
Pentagon-shaped signs are used specifically to indicate school zones or school crossings, alerting drivers to reduce speed.
A stop sign always requires a complete stop and yielding to cross traffic and pedestrians before proceeding, consistent with the manual's yield principle.
The railroad advance warning sign is round with an X and R R symbol, one of the only circular warning signs used on US roads.
The yellow pennant-shaped sign marks the start of a no-passing zone. It usually appears along with a solid yellow line on the pavement.
A yellow diamond-shaped sign is a WARNING sign, alerting you to a hazard or change ahead such as a curve, intersection, or school, so you slow down.
A white rectangular sign with black lettering is a REGULATORY sign stating a law you must obey, such as speed or direction of travel.
An orange sign marks a construction or roadwork zone. Slow down and watch for workers and shifting lanes.
A blue sign points to driver services such as gas stations, food, lodging, or hospitals.
A green sign is a GUIDE sign, showing directions, distances, and the names of exits or places.
A red circle with a slash means the action shown is PROHIBITED, such as no turn or no U-turn at that spot.

Laws and paperwork

Alaska designates certain hazardous highway sections as Traffic Safety Corridors where traffic fines are doubled to encourage extra caution.
The manual states the lookback period for prior DUI or refusal convictions is 15 years and includes qualifying out-of-state convictions.
Refusing a test creates a separately chargeable Refusal offense alongside any DUI charge, with its own administrative revocation consequences.
The Alaska Driver's Manual is organized into topical chapters, such as speed laws, right-of-way, and DUI penalties, which form the basis for knowledge test content.
Stopping for a school bus with flashing red lights is a near universal rule to protect children boarding or exiting the bus.
Alaska's GDL program allows an instruction permit starting at age 14.
An Alaska instruction permit is valid for two years and may be renewed only one time.
The supervising licensed driver must be at least 21 with a minimum of one year of driving experience in that vehicle type, and must stay in the passenger seat.
A teen must have held the instruction permit at least 6 months, with no conviction or suspension/revocation in the prior 6 months, to move to a provisional license.
Alaska provisional license holders may not carry passengers under age 21 except siblings.
Violating the curfew or passenger restrictions carries a $200 fine and a 2-point violation.
Applicants under 18 need parental consent via Form 433 plus proof of relationship to the minor, such as a birth certificate or guardianship documents.

Emergencies

The manual notes you only have right of way if the other vehicle isn't already in the intersection, meaning a vehicle already there should be allowed to clear first.
Alaska law and the manual state emergency vehicles always receive the right of way over other traffic.
Drivers must yield the right of way to emergency vehicles by pulling to the right edge of the road and stopping until the emergency vehicle has passed.
Alaska's move-over statute requires drivers to vacate the lane closest to the stationary vehicle, or slow to a reasonable and prudent speed if changing lanes isn't safe or possible.
Drivers must yield to emergency vehicles by pulling over to the right side of the road, clear of intersections, and stopping until the vehicle passes.
Move over laws generally require drivers to change lanes away from a stopped emergency or hazard vehicle when safe, or otherwise slow down.
Regardless of whether a crossing has gates or signals, drivers must never attempt to beat a visible train and must stop and wait for it to clear.
Drivers are required to stop at the scene of a crash involving injury or significant damage, provide information, and call for assistance if needed.
Authorized emergency vehicles may exceed posted limits during emergency duty with signals operating, as long as they do not endanger others.
When changing lanes is not safe, the Move Over Law still expects drivers to reduce speed and use caution passing the stopped vehicle.
Move Over laws require drivers to move over or slow down for any stopped vehicle with warning lights activated, to protect people near the roadway.
If pulling fully off the road isn't immediately possible, drivers should slow down and use extra caution, but the priority is always to get completely off the pavement as soon as safely possible per Pull Aside, Stay Alive guidance.
Rapid brake lights or hazard signals ahead indicate a potential emergency or obstruction, so drivers should slow down and prepare to react safely.
Drivers must yield to emergency vehicles by pulling to the right and stopping, while making sure not to block the intersection.
The handbook states drivers must always yield right-of-way to emergency vehicles.
Standard right-of-way and safe-driving practice requires yielding to emergency vehicles by pulling right and stopping until they pass.
Safe driving practice, sometimes called a move-over rule, is to give stopped vehicles extra space by changing lanes or slowing down.
Standard emergency procedure is to move fully onto the shoulder, activate hazard lights, and, if safe, move away from the travel lanes rather than stopping in traffic or continuing to drive on damaged equipment.
If your car catches fire or smells like burning, pull over, shut off the engine, and get everyone away. Do not open the hot hood, since the rush of air will make the fire flare up.
If the gas pedal sticks, shift to Neutral to cut the power, then brake and steer to the shoulder. Only turn off the engine after you have fully stopped, so you do not lose power steering.

Signs

Sign shape and color carry meaning before you even read the words. A red octagon always means stop, a red-bordered triangle pointing down means yield, and yellow diamonds warn of a hazard ahead. For every sign image used in our practice test, with the exact meaning and explanation, see the full road sign glossary.

Keep studying

This cheat sheet is a summary, not a substitute for practice. Test yourself with the free Alaska DMV practice test, which explains the reasoning behind every answer, or see Alaska DMV facts and fees before test day.

Reviewed by Kevin Vu, CA DOI #4037122 · Last updated 2026-07-22

Alaska DMV cheat sheet