State of Alaska

Department of Administration

Division Of Motor Vehicles

Alaska Department of Administration, Divison of Motor Vehicles
Administration >  Motor Vehicles >  Government Sales                                             
 

     

Government Sales

Vehicles owned by the State, a municipality or a borough government, and vehicles seized by a municipal, State or federal law enforcement agency may be sold at public auction. The purchaser of these vehicles must obtain an Alaska title in their name before the vehicles may be resold.

In order to obtain a title for a vehicle which was owned by the State, a municipality or a borough, the purchaser must submit the following documents:

  • The title properly released by the appropriate government agency
  • The last issued registration, if available
  • The odometer reading at the time of sale
  • A completed Application for Title & Registration

In order to obtain title for a vehicle under a court order or seizure, the purchaser must submit the following documents:

  • A Bill of Sale or Purchase Order from the agency selling the vehicle. This Bill of Sale must contain a complete and correct vehicle identification number, the year and the make of the vehicle and a statement pertaining to why the vehicle was sold, i.e. taxes, drug seizure etc.
  • A lien release from the lienholder of record, when shown on DMV records
  • The odometer reading at the time of the sale
  • A certified copy of the court order authorizing the vehicle to be sold
  • A completed Application for Title and Registration (see above)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may seize vehicles when a registered owner fails to pay taxes. These vehicles are sold to the public with a Certificate of Sale of Seized Property, US Government Form 2435. When these vehicles are sold, the IRS is only selling the taxpayer's rights to the vehicle. If there is a co-owner not affected by the seizure, and the conjunction "and" appears between the names, then the title released by the co-owner must be submitted with an Application for Title and Registration. If there is a lienholder, a lien release must also be presented to apply for title in the buyer's name. If the vehicle is less than ten years in age, the odometer reading, at time of sale is also required.