Alaska Auto Transport Company

Extreme cold and darkness (October-April): Alaska experiences some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Interior Alaska (Fairbanks) can reach -40°F to -60°F in winter. Daylight drops to 4-5 hours in Anchorage and near-zero in northern communities. Winter shipments require carriers experienced in extreme cold operations. Battery health, coolant, and fluid viscosity are critical concerns for vehicles sitting on barges or trucks in sub-zero temperatures.

Juneau has NO road connection: Alaska’s state capital cannot be reached by car from anywhere else in Alaska or the lower 48. Vehicles must arrive by Alaska Marine Highway ferry (from Bellingham WA or other Southeast Alaska ports) or by barge. This is unique in the entire United States, no other state capital is inaccessible by road.

Much of Alaska is off the road system: Communities like Bethel, Barrow/Utqiaġvik, Nome, Kodiak, Cordova, and hundreds of villages are NOT connected to the road network. Vehicles can only reach these communities by barge, ferry, or (for smaller vehicles) air freight. If your destination is off the road system, contact us for a custom logistics plan.

Military PCS (massive volume): Alaska has major military installations that generate significant PCS vehicle shipping traffic:

• Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER): Anchorage, the largest military facility in Alaska
• Fort Wainwright: Fairbanks, Army installation
• Eielson Air Force Base: near Fairbanks
• Coast Guard Base Kodiak: Kodiak Island (requires barge) We handle Alaska military PCS moves regularly and understand the unique timelines and documentation requirements.

Port of Anchorage processing: After barge arrival, vehicles go through port processing (1-3 business days). There is no customs inspection for domestic shipments (Alaska is a U.S. state), but port handling and paperwork take time.

Alaska Marine Highway: The state-run ferry system operates from Bellingham, WA through Southeast Alaska (Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Haines) and connects to Whittier and Homer on the road system. This is the primary method for getting vehicles to Juneau and Southeast Alaska communities. Ferry schedules are limited, some routes run only a few times per month.

Canadian border crossing (overland route): If shipping overland via the Alaska Highway, the carrier must cross into Canada at the BC border and back into the U.S. at the Alaska border. This requires valid vehicle documentation, carrier insurance valid in Canada, and potentially Canadian customs declarations for the vehicle. We handle all documentation coordination.

Alaska vehicle regulations: No annual safety inspection required. No emissions testing required. New residents must register within 30 days. Alaska has no state sales tax, but some municipalities charge local sales tax (typically 2-7%). Alaska does not charge a vehicle property tax.