Car insurance in Alaska (50/100/25)
- Minimum car insuranceAlaska requires at least $50,000 bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage liability. PIP is not required. Insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in writing; if you don't sign a rejection or a selection, the policy is issued with UM/UIM limits equal to your liability limits. Source
- Fault systemAlaska is an at-fault (tort) state with no no-fault law, so the at-fault driver's liability coverage pays for the damage they cause. Source
Business insurance rules in Alaska
- Workers’ compensationEvery Alaska employer with one or more employees must carry workers' comp unless the Workers' Compensation Board has approved it to self-insure. There is no exemption based on the number of employees or hours worked, no opt-out, and no exemption for family or friends working for a for-profit business. Out-of-state employers with workers in Alaska must also cover them. Source
- Contractor licensingConstruction contractors register with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. They must file a surety bond: $25,000 for general contractors, $20,000 for general contractors with a residential endorsement, $10,000 for mechanical or specialty contractors and $5,000 for handymen on jobs of $10,000 or less. They must also show liability insurance of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $20,000 for property damage, and contractors with employees need workers' comp. Source
Disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes in Alaska
| Measure | Alaska | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 46 | #7 (tied) of 51 | Most often for severe storm (23), flood (12), mud/landslide (5). Lower Kuskokwim Regional Educational Attendance Area has been in 15 of them. |
| National Flood Insurance Program claims, 2005–2025 | 453 | #47 of 51 | $13.3 million paid; 37% of claims with a known flood zone were outside FEMA’s high-risk zones. |
| Hail reports, 2016–2025 | 5 | #50 of 51 | 0 of them 2 inches or larger. Largest stone 1 inches, Kuskokwim Delta County, June 2018. |
| Tornadoes, 2016–2025 | 1 | #50 of 51 | 0 rated EF2 or stronger; 5 recorded since 1950. |
| Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0+, 2000–2025 | 8,331 | #1 of 51 | Largest: magnitude 8.2, 2021 Chignik, Alaska Earthquake, July 29, 2021. |
From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.
Look up the storm history of any county in Alaska.
The property risks that matter in Alaska
Alaska sits in one of the most seismically active regions in North America, and the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake remains the largest recorded in U.S. history.
Alaska has meaningful seismic exposure, but earthquake coverage must be added separately. Older unreinforced masonry and homes with raised foundations are most vulnerable; ask about retrofit credits.
Flooding is the most common U.S. natural disaster, and it is excluded from regular home policies. Alaska residents outside high-risk zones can often buy NFIP or private flood coverage at lower cost; remember the typical 30-day waiting period.
Wildfire risk has changed home insurance availability in parts of Alaska.
Worth knowing in Alaska
Alaska does not require auto insurance in remote areas where vehicle registration is not required. A driver with a ticket for a violation of 6 or more points in the last 5 years must still carry liability insurance there.
Alaska coverage checkup
- Compare your auto liability limits with the Alaska minimum of 50/100/25 and with your actual assets.
- Get an earthquake quote and compare the percentage deductible in dollars.
- Add water backup coverage and keep heat on when the home is empty.
- Check your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and price an NFIP or private flood policy before storm season (NFIP usually has a 30-day wait).
- Document defensible space and home hardening work with dated photos for your insurer.
- Condo owners: compare your HO-6 loss assessment limit with the HOA master deductible.
Alaska’s insurance regulator
Insurance in Alaska is regulated by the Alaska Division of Insurance, which handles consumer complaints and licenses insurers and agents.
Sam Alishahi holds an Alaska nonresident insurance producer license (#3004487689, NPN 21022298) and places Alaska policies directly.
Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance in Alaska?
Alaska requires at least $50,000 bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage liability. PIP is not required. Insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in writing; if you don't sign a rejection or a selection, the policy is issued with UM/UIM limits equal to your liability limits.
Is Alaska a no-fault state?
Alaska is an at-fault (tort) state with no no-fault law, so the at-fault driver's liability coverage pays for the damage they cause.
Do employers in Alaska need workers’ comp?
Every Alaska employer with one or more employees must carry workers' comp unless the Workers' Compensation Board has approved it to self-insure. There is no exemption based on the number of employees or hours worked, no opt-out, and no exemption for family or friends working for a for-profit business. Out-of-state employers with workers in Alaska must also cover them.
Are frozen pipes covered in Alaska?
Sudden bursts are usually covered, but damage caused by failing to maintain heat in a vacant home may be excluded.
More answers: Alaska homeowners insurance guide Alaska renters insurance and security deposit guide Alaska life insurance consumer guide Alaska flood risk and NFIP guide Anchorage home and auto insurance guide
Sources
- Alaska: Minimum car insurance
- Alaska: Fault system
- Alaska: Workers’ compensation
- Alaska: Contractor licensing
- Alaska: insurance regulator
- NAIC: directory of state insurance departments
General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.