Buying a car as a non-resident

[Rance]

I'm hoping to get it up here sooner. I may fly down in the next month or so and drive it up. I've got some office equipment in the back I really don't want sitting in the high heat and humidity all summer long.

[terracore]

Alaska is the only state that allows you to register a car though the mail (even if you're in another state). There was some talk about fixing it because the process had been used for laundering stolen cars, but the point is that you don't need to be an Alaskan resident to buy, own, drive, or sell a car. I think I was on my second or third car here before I became a resident. I did a title change through the mail once because I didn't feel like waiting in line at the DMV. I got a nasty gram from them that I'm supposed to come in if I'm within driving distance of the DMV (some places the nearest DMV office is 1,000 miles away so mail is the only way to do it) but they did it anyway. For registration renewals it is the opposite, you have to do it through the mail or online and although you CAN do it at the DMV, they charge you an extra $10.