Vehicle registration plates of Alaska


first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1921, while still an organized incorporated territory of the United States. It was admitted to the Union as the 49th state in January 1959. Plates are currently issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Alaska Department of Administration.
State law requires two license plates, one on the front and one on the rear, to be displayed on a motor vehicle, with the exception of motorcycles and trailers. Only the rear plate is required to be stickered.

Passenger baseplates

1921 to 1952

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.
ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1921Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top, "AUTO LICENSE" at bottom and vertical "1921" at left and right1231 to approximately 350
1922Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1922" at bottom right1231 to approximately 500
1923Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1923" at bottom right1231 to approximately 850
1924Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1924" at bottom right1231 to approximately 999
1925Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1925" at bottom right12340001 to approximately 1200
1926Embossed black serial on green plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1926" at bottom right1231 to approximately 999
1927Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1927" at bottom right1234101 to approximately 1250
1928Embossed red serial on light yellow plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1928" at bottom right1234101 to approximately 1350
1929Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1929" at bottom right1234101 to approximately 1600
1930Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1930" at bottom right1234101 to approximately 1800
1931Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1931" at bottom right12341 to approximately 2000
1932Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "ALASKA – 1932" at bottom1234301 to approximately 3100
1933Embossed white serial on red plate; "ALASKA – 1933" at bottom1234301 to approximately 3000
1934Embossed white serial on green plate; "ALASKA – 1934" at bottom1234101 to approximately 3200
1935Embossed black serial on orange plate; "ALASKA – 1935" at bottom1234101 to approximately 3100
1936Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "ALASKA – 1936" at bottom12341001 to approximately 4300
1937Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ALASKA – 1937" at bottom12341001 to approximately 4300
1938Embossed red serial on white plate; "ALASKA – 1938" at bottom12341001 to approximately 5100
1939Embossed black serial on silver plate; "ALASKA – 1939" at bottom12341 to approximately 4800
1940Embossed black serial on orange plate; "ALASKA – 1940" at bottom12341 to approximately 5200
1941Embossed white serial on green plate; "ALASKA – 1941" at bottom12341 to 6000; 7001 to approximately 7900
1942Embossed black serial on white plate; "ALASKA – 1942" at bottom12341 to approximately 7900
Embossed white serial on blue plate; "ALASKA – 1943" at bottom12341 to approximately 7800Revalidated for 1944 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1945White serial on green fiberboard plate; "ALASKA-1945" centered at bottom12341 to approximately 7800Fiberboard plates manufactured due to ongoing metal shortage; this continued until 1948.
1946White serial on maroon fiberboard plate; "ALASKA-1946" centered at top12341 to approximately 8300
1947Yellow serial on dark blue fiberboard plate; "ALASKA-1947" centered at bottom12341 to approximately 11300
1948Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1948" at bottom123451 to approximately 15000
1949Embossed blue serial on white plate; blue lines at top and bottom borders; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1949" at bottom123451 to approximately 20000
1950Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1950" at bottom123451 to approximately 26500
1951Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1951" at top123451 to approximately 35000
1952Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1952" at top123451 to approximately 35000

1953 to present

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 issue was the first Alaska license plate that complied with these standards.
All plates issued since 1981 remain valid with proper validation.
ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1953–55Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; "53" at top rightnone123451 to approximately 96000Revalidated for 1954 with white tabs, and for 1955 with black tabs.
1956–57Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; "56" at top rightnone123451 to approximately 63000First 6" x 12" plate. Revalidated for 1957 with red tabs.
1958–59Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial/state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; "58" at top rightnone123451 to approximately 74000Revalidated for 1959 with white tabs.
1960–61Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; "60" at top rightnone123451 to approximately 93000Revalidated for 1961 with blue tabs.
1962–65Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at bottom; "62" at bottom rightnone123451 to 99999Revalidated for 1963 with blue tabs, and for 1964 and 1965 with stickers.
1962–65Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at bottom; "62" at bottom rightnoneA-1234A-1000 to approximately E-3250Revalidated for 1963 with blue tabs, and for 1964 and 1965 with stickers.
1966–67Embossed yellow serial on blue plate with border line; embossed eagle totem pole graphic at left; stylized "ALASKA" centered at top; yellow box at top right containing debossed "66""NORTH TO THE FUTURE" centered at bottom, with "1867" to the left and "1967" to the right123451 to 99999Commemorated the centennial of the Alaska Purchase. Revalidated for 1967 with stickers.
1968–69Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; blue box at top right containing debossed "68""THE GREAT LAND" centered at bottom123451 to 99999Revalidated for 1969 with stickers.
1968–69Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; blue box at top right containing debossed "68""THE GREAT LAND" centered at bottomB1234B1000 to approximately B7250Revalidated for 1969 with stickers.
1970Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA–U.S.A." centered at top; blue box at top right containing debossed "70""NORTH TO THE FUTURE" centered at bottom123451 to 99999All plates were valid without stickers until the end of the year of issue, then revalidated with stickers until the end of 1975.
1970Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA–U.S.A." centered at top; blue box at top right containing debossed "70""NORTH TO THE FUTURE" centered at bottomA1234A1 to approximately A5200All plates were valid without stickers until the end of the year of issue, then revalidated with stickers until the end of 1975.
1971As above, but with additional blue box at top left containing debossed "71""NORTH TO THE FUTURE" centered at bottomA1234B1 to approximately E1100All plates were valid without stickers until the end of the year of issue, then revalidated with stickers until the end of 1975.
1972–73As above, but with box at top right containing debossed "72" instead of "70""NORTH TO THE FUTURE" centered at bottomA1234G1 to G9999; K1 to approximately M9999All plates were valid without stickers until the end of the year of issue, then revalidated with stickers until the end of 1975.
Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate; border line around plate and around revalidation sticker spot at top left; embossed state flag in the center; "ALASKA" centered at top; "73" at top rightnoneABC 123AAA 100 to AAD 999Not issued; considered prototypes.
1974As 1970–73 plates, but with "ALASKA" centered at top, border line around revalidation sticker spot at top left, and "74" at top right"NORTH TO THE FUTURE" centered at bottomAB123AA100 to DB699
1975As above, but with "75" at top right"NORTH TO THE FUTURE" centered at bottomAB123DB700 to ED999
1976–81Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; standing brown Kodiak bear screened in the center, with pale brown mountain and forest landscape in the background; "ALASKA" embossed in red centered at topnoneABC 123AAA 100 to ASZ 999Letters I, O and Q not used in this serial format.
1981–97Embossed blue serial on reflective golden yellow plate; screened state flag in the center; "ALASKA" screened in blue centered at top; indented top corners for revalidation stickers"The Last Frontier" screened in blue centered at bottomABC 123BAA 100 to CZZ 999; DFA 100 to DJX 999Series DAA through DEZ reserved for Disabled Veteran plates.
1997 – October 2004Embossed black serial on reflective graphic plate featuring a blue sky, yellow rising sun, white mountains fading to golden yellow at the bottom, and black silhouettes of gold prospectors from the top center to the bottom left; "ALASKA" screened in golden yellow centered at top, with mining equipment for the second 'A'"Gold Rush" screened in golden yellow below state name and "Centennial" in black at bottom, both offset to rightABC 123DJY 100 to ERT 999Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new standard-issue license plate of 1998 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Alaska was so honored. Co-recipient with Idaho.
October 2004As 1981–97 base, but without indented top corners"The Last Frontier" as on 1981–97 baseABC 123ERU 100 to approximately ERV 489Serials stamped on leftover 1981–97 blanks, before production of all-embossed variants began.
October 2004 – July
2005		As above, but with embossed state name and flag"THE LAST FRONTIER" embossed in blue centered at bottomABC 123ERV 490 to EUB 999
July 2005 – December 31, 2007As above, but with larger stars in flag"THE LAST FRONTIER" embossed in blue centered at bottomABC 123EUC 100 to FGE 999
January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2009Embossed dark blue serial on reflective graphic plate featuring a yellow sky, gradient orange sunburst and white mountains fading to blue at the bottom; Alaska 50 logo screened at left; "ALASKA" screened in dark blue centered at top"CELEBRATING STATEHOOD 1959-2009" screened in red on white section of mountains, offset to rightABC123FGF100 to FUW999Also used for vanity plates.
January 1, 2010 – presentAs 2005–07 base"THE LAST FRONTIER" as from 2004–07ABC 123FUZ 100 to FUZ 999; GAA 100 to GZZ 999; KAA 100 to KEU 426 FUZ series issued in error.

Alternative passenger plates

1973 plate controversy

A new plate design was to have been introduced in 1973, featuring the state flag in the center of the plate and a new ABC 123 serial format. During 1972, nine thousand pairs of these plates were produced, but before they could be issued they were rejected by Governor William A. Egan, who objected to the use of dots rather than stars in the state flag. The plates were instead considered prototypes, with their elements being used on future plates: the revalidation sticker box in the top left corner was used on the 1974 and 1975 versions of the 1970 plate; the ABC 123 serial format was adopted in 1976; and the "Last Frontier" plates issued since 1981 have the state flag in the center.
These prototype plates are common enough to be easily found among license plate collectors.

Non-passenger and optional types

Alaska offers a variety of optional plates that motorists may display upon the payment of an additional fee as well as non-passenger plate types that are displayed on vehicles for specialized uses.
ImageTypeFirst issuedSerial formatNotes
Alaska State Trooper123 AST
Amateur Radiocall sign
Charitable/Church ExemptXYx 123
YYx 123
Children's TrustKID 012
123 KID		KID-prefixed sequence started with 001.
Collector's CarHA 123
Commercial Trailer1234 SB
DisabledHBC 123Serials feature wheelchair symbol between letters and digits.
Disabled VeteranDBC 123Serials began at DAV 100. May or may not feature wheelchair symbol between letters and digits.
Ex-Prisoner of WarPOW 012Started with 001.
Farm Vehicle1234 FA"Farm" legend.
Gold Star FamilyPersonalized
Historic VehicleHA 123
IditarodIDT 123 or personalized
I Support Our Veterans2007Personalized
Low-Speed Vehicle2007LSV 012Started with 001.
Motorcycle and Non-Commercial Trailer19991234 RB
1234 TB
National GuardVNG 123
VHA 123
VNA 123
Pearl Harbor SurvivorP/H 123"PH" is stacked vertically and in center of plate.
Personalized - PassengerSix alphanumeric characters.Three different designs.
Prince William Sound CollegePWS 123
Purple HeartVPH 123
VPA 123
VPB123
Support Our Troops!2008Available in personalized format.
University of Alaska AnchorageUAA 123
UAA123		Two styles; newer style available in personalized format.
University of Alaska FairbanksUAF 123Two styles; newer style available in personalized format.
University of Alaska SoutheastUAS 123
Veteran - Air ForceVAB 123
Veteran - ArmyVAB 123
Veteran - Coast GuardVCG 123
VCB 123
VCC123
Veteran - Marine CorpsVAB 123
Veteran - NavyVAB 123

Discontinued