As of 2023[update], plates are issued by the Alaska Department of Administration through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required for standard passenger vehicles since August 11, 2022.[1] On vehicles with two license plates, only the rear plate is required to be stickered.[2]
All plates issued since 1981 remain valid with proper validation.
Image
Dates issued
Design
Slogan
Serial format
Serials issued
Notes
1953–55
Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; "53" at top right
none
12345
1 to approximately 96000
Revalidated for 1954 with white tabs, and for 1955 with black tabs.
1956–57
Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; "56" at top right
none
12345
1 to approximately 63000
First 6" x 12" plate. Revalidated for 1957 with red tabs.
1958–59
Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial/state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; "58" at top right
none
12345
1 to approximately 74000
Revalidated for 1959 with white tabs.
1960–61
Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at top; "60" at top right
none
12345
1 to approximately 93000
Revalidated for 1961 with blue tabs.
1962–65
Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" centered at bottom; "62" at bottom right
none
12345
1 to 99999
Revalidated for 1963 with blue tabs, and for 1964 and 1965 with stickers.
A-1234
A-1000 to approximately E-3250
1966–67
Embossed 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 right
12345
1 to 99999
Commemorated the centennial of the Alaska Purchase. Revalidated for 1967 with stickers.
1968–69
Embossed 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 bottom
12345
1 to 99999
Revalidated for 1969 with stickers.
B1234
B1000 to approximately B7250
1970
Embossed 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 bottom
12345
1 to 99999
All plates were valid without stickers until the end of the year of issue, then revalidated with stickers until the end of 1975.
A1234
A1 to approximately A5200
1971
As above, but with additional blue box at top left containing debossed "71"
B1 to approximately E1100
1972–73
As above, but with box at top right containing debossed "72" instead of "70"
G1 to G9999; K1 to approximately M9999
(1973)
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 right
none
ABC123
AAA100 to AAD999
Not issued; considered prototypes (see 1973 plate controversy section below).
1974
As 1970–73 plates, but with "ALASKA" centered at top, border line around revalidation sticker spot at top left, and "74" at top right
Embossed 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 top
none
ABC123
AAA100 to ASZ999
Letters I, O and Q not used in this serial format.[3]
1981–97
Embossed 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 bottom
ABC123
BAA100 to CZZ999; DFA100 to DJX999
Series DAA through DEZ reserved for Disabled Veteran plates.[5]
1997– October 2004
Embossed 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 right
Embossed 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 (featuring the state flag) 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 right
Embossed red serial on reflective graphic plate featuring a standing brown Kodiak bear in the center against a light blue sky, orange sunset and white mountains; "ALASKA" screened in dark blue centered at top
none
ABC123
JAA 100 to JWS 999
Based on the 1976–81 bear plate. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2015 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Alaska was so honored.
Plates from about JPV100 onward feature thicker serial dies similar to those used in 1968-75.
March 2023– present
As above, but with thinner, squarer characters
JWT 100 to JZC670 (as of September 27, 2024)
July 2018– mid 2019
Embossed black serial on reflective graphic plate with northern lights and full moon above pale gray mountains and dark gray forest; "ALASKA" screened in black centered at top
The design was by UAA student Anita Laulainen and was chosen after an online vote in the fall of 2017.[10] Still valid for renewals.
mid 2019– March 2023
LBU 100 to LJG999
Colors faded in response to legibility concerns. Still valid for renewals.
March 2023– August 18, 2024
As above, but with thinner, squarer characters
LJH 100 to LME613 (as of September 27, 2024)
Still valid for renewals.
August 19, 2024- present
Embossed black serial on reflective graphic plate with fireweed and Denali under a purple sky; "ALASKA" screened in black centered at top
"ALASKA STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS" screened in white centered at bottom, with the logo of the Alaska State Council on the Arts above
ABC 123
LMT 100 to LNF199 (as of September 27, 2024)
Fireweed plate. The design was submitted by Sabrina Kessakorn and was chosen after an online vote using ranked choice voting in the summer of 2023. [11]
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 GovernorWilliam 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 (with stars).
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.[2]
Motorcycle discontinued as a separate type in 1999; merged with Non-Commercial Trailer.
1981–99
Blue on golden yellow
1000M/H to 9999M/N
Related Research Articles
In the United States, vehicle registration plates, known as license plates, are issued by a department of motor vehicles, an agency of the state or territorial government, or in the case of the District of Columbia, the district government. Some Native American tribes also issue plates. The U.S. federal government issues plates only for its own vehicle fleet and for vehicles owned by foreign diplomats. Until the 1980s, diplomatic plates were issued by the state in which the consulate or embassy was located.
The U.S. state of Nebraska first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1915, when the state began to issue plates.
The U.S. state of New Jersey first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1908, when the state began to issue plates.
The U.S. state of Maryland first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1904. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1910, when the state began to issue plates.
The U.S. state of New Mexico first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1912. As of 2024, plates are issued by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department through its Motor Vehicle Division. Only rear plates have been required since 1961.
The U.S. state of Colorado first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1913. As of 2024, plates are issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.
The U.S. state of Florida first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1918, when the state began to issue plates, becoming the last of the contiguous 48 states to do so.
The U.S. state of Delaware first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1909, when the state began to issue plates. Beginning in 1910, plates were issued in sequential order from the number 1 upwards.
The U.S. state of Louisiana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1915. As of 2024, plates are issued by the Public Safety Services division of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, through the division's Office of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1952.
The U.S. state of Nevada first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1913. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1916, when the state began to issue plates.
The U.S. state of New Hampshire first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the New Hampshire Department of Safety through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.
The U.S. state of Oklahoma first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1915. As of 2024, plates are issued by Service Oklahoma. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.
The U.S. state of Pennsylvania first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1906, when the state began to issue plates.
The U.S. state of Texas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display, with serial numbers assigned by their county of residence, until the state began to issue plates in 1917.
The U.S. state of Vermont first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), associated with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.
The U.S. state of Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.
The U.S. state of Wisconsin first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. Plates are currently issued by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.
The U.S. federal district of Washington, D.C., first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1907, when the district began to issue plates. Plates are issued by the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.
The U.S. state of California first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to issue plates. Plates are currently issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
The U.S. state of Connecticut first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1905, when the state began to issue plates. Since then, Connecticut has used a variety of license plate designs, and has issued different designs for passenger, non-passenger, and, more recently, optional plate types that often require an additional fee. As of 2024, plates are issued by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.
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