Vehicle registration plates of Alaska

Current Alaska license plate

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.

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.^[1]

Passenger plates 1921 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Alaska license plate that complied with these standards.

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1921	Black on yellow	AUTO LICENCE	123	unknown
1922	Orange on black	none	1234	unknown
1923	White on dark blue	none	1234	unknown
1924	Black on orange	none	1234	unknown
1925	White on red	none	1234	unknown
1926	Black on green	none	1234	unknown
1927	White on dark blue	none	1234	unknown
1928	Red on light yellow	none	1234	unknown
1929	White on maroon	none	1234	unknown
1930	White on dark blue	none	1234	unknown
1931	Black on gray	none	123	unknown
1932	White on dark blue	none	1234	unknown
1933	White on red	none	1234	unknown
1934	White on green	none	1234	unknown
1935	Black on orange	none	1234	unknown
1936	Dark blue on white	none	1234	unknown
1937	White on dark blue	none	1234	unknown
1938	Red on white	none	1234	unknown
1939	Black on gray	none	1234	unknown
1940	Black on orange	none	1234	unknown
1941	White on green	none	1234	unknown
1942	Black on white	none	1234	unknown
1943	White on blue	none	1234	unknown	Revaildated for 1944 (Old registrations) With tabs.
1944 (New Registrations)	White on black	none	1234	unknown
1945	White on green	none	1234	unknown	First year of fiberboard plates due to steel shortage on WWII
1946	White on maroon	none	1234	unknown
1947	Yellow on black	none	1234	unknown	Last year of fiberboard plates
1948	Embossed blue numbers on golden yellow plate; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1948" embossed in blue block letters at bottom	none	12345	1 to approximately 15000
1949	Embossed blue numbers on white plate; blue lines at top and bottom borders; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1949" embossed in blue block letters at bottom	none	12345	1 to approximately 20000
1950	Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1950" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	12345	1 to approximately 26000
1951	Embossed blue numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1951" embossed in blue block letters at top	none	12345	1 to approximately 35000
1952	Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1952" embossed in blue block letters at top	none	12345	1 to approximately 35000
1953–55	Embossed blue numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top; "53" embossed in top right corner	none	12345	1 to approximately 96000	Revalidated for 1954 with white tabs, and for 1955 with black tabs.
1956–57	Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top; "56" embossed in top right corner	none	12345	1 to approximately 63000	Revalidated for 1957 with red tabs.
1958–59	Embossed blue numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial/state flag at left; "ALASKA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top; "58" embossed in top right corner	none	12345	1 to approximately 74000	Revalidated for 1959 with white tabs.
1960–61	Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top; "60" embossed in top right corner	none	12345	1 to approximately 93000	Revalidated for 1961 with blue tabs.
1962–65	Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "62" embossed in bottom right corner	none	12345	1 to 99999	Revalidated for 1963 with blue tabs, and for 1964 and 1965 with stickers.
1962–65		none	A1234	A1000 to approximately E3250
1966–67	Embossed yellow numbers on blue plate with border line; embossed yellow eagle totem pole at left; "ALASKA" embossed in yellow stylized letters centered at top; embossed yellow box in top right corner containing debossed "66" in blue	"NORTH TO THE FUTURE" embossed in yellow block letters 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 numbers on white plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top; embossed blue box in top right corner containing debossed "68" in white	"THE GREAT LAND" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom	12345	1 to 99999	Revalidated for 1969 with stickers.
1968–69			B1234	B1000 to approximately B7250	Revalidated for 1969 with stickers.
1970	Embossed blue numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed state flag at left; "ALASKA–U.S.A." embossed in blue block letters centered at top; embossed blue box in top right corner containing debossed "70" in golden yellow	"NORTH TO THE FUTURE" embossed in small blue block letters 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.
1970			A1234	A1 to approximately A5200
1971	As above, but with additional embossed blue box in top left corner containing debossed "71" in golden yellow			B1 to approximately E1100
1972–73	As above, but with box in top right corner containing debossed "72" instead of "70"			G1 to G9999; K1 to approximately M9999
1973	Embossed blue numbers on golden yellow plate; border line around plate and around revalidation sticker spot in top left corner; embossed state flag in the center between letters and digits; "ALASKA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top; "73" embossed in top right corner	none	ABC 123	AAA 100 to AAD 999	Not issued; considered prototypes (see 1973 plate controversy section below).
1974	As 1970, 1971 and 1972–73 plates, but with "ALASKA" centered at top, border line around revalidation sticker spot in top left corner, and "74" embossed in top right corner	"NORTH TO THE FUTURE" as on 1970, 1971 and 1972–73 plates	AB123	AA100 to DB699
1975	As above, but with "75" embossed in top right corner	"NORTH TO THE FUTURE" as on 1970, 1971 and 1972–73 plates	AB123	DB700 to ED999
1976–80	Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate; standing brown Kodiak bear screened in the center between letters and digits, with pale brown mountain and forest landscape in the background; "ALASKA" embossed in red serifed letters centered at top	none	ABC 123	AAA 100 to ASZ 999
1981–96	Embossed blue numbers on reflective golden yellow plate; screened state flag in the center between letters and digits; "ALASKA" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top; indented top corners for revalidation stickers	"The Last Frontier" screened in blue serifed letters centered at bottom	ABC 123	BAA 100 to DJX 999
1997 – October 2004	Embossed black numbers 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 corner; "ALASKA" screened in golden yellow serifed letters, plus mining equipment for the second 'A', centered at top	"Gold Rush" screened in golden yellow serifed letters offset to right below state name; "Centennial" screened in black serifed letters at bottom, also offset to right	ABC 123	DJY 100 to ERT 999	Awarded "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 2004	As 1981–97 base, but without indented top corners	"The Last Frontier" as on 1981–97 base	ABC 123	ERU 100 to approximately ERV 489	Serials stamped on leftover 1981–97 blanks, before production of all-embossed variants began (below).
October 2004 – June 2005	As above, but with embossed state name and flag	"THE LAST FRONTIER" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom	ABC 123	ERV 490 to EUB 999
July 2005 – December 31, 2007	As above, but with larger stars in flag		ABC 123	EUC 100 to FGE 999
January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2009^[1]^[2]^[3]	Embossed dark blue numbers 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 block letters centered at top	"CELEBRATING STATEHOOD 1959-2009" screened in red block letters on white section of mountains, offset to right	ABC123	FGF100 to FUW999	Also used for vanity plates.
January 1, 2010 – present	As 2005–07 base	"THE LAST FRONTIER" as from 2004–07	ABC 123	GAA 100 to GZZ 999; KAA 100 to KAU 999 (as of October 19, 2016)

All plates issued since 1981 remain valid with proper validation.

Alternative passenger plates

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	May 7, 2015^[4] – present	Embossed red numbers 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 serifed letters centered at top	none	ABC 123	JAA 100 to JEH 999 (as of October 19, 2016)	Based on the 1975–81 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.

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 (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.^[1]

Type	First issued	Serial format	Notes
Alaska State Trooper		123 AST
Amateur Radio		call sign
Charitable/Church Exempt		XYx 123 YYx 123
Children's Trust		KID 012 123 KID	KID-prefixed sequence started with 001.
Collector's Car		HA 123
Disabled Person		HAB 123
Disabled Veteran		DAV 123
Ex-Prisoner of War		POW 012	Started with 001.
Farm Vehicle		1234 FA	"Farm" legend.
Gold Star Family		Personalized
Historic Vehicle		HA 123
Iditarod		IDT 123 or personalized
I Support Our Veterans	2007	Personalized
Low-Speed Vehicle	2007	LSV 012	Started with 001.
Motorcycle		1234 Mx, 1234 Rx, 1234 Tx	Same plates also issued to small trailers.
National Guard		VAB 123
Pearl Harbor Survivor		P/H 123	"PH" is stacked vertically and in center of plate.
Personalized - Passenger		Six alphanumeric characters.	Three different designs.
Prince William Sound College		PWS 123
Purple Heart		VPH 123
Support Our Troops!	2008		Available in personalized format.
University of Alaska Anchorage		UAA 123 UAA123	Two styles; newer style available in personalized format.
University of Alaska Fairbanks		UAF 123	Two styles; newer style available in personalized format.
University of Alaska Southeast		UAS 123
Veteran - Air Force		VAB 123
Veteran - Army		VAB 123
Veteran - Coast Guard		VAB 123
Veteran - Marine Corps		VAB 123
Veteran - Navy		VAB 123

References

1 2 3 http://www.state.ak.us/dmv/plates/index.htm Alaska DMV License Plates
↑ http://www.akplates.org Royce's Alaskan License Plates
↑ LicensePlates.cc: The license plate collector’s portal
↑ Herz, Nathaniel (June 2, 2015). "State says it's a roaring start for Alaska grizzly bear license plates". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved October 19, 2016.

External links

Vehicle registration plates of the United States

States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Federal district	Washington, D.C.

Insular areas	American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands

Other registration plates	Native American tribes Designs and serial formats

By year	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Vehicle registration plates of North America

Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States

Dependencies and other territories	Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands

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