Alaska License PlatesLicense plates are combinations of numbers and letters printed on aluminum sheets and used on vehicles for easy tracking and identification. A license plate can be used to verify the vehicle owner, the model as well as the make of a vehicle. According to the Alaska Vehicle Code, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, motorhomes, non-commercial trailers, trucks, vans, trailers and all-purpose vehicles in the state must be registered with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle owners also receive their license plates from the DMV in the state.
The following are the types of license plates the Division of Motor Vehicles in Alaska offer residents:
Under the former Alaska law, motor vehicles displayed two license plates, a month tab and a current year tab on the back plate while only motorcycles and trailers have one license plate with months and year tabs. But as at present, Alaska is a one plate state. All passenger vehicles must have a license plate at the rear of the vehicle while a commercial vehicle weighing over 10,001 pounds must have a license plate in front of the vehicle.
The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles issues license plates to registered vehicle owners. These plates are made up of six alphanumeric characters, usually three initial alphabets followed by three numbers. The license plate has "ALASKA" written boldly at the top, standing blue flag decorated with yellow stars at the middle between the letters and numbers and "The Last Frontier" written underneath the plate. Alaska also has an alternative passenger plate, the logo of the Alaska State Council on the Arts is centered in black color at the bottom. The DMV in Alaska permits one license plate on the rear of a registered truck, motorhome, van, trailer, all-purpose vehicle, passenger vehicle, and a motorcycle. However, owners of commercial vehicles weighing more than 10,001 pounds are required to place registered license plates in front of their vehicles.
Alaska License Plate Design and FormatsMost Alaska license plate designs come in yellow plates with blue accents, and "Alaska" written in capital letters at the top. The "Mountain" license plate features a blue sky and a white mountain. Both a month decal and year decal must be displayed on the rear license plate without blocking a license plate number.
Standard license plates in Alaska are rectangular in shape with embossed alpha-numeric characters consisting of six digits. They are 12 by 30 cm in height and 6 by 15 cm in breadth. However, in the 1970s, Alaska license plates had an upright blue flag embellished with yellow stars by the left side of the plate and they had five characters (two letters and three numbers). Special license plates usually have slogans or logos indicating special messages at the bottom.
Standard License Plates for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, motorhomes, trucks, and vans:
Specialized license plates:
Alaska Vanity License PlateVanity license plates are unique, fancy, and customized license plates. They allow a person to express their affinity with a group and express their individuality. A person can choose a combination of a letter and a number, slogan or a recognizable phrase when requesting this type of vehicle registration license plate. The following are types of vanity license plates available to residents in Alaska:
To obtain special-issue license plates, residents have to visit the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles in person, apply online, or send all required documents by mail. For an in-person application, you will need to do the following:
You can send your documents by mail, to the following address:
State of AlaskaAlaska requires motorcycle riders to submit motorcycle permit forms. To register your motorcycle you need to pay $60 to the office of the DMV. The AK Division of Motor Vehicles may allow you to title and register your motorcycle by mail if you are disabled, aged, or live far from the DMV. In Alaska, when you buy a motorcycle, the registration is done by the dealer. If it is not done, you have to visit the DMV. Alaska has a process for registering motorcycles if you are a new resident (must be done within 10 days), looking to renew your registration, if you bought it from a dealer or private seller. Motorcycle registrations are valid for 2 years.
You can contact the Division of Motor Vehicles at 855-269-5551 for information about mailing in your registration. Fees can vary based on the vehicle type, specific combination a person desires and the decal type. The initial license fee ranges between $30 and $100. Additionally, a renewal fee if applicable, specialty plate use fee, and donation fee charge on this type of license plate. Although renewal is free for most specialized license plates in Alaska, only a few (In God We Trust) cost $50.
Personalized Speciality License Plates: According to the DMV, this license plate type must have a maximum of six characters, any combination of letters from A to Z, and numbers from 0 to 9 including spaces. The fee for most personalized specialty license plates costs $30. The fees charged when ordering these types of license plates are the license plate fee, personalization fee, and registration fees. Applications can be made in-person, online or by mail.
For an in-person application, applicants are required to follow the steps laid down for receiving special issue plates. Also, you are to complete the Application for Personalized or Call Sign License Plates Form 803. You are required to gather other necessary documentation for a personalized plate (you may include a copy of your vehicle registration). In addition, applicable fees must be paid and submissions made at any DMV office.
A mail application can be submitted to this address:
Division of Motor VehiclesYou can order a personalized plate online if your current address corresponds with the one on your vehicle registration and your plate type does not have any documentation requirement.
To order personalized speciality license plates online, you need to go to the DMV website and enter the desired plate characters to check for their availability. Furthermore, you need to enter all required information and pay a license fee with your visa card or mastercard.
A custom license plate is made at the period they are ordered and wait times for license plates can extend. You cannot change, cancel, or request a refund for a personalized plate. A vanity or customized license plate can take up to 12 weeks before delivery to a mailing address.
Most Popular Alaska Special Plate NumbersIn Alaska, the most common types of special and special interest licensed plates are as follows:
Alaska License Plate LookupA license plate lookup is a check carried out using a vehicle's plate number to gather specific information about the vehicle. Few reasons why you need a license plate lookup is to find information about a used car you intend to buy, trace a hit-and-run driver, or report bad driving. Some of the information you will find when doing a license plate lookup are the vehicle title information, vehicle identification number (VIN), criminal driving violation, and vehicle history report.
To find a registered vehicle owner's information or information on a vehicle, you can search the DMV portal or visit the Division of Motor Vehicles in Alaska. However, you have to provide valid reasons before the DMV may consider your request. On the DMV portal, you are required to fill an application form, enter your email address and confirm your email address before you can search for information about a vehicle owner and the vehicle. Certain information about a registered vehicle owner is discreet, therefore you would not be able to access every information about a vehicle owner except those made for public viewing.
Another way is to use a trusted third-party service such as Recordsfinder. Doing a reverse plate number search using this website provides information about the vehicle linked to the plate number searched.
There are a number of websites providing reverse license plate number search, or license plate lookup, for Alaska license plate numbers. One of these is Recordsfinder. Note that sites like this only provide information related to the vehicles searched and not identifying information of vehicle owners. Such personal details are only legally available to authorized law enforcement personnel.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Alaska?The Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Administration in Alaska is responsible for issuing license plate numbers to registered vehicle owners in the state. To obtain license plates in Alaska, the applicant must:
Payment for fees by check or money order made out to "State of Alaska". License plate costs $5. Year decal and registration certificate is $5. In addition, checks must be pre-printed and include your phone number.
To find out more about license plate issuing in Alaska, you can call Alaska DMV at 855-269-5551 or visit their office in person.
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in AlaskaPassenger license plates are used on vehicles that are meant for personal use while commercial license plates are strapped on vehicles that are for hire purposes or vehicles registered in a business or company name. A commercial vehicle is a vehicle used to transport HAZMAT or a passenger vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more (including the driver). Vehicles weighing 10,000 lbs or more or have an empty weight of 8,000 lbs or more are classified as commercial vehicles.
Below are the differences between a passenger license plate and a commercial license plate:
| Features | Passenger License | Commercial License |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Use |
|
|
| Plate number arrangement | Three letters and three numbers | |
| Design & Color |
* special interest and special license plates may have additional background designs and colors |
* special interest and special license plates may have additional background designs and colors |
| Use Limitation | None | Commercial grounds |
| Requirements for obtaining |
|
|
You can check the process for commercial vehicle registration. You can also qualify for dual commercial vehicle registration if you registered your commercial vehicle somewhere outside Alaska. Here is how you can get a dual commercial registration on your vehicle in Alaska.
How to Renew License Plate in AlaskaVehicle registrations are done with the Division of Motor Vehicles in Alaska online, by mail or in person. This is done every two years. A renewal notice or registration pre-bill is usually sent by mail from the DMV which contains the vehicle information and renewal fees. These renewal fees depend on the type of vehicle you own. To renew your license plate, you must renew your vehicle registration. After renewal, you will be given a new expiration tab (sticker) to put on your license plate. Passenger vehicle renewal fee usually costs $100 for trucks, bicycle renewals cost $60. If you renew online, it takes up to 14 days, but renewing by mail takes 6 weeks. Commercial vehicles weighing 0-5,000 lbs cost $180 for renewal fees. The ones weighing 5,0001-12,000 lbs have a renewal fee of $268. For commercial vehicles, the more they weigh the higher the renewal fees.You can also check the status of your vehicle registration here.
You are eligible for a registration fee and MVRT exemption for one of your vehicles if you are 65 years or older and have a disability. Residents who meet the aforementioned criteria will also receive permanent vehicle registration license plate stickers/tabs. If you live in certain areas like Anchorage, Bethel, Bristol Bay Borough, Cordova, and Dillingham, you will be required to pay a motor vehicle registration tax in addition to your renewal fees. You can pay using a VISA card or MasterCard when applying online. By mail, you can use money orders and checks. However, you can check with the Alaska DMV office for accepted payment methods for an in-person application. If you are paying by check, your name and address must be printed on it.
Beside the renewal fee, additional charges for specific license plates may apply for title lien recording or specialty plate transfer. If you are out of state and not eligible to renew your license online you can apply for a license extension letter online. A commercial driver license renewal cannot be extended more than 30 days beyond the expiration date.
How to Transfer a License Plate in AlaskaTo transfer a license plate in Alaska, the plate must be assigned to you and you must be the owner of the other vehicle receiving the license plate. Special and personalized license plates are transferable in Alaska. However, while some of them cost $5 the others are free depending on the type of license plate you want to transfer. For example, veteran, university and children's trust license plates cost $5, there are no fees required to transfer a Disabled Vet Disability, gold star family license plates.
Beside these types of plates, no other license plates can be transferred to another vehicle in Alaska. If the vehicle is in your name, you may email doa.dmv.webmaster@alaska.gov the following:
If you just bought a vehicle (not yet titled in my name, you must do the following:
You may also mail requests to:
State of AlaskaAdditionally you can contact the DMV at 855-269-5551 for more inquiries on transferring license plates to new vehicles.
Alaska License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)The Alaska Public Record Act (APRA) seeks to regulate and protect how the release of information on registered vehicle owners and vehicles in Alaska are released to the public. Furthermore, The Alaska Vehicle code and the Data Privacy Protection Act are other legal support systems safeguarding the information of registered vehicle owners in Alaska. Therefore, a driver's information such as their name, address, age and so on can be accessed from law enforcement agencies and legitimate authorities in the state.
In Alaska, you can use a secure third-party tool like Infotracer through which you can access public records like a vehicle owner's information and an arrest record. Under the Alaska Statutes, Title 40, AS 40.25.115, a public agency is expected to disseminate public records available to the public in electronic formats and calculate based on recovery of the actual incremental costs of providing the electronic services and products, and a reasonable portion of the costs associated with building and maintaining the information system of the public agency. Also, sometimes, fees may either be waived or reduced based on public purposes.
Furthermore, you can source a vehicle history from a trustworthy third-party service like Recordsfinder. This tool provides information such as vehicle-related accidents and criminal driving violation records when you provide a vehicle's VIN or plate number. On this third-party search tool, you can use both the VIN on a vehicle and the license plate number to procure reliable information about a vehicle. However, due to strict privacy laws such as the DPPA in Alaska, you will only gain access to a driver's information provided you have a strong and acceptable reason for requesting a search in the state. Please note that the plate number of a car is linked to the VIN in the public vehicle records.
When requesting a lost license plate in Alaska, you can file a police report. Though not necessary, reporting a lost plate helps to prevent identity theft and misuse of your plate. You can apply in-person at the Alaska DMV office or by mail when replacing a lost license plate. You need to do the following when replacing a lost license plate in Alaska:
Replacing a license plate and a decal in Alaska costs $5.
The police in Alaska are entitled to access the following information when a license plate search on your vehicle:
Residents utilize free license plate lookup in Alaska due to some of the following reasons:
You can also use Recordsfinderwebsite to search for a license plate for free. When you search, you get a variety of information such as:
In Alaska you are required to renew your vehicle registration bi-annually. Alaska does not have an extension period if your license plate becomes obsolete, therefore, it is necessary to be alert and know the date your license plate expires and take precautionary measures.
Driving with an expired license plate in Alaska is considered illegal and it is a traffic infraction or violation. If you are caught with an invalid license plate, you will be fined. The police in Alaska will ask you to pay a fine or traffic ticket up to $300.
If you are relocating to another state, the DMV in Alaska requires you to return your license plate if you are requesting a refund of your registration fees. If your license plate was lost or stolen you are also required to return your license plate in the state.
You cannot keep your Alaska license plate when moving to another state if you apply for a refund. You have to apply for a new registration in the state you are moving to. The following will apply if you move to another state:
In contrast, if you are not seeking registration fee refund, you may opt to keep your license plates as souvenirs or for any other purposes. If you are out of state and not eligible to renew your license online, you can apply for a license extension letter online. A commercial driver license renewal cannot be extended more than 30 days beyond the expiration date.
License plates come in different sizes depending on the types of vehicle:
In Alaska, the first time you register your vehicle, you will be given a temporary tag to put on your vehicle before you are issued a permanent license plate. Alaska is one of the few states in the U.S that issue a temporary license plate. You must register your vehicle within 30 days of buying a vehicle and if you just relocated to Alaska, within 10 days. It is unlawful to drive a vehicle on public roadways without a current registration, license plates and month/year tabs. However, you can get trip permits for specific types of moves:
Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles renew license plates in the state. The Alaska DMV recommends applicants to begin the process early to assure new registration before the current registration expires. To apply for a license plate renewal in Alaska, you must follow these steps:
You can apply for a license plate by walking to the DMV office in Alaska, request online, or by sending an envelope by mail to the physical address of the DMV in the state. If any of your standard license plates gets stolen, you have to visit the Division of Motor Vehicles in Alaska to apply for a replacement (duplicate plates and tabs). When applying in person and by mail (present a handwritten request) you are expected to do the following:
You can request by mail if you are ordering an expiration decal, you are outside of Alaska or a DMV office does not exist in your area by submitting an enveloped mail to:
State of Alaska DMVLicense plate replacements vary from one state to another. To get a license plate replacement in Alaska, you are required to pay $2.00 for registration, $5.00 for year tab (a new registration is provided at no additional charge and another $5.00 for license plate(s) (includes new year tab and registration at no additional charge). To replace a personalized plate, you have to submit an application online. If you have any questions relating to license plate replacement in Alaska, please contact the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office.