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 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.https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaDMV/posts/pfbid02xQPmwMYLV63MrQdjBTU2U1uLdF2PvhGnw4zEyWdkkrqhVwS9zovWBp2Df4wmw7T4l On vehicles with two license plates, only the rear plate is required to be stickered.http://www.state.ak.us/dmv/plates/index.htm Alaska DMV License Plates

Passenger baseplates

1921 to 1952

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection. ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1921Embossed 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 3501922Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1922" at bottom right1231 to approximately 5001923Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1923" at bottom right1231 to approximately 8501924Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1924" at bottom right1231 to approximately 9991925Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1925" at bottom right12340001 to approximately 12001926Embossed black serial on green plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1926" at bottom right1231 to approximately 9991927Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1927" at bottom right1234101 to approximately 12501928Embossed red serial on light yellow plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1928" at bottom right1234101 to approximately 13501929Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1929" at bottom right1234101 to approximately 16001930Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1930" at bottom right1234101 to approximately 18001931Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "ALASKA" at top and "1931" at bottom right12341 to approximately 20001932Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "ALASKA – 1932" at bottom1234301 to approximately 31001933Embossed white serial on red plate; "ALASKA – 1933" at bottom1234301 to approximately 30001934Embossed white serial on green plate; "ALASKA – 1934" at bottom1234101 to approximately 32001935Embossed black serial on orange plate; "ALASKA – 1935" at bottom1234101 to approximately 31001936Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "ALASKA – 1936" at bottom12341001 to approximately 43001937Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ALASKA – 1937" at bottom12341001 to approximately 43001938Embossed red serial on white plate; "ALASKA – 1938" at bottom12341001 to approximately 52001939Embossed black serial on silver plate; "ALASKA – 1939" at bottom12341 to approximately 48001940Embossed black serial on orange plate; "ALASKA – 1940" at bottom12341 to approximately 52001941Embossed white serial on green plate; "ALASKA – 1941" at bottom12341 to 6000;7001 to approximately 7900Serials 6001 through 7000 reserved for vehicles for hire.1942Embossed black serial on white plate; "ALASKA – 1942" at bottom12341 to approximately 7900Embossed 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 83001947Yellow serial on dark blue fiberboard plate; "ALASKA-1947" centered at bottom12341 to approximately 113001948Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1948" at bottom123451 to approximately 150001949Embossed blue serial on white plate; blue lines at top and bottom borders; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1949" at bottom123451 to approximately 200001950Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1950" at bottom123451 to approximately 265001951Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed territorial flag at left; "ALASKA — 1951" at top123451 to approximately 350001952Embossed 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 (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) 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 issuedNotes1953–55Embossed 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.A-1234A-1000 to approximately E-32501966–67Embossed 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.B1234B1000 to approximately B72501970Embossed 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.A1234A1 to approximately A52001971As above, but with additional blue box at top left containing debossed "71"B1 to approximately E11001972–73As 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 rightnoneABC 123AAA 100 to AAD 999Not issued; considered prototypes (see 1973 plate controversy section below).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 bottomAB 123AA 100 to DB 699Letter Q not used in this serial format.1975As above, but with "75" at top rightDB 700 to ED 9991976–81Embossed 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 (below).October 2004 – July2005As above, but with embossed state name and flag"THE LAST FRONTIER" embossed in blue centered at bottomABC 123ERV 490 to EUB 999July 2005 – December 31, 2007As above, but with larger stars in flagEUC 100 to FGE 999 January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2009http://www.akplates.org Royce's Alaskan License PlatesLicensePlates.cc: The license plate collector’s portal 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 rightABC123FGF100 to FUW999Also used for vanity plates.January 1, 2010 – December 2022As 2005–07 base"THE LAST FRONTIER" as from 2004 to 2007ABC 123FUZ 100 to FUZ 999; GAA 100 to GZZ 999; KAA 100 to KJX 999FUZ series issued in error; 'H' series reserved for Disabled plates; 'J' series used on alternative bear plates (below).

Plates from about KEU 100 onward feature thicker serial dies similar to those used in 1968–75.January 2023 – presentAs above, but with thinner, squarer serial dies (using North Carolina dies), and only the plate number is embossed."THE LAST FRONTIER" as from 2004 to 2022KJY 100 to KTC 363 Zeros became slashed; they are also seen on alternative passenger plates issued with the same serial dies.

Alternative passenger plates