How Much Is An Alaska License Plate?

In the state of Alaska, license plate fees vary depending on the type of plate you choose. The fee for standard passenger vehicle registration is $100 for a two-year period, which includes the cost of a standard license plate.

If you want a personalized plate, it will cost from $30 to $100. Additional taxes and fees apply to both new and renewal registrations.

Passenger vehicles must display a plate on the rear, and commercial vehicles are required to display it on the front.

Every state in the US requires a rear license plate. While some states require rear plates only, other states require a front license plate in addition to the rear plate.

Here are the steps for getting new license plates from the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

1. Get Alaska insurance. To register your vehicle and get license plates in Alaska, you must have Alaska insurance that meets the state's minimum liability requirements. When you register your vehicle, you must provide proof of insurance.
2. Register your vehicle. In Alaska, you can register your vehicle in person or by mail by visiting any of your local DMV offices. You must provide the certificate of title, proof of insurance, and payment for registration fees.
3. Select your license plate style. Alaska offers a variety of license plate options, including standard plates, personalized plates, and specialty plates. You can choose the type of plate that best fits your needs.
4. Get your new license plates. You will receive your license plates in the mail after you have registered your vehicle and selected your license plate type. If you need your plates sooner, you can pay an extra fee for expedited processing.
5. Install your license plates. In accordance with Alaska state law, you must securely attach your license plates to the front and rear of your vehicle after receiving them.

There are different types of license plates: passenger license plates, commercial vehicle plates, special license plates, trailer plates, and motorcycle plates.

License plates measure 6 by 12 inches and are rectangular (motorcycle license plates are smaller, measuring 4 by 7 inches).

The Alaska license plate has seven characters (across the 50 states, license plates have anywhere from six to eight characters).

A standard Alaska license plate cost is included in the price of your initial two-year registration fee.

A standard Alaska license plate can be put on passenger vehicles, motorcycles, motorhomes, trucks, vans, trailers, and APVs.

Standard license plates are issued in any of the following scenarios:

A personalized license plate, also known as a vanity plate, gives you the freedom to express your unique personality on the road by selecting any combination of letters and numbers that is legal in Alaska (see below for criteria).

The fee for a personalized license plate varies from $30 to $100, and you can only apply in person at the Alaska DMV.

Here is what you will submit to apply for a personalized plate:

1. Completed personalized plates application (Form 803)
2. Payment for $30 or $100, depending on the plate you choose
Alaska has a few rules and restrictions for vanity plate customization. First off, you're limited to just seven characters (think of it as a mini Instagram bio for your car). And while you can mix and match letters and numbers to your heart's content, you won't be able to add any punctuation or special characters to the mix (sorry, no hashtags here).

Of course, anything offensive or inappropriate is off-limits. Also, your personalized plate can't make any references to illegal activities or substances (we don't want any trouble with the law). Finally, be sure to pick something unique—no copycatting allowed!

The Alaska DMV will review and approve your custom license plate application after you submit it. If your application does not follow the guidelines or if the combination of characters is already in use, the DMV will probably reject it.

Here is a list of plate designs that you can personalize and their applicable fees:

According to 2 AAC 92.120, DMV will not issue personalized plates that display symbols in a combination that is demeaning to a group of people or that is otherwise a vulgar, violent, or criminal reference or term.

If you believe that a license plate has been issued in violation of this regulation, please send an email to doa.dmv.webmaster@alaska.gov. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will immediately investigate the license plate, and if necessary, the DMV will recall the license plate.

Alaska, like many other states, lets you show your support for a cause or organization through a specialty license plate. From supporting military troops to showcasing your love for history, there is a specialty plate to fit your interests.

Some of the money from the fees for these plates goes toward funding related programs and projects. This means that you can show off your passion and help your community at the same time.

Here are the specialty designs Alaska has to offer:

Support plates

University plates

Military plates

Veterans, dependents and survivors plates

Organization plates

Collectors can purchase Alaska's gold rush centennial license plates, which celebrate statehood, the last frontier, and grizzly bears. The cost of a sample plate is $10. The word "SAMPLE" is stamped on each of the plates.

To purchase a single sample license plate, send your request and a check or a U.S. Postal Service money order to:

Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: SAMPLE PLATES
3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101
Anchorage, AK 99503

Here are the sample plate designs you can choose from:

1. Celebrating statehood
2. Gold rush centennial
3. Grizzly Bear
4. Last Frontier

Your first set of standard disability license plates is free.

To apply for any of the disability license plates with parking privileges, you must have a Special Disability Parking Permit (Form 861) proving a permanent disability. Bring it with you if you have not yet submitted it.

To qualify for a Disabled Veteran's Plate (with or without wheelchair logo parking privileges), you must provide proof from Veterans Affairs (VA) that you have a service-connected disability of at least 50%.

The Alaska State Legislature has designated a number of special license plates to honor individuals who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.

You must provide proof that you have served or are currently serving in a branch of the United States Armed Forces in order to get a veteran's plate.

The following are examples of acceptable proof of service:


Depending on the location, license plates can be picked up at the public service desk or mailed to you within two business days.

When purchasing a used car, you will need to provide your local Alaska DMV office with the following:


See our guide to transferring an Alaska car title for more information on the process.

For passenger vehicles, registration costs $100 plus your city's tax. To register your vehicle, you will first need to transfer the title.

You will need to submit the following documents to your local DMV office:

You can order a license plate in Alaska by mail, online, or in person at a DMV office. Here are the steps for ordering license plates in Alaska:

1. Pick out a license plate design. Alaska offers several license plate types, including standard plates, personalized plates, and specialty plates. Choose the best plate for your needs.
2. Check for availability. If you want a personalized plate, make sure the letters and numbers you want are available.
3. Submit your application. Fill out the license plate application form, which includes your personal and vehicle information, the type of license plate, and any customization details. Submit the form to the Alaska DMV, along with any applicable fees.
4. Wait for the processing to complete. License plate order processing times vary, so please be patient while your application is reviewed and processed.
5. Get your license plate. Your new license plate will be mailed to you once your order has been processed.

The fee to replace a single license plate is $5.

To get a replacement, you need to mail the following:

1. Complete and sign (Form V1)
2. Enclose check or money order for $5

Mailing address:

State of Alaska DMV
3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101
Anchorage, AK 99503
ATTN: Correspondence

New Alaska residents must title and register their vehicle in person at the Alaska DMV office 10 days after establishing residency or employment in the state.

Individuals visiting Alaska may operate their vehicle in the state for no more than 60 days if they have a current out-of-state car registration.

New Alaska residents who need to register their vehicle can go to their local Alaska DMV office and provide the following information:


Read how PrivateAuto helps you buy a car remotely if you're thinking about purchasing an out of state car from a private party.

Before you buy a used car in Alaska, find out if it has any hidden fees. If it does, you could be responsible for them.

The first step is to get the vehicle identification number (VIN) from the seller. With the VIN, you can contact your closest Alaska DMV location and request a title search. The Alaska DMV will be able to tell you if there are any unpaid fees associated with the car, such as a vehicle registration fee or unpaid parking tickets.

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