Alaska License Plates FAQ

This plate is unique since it was produced in the first year the US government forced Alaska citizens to register their vehicles.

Yes. Alaska requires both license plates attached to the front and rear sides of the vehicles. On the rare plate, a month and year tab must be visible. Only motorcycles and trailers have a single license plate that includes month and year tabs.

It’s a sign of permanent registration. Beginning in January 2015, if you live in an unorganized municipality or an organized municipality that passes an ordinance to participate, you may be eligible for permanent registration for your non-commercial trailer or 8-year-old or older car. You will be given a permanent "Z" tab and will no longer need to renew your registration.

Each year the local authorities send a notice to residents to remove the studded tires. As of 2022, they reminded Alaskans residing below the 60-degree north latitude line that their studded tires must be removed by April 15.

If you are working or establishing residency in Alaska, you must apply for registration within 10 days of entering the state or accepting a job there.

DMV does not have the authority to sell new or previously used standard-issue license plates. A SAMPLE plate, produced especially for you as a keepsake, is available.

You can use Remote Alaska services if you are an Alaska resident and are away for about 50 miles from the road. In all other cases, you should get a temporary license from the state you have made the purchase in and get to Alaska. Here you must register the vehicle within 10 days.

In Alaska, you can use any combination of letters, numbers, and spaces from A to Z for your personalized license plate. In Alaska, ham radio call signs and special symbols like -, #, percent, and & are not permitted on personalized vanity license plates.

Yes. If you are an Alaska resident 65 or older, you may be eligible for an exemption from fees and taxes while registering a vehicle if it is a non-commercial vehicle and is titled by your name.

Vehicles are typically registered for two years. When a vehicle is first registered in Alaska, it is given an expiration date and that month is kept when ownership changes.

You may apply to renew the registration via mail. Just prepare the documents (proof of identity, copy of title and registration documents, request form, etc), make necessary payments, and attach checks to the letter.

Even if an Alaska resident will be temporarily out of state when their registration expires, they must renew their automobile registration in Alaska. If you haven't received the notice, go to the DMV website and renew your license online. Alternatively, you can check the due date with the DMV.

To renew your registration when being out of state you may simply mail the documents to the local DMV. This however concerns the military or college students.

In all cases, the renewal date is determined by the registration date. It expires every two years. You may contact the local DMV for special cases.

Only Special Issue vehicles are allowed to be transferred. Both vehicles must be registered in your name to transfer license plates. Also, keep in mind that you are not allowed to transfer regular issue license plates.

Generally, it must be renewed no later than 12 months after the expiration date.

In Alaska, you are allowed to drive a car that is currently registered in another state for up to 60 days. After that, you'll need to get an Alaska registration. If you get a job in Alaska, you must register with the state within ten days.

Surely. You can simply log in to Alaska’s DMV portal and fill in the 419 Form.

Yes, there is a fee waiver for citizens who are at least 65 years old. They can simply apply to the AK DMV with proof of identity.

Anyone can personalize the license plates and choose the digit-letter combination they desire. There may be applicable fees to get personalized tags.

You can renew your driver’s license within a year before it expires. Registration renewal can be done within two months before the due date.

In short, NO. If you live in Alaska you have to attach your license plates to both front and back sides.

Visit the Alaska DMV's website and send a message. The message must include your current mailing and residential addresses, as well as your license plate number. We'll look into it and let you know what you need to do to get the registration and tab.