Free Alaska License Plate Lookup and Owner Search

Updated: 15 Jan 2026 5 min read

An Alaska license plate lookup is an online search of a vehicle's license plate in a database. You can look up license plate owner free to access the car’s history without revealing any personal information about the owner. Enter an Alaska license plate, and EpicVIN will instantly find the VIN and show the vehicle's history (title, accidents, mileage, etc.) without revealing the owner's personal information.

Why Trust EpicVIN's Alaska License Plate Lookup

Alaska currently has 806,421 registered vehicles - (Alaska DMV, Jan 15, 2025); virtually all fall within EpicVIN's 1981–2025 coverage window.
99%+ license plate number-to-VIN match rate in Alaska - Our Alaska plate lookup reliably resolves plates to the correct 17-character vehicle identification number for the vast majority of active registrations (EpicVIN Analytics, 2024-2025).
Official NMVTIS-approved provider - EpicVIN is an authorized NMVTIS data provider and operates in compliance with the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA - 18 U.S.C. § 2721).

What Is a Reverse License Plate Lookup and How Does It Work?

Plate-to-VIN Match

EpicVIN instantly resolves an Alaska plate to the vehicle's 17-character VIN - no manual VIN decoding required.

Instant Check

We cross-check NMVTIS and trusted partner records for Alaska vehicles, surfacing title brands, registration events, theft/salvage activity, and inspection history.

Vehicle History Report

Get a quick snapshot for Alaska vehicles: accidents/damage, title status, mileage readings, and open recalls - without exposing personal vehicle owners' details.

Expect to see the VIN, basic vehicle specs, and any reported incidents. Private vehicle owners' details are not included. The process is legal and privacy-safe under the DPPA.

How to Look Up a Alaska (AK) License Plate

Enter the Plate

Type the license plate number exactly (letters/numbers only; no spaces or dashes).

Select Alaska

Ensure the state is set to Alaska before running the search.

Hit "Check Plate"

EpicVIN resolves the VIN and shows a free preview with basic vehicle information.

Read & Save

Review indicators (red flags - accidents, titles, recalls) and download the comprehensive report if you need detailed information.

Why run a Alaska license plate search?

✅ What you can get:

Title Classification & Problems: Identify Alaska titles - salvage, flood, rebuilt, or lemon. Gauge risk level, disclosure duties, and financing or warranty limitations.
Mileage Tampering & History: Odometer entries, including inspection or service records where available, help spot rollbacks in Alaska and explain unusual gaps between recorded readings for one vehicle.
Vehicle VIN & Manufacturing Details: Resolve an Alaska plate to the VIN, view factory specs, engine, options, and build data for equipment verification.
Unreported Collision History: Surface police, insurer, and auction indicators sellers in Alaska might omit, helping you avoid structural damage, diminished value, and surprise repair costs.
Liens & Recovery Records: Check lien records, prior theft and recovery notes, or rental/fleet flags, giving Alaska buyers clarity on vehicle title status before purchase.
Previous Owner Timeline: Privacy-safe in Alaska: show owner counts and ownership period length, never names or addresses, to judge usage patterns and maintenance intervals.

❌ You CANNOT get

Reports don't include restricted personal information like the owner's name or address, live ALPR location, driver's license, or insurance numbers. The DPPA and applicable state privacy law restrict personal data sharing; reports are informational vehicle tools and not for FCRA-regulated decisions.

Name: Protected personal information; not disclosed under DPPA regulations/state rules.
Address: Restricted to permitted purposes; not available in public records lookups.
Phone Number: Not provided; outside legal scope of vehicle reports.
Email: Not disclosed; privacy-protected and unavailable via plate checks.
Live Location: Real-time tracking is prohibited and not provided.
Driver's License Number: Sensitive identifier; not released to the public.
Insurance policy number: Private data; not available in consumer searches.

Report Example

A license plate search (Alaska) uses the license plate number to query public records. Enter the plate and select Alaska; EpicVIN resolves the VIN and compiles the record from NMVTIS and partner sources (including inspection history where available).

Works with standard plates and personalized Alaska plates; temporary tags may not return a VIN until registered in the car registration process.

1981 CHEVROLET Chevette

Odometer

No problems
Safety Recalls

3 record
Accidents

1 problem
Last mileage

396,338mi
Auction Sales

1 sale found
Owners

2 owners

Year 1981
Make CHEVROLET
Model Chevette
Fuel Type Gasoline
Engine 6L V-Shaped
Made in USA

Alaska Vehicle Risks

Indicator	Alaska (2024)	Potential Risk
Accidents/Damage	≈12,912 accidents - ~1.6% (2024)	Hidden damage, reduced safety, and resale value for a used car
Theft	High theft incidence - 3,273 vehicles - 0.41% (2024)	Elevated theft risk; possible loss/confiscation and insurance complications
Salvage/Rebuilt Titles	≈1 in 21 - salvage/rebuilt - ~4.8%	Serious prior damage; residual defects and safety concerns
Odometer (mileage)	Odometer anomalies - ~1.3% (≈10,480 cars)	Mileage fraud risk; overpayment and unexpected repairs
Open Recalls	Many open recalls - ~17% (≈137,100 cars)	Unresolved safety defects; increased accident risk until fixed
Inspection/Emissions Patterns	No state program (2024)	Engine/emissions issues; costly repairs and registration delays

How to reduce these risks (quick plan)

Run a plate/VIN lookup first: Start with a quick EpicVIN screen. If red flags appear, buy the full report and review each section methodically.
Check recalls directly: Use NHTSA's VIN recall lookup. Confirm open safety recalls and what fixes are required.
Inspect the car, not just the paper: Always test drive and get a pre-purchase inspection. Reports complement, not replace, a thorough mechanical check.
Match identifiers: Confirm the dash/door VIN matches the report and the plate matches registration to rule out swaps.
Leverage maintenance records: Compare service invoices and auction photos for time-stamped mileage to detect rollbacks or recurring mechanical issues.

Alaska DMV or EpicVIN? Picking the Right Path in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles can release a vehicle record via Form 851 for permitted purposes, but the registration is slower and largely registration-focused; EpicVIN provides an instant, user-friendly, multi-source vin check free (NMVTIS title or lien) through comprehensive back and front dashboards useful for pre-purchase due diligence with comprehensive information.

Q: How fast and how broad are DMV records?
A: The DMV requests are formal and may take days or weeks. They focus on registration data and are not intended as complete accident reports.
Q: Will the DMV give me the owner's name and address?
A: Not for casual inquiries; owner PII is protected by DPPA regulations and Alaska state rules and released only for permitted purposes with a valid reason (e.g., government/law enforcement agencies, court orders, safety/recall, insurance, legal proceedings).
Q: Is EpicVIN "official"?
A: Yes. EpicVIN is NMVTIS-approved; title or lien indicators come from official sources, reports exclude owner PII, and EpicVIN isn't a CRA under the FCRA.
Q: When should I use each option?
A: Use EpicVIN for fast pre-purchase screening and comprehensive information; use the DMV office for a formal registration record tied to a specific permitted purpose with a legitimate reason.

Prefer to double-check? Use the NHTSA's recall lookup to corroborate important findings. Alex Black, CMO & auto expert, EpicVIN

Guide to Alaska License Plates: Styles, Costs, and Rules

In Alaska, standard plates are included with your initial vehicle registration process. Most plate-specific charges are one-time fees. Key resources and forms are on the Alaska DMV website Vehicle Services hub (https://dmv.alaska.gov/vehicle-services/vehicle-services/) and the DMV Forms library (https://dmv.alaska.gov/forms/).

Are two plates required in AK? No, only one plate. Alaska law requires one rear plate on passenger vehicles; commercial vehicles over 10,001 lbs must display the plate on the front. Month and year tabs are required.

Penalties: Driving without the required rear plate or valid tabs is a registration violation and a traffic violation; confirm fine amounts locally. For replacement options and fees, see the DMV website's Replacement Registration page.

Standard License Plates

Design: Alaska's regular bases include Standard Gold (yellow background with blue characters, "The Last Frontier" state flag), Grizzly Bear, and the Celebrating the Arts (Fireweed) base.
Cost: Standard Gold and Grizzly Bear have a $0 one-time plate price; Celebrating the Arts adds a $3 initial registration fee. Typical replacement: $5 for standard bases; $8 for Fireweed.
Renewal: No annual plate surcharge on standard samples; registration itself renews on the normal schedule. You can estimate total registration charges with the Alaska Division's Vehicle Registration Cost tool.
How to Get: Plates are issued at the initial registration (online or at the DMV). Start at DMV License Plates and Vehicle Services for steps and options with the necessary documents.

Personalized (Vanity) Plates

Design: Personalized messages are available on several Alaska backgrounds, including Mountain, Caribou, In God We Trust, and Celebrating the Arts.
Cost: Most personalized bases are $30 initially; Celebrating the Arts personalized is $33. Some cause designs carry recurring renewal contributions - see each listing for applicable fees to make informed decisions.
Rules & Characters: Letters A-Z and digits 0-9 are allowed; leave a box blank to indicate a space. See Form 803 (Application for Personalized Plates) request form for details and eligibility notes.
How to Get: Check availability and order through Order a Personalized Plate (online). Allow time for manufacturing and mailing.

Specialty License Plates

Design: Alaska offers many "cause" plates, including Alaska Children's Trust, Blood Bank of Alaska, Breast Cancer Awareness, Choose Life, National Rifle Association, Support Our Troops, and University of Alaska Fairbanks plates, plus military/veteran options for disabled veterans.
Cost: One-time initial applicable fees commonly range $30-$100, with some programs adding renewal contributions (see the Alaska DMV website plate list for exact amounts by design). University plates are $50 initially.
How to Get: Many can be ordered online; certain plates (e.g., veteran, disability) require proof of eligibility and a valid reason. Start on the Alaska DMV website's License Plates page.

Historic & Collector Plates

Design: Options include Historic Vehicle and Custom Collector plates for older or replica cars.
Rules & Requirements: Historic plates are for cars 30+ years old, primarily used for exhibition under specific circumstances; initial registration fee $10. Custom Collector (pre-1949 body/frame or replica) carries a $50 initial plate fee.

Other Plate Rules and Processes

Temporary & Replacement: A one-time Trip Permit is $5 (apply at the DMV with proof of ownership/interest). Replacement items cost $2 (registration certificate), $5 (year tab), or $5 (one plate, which includes a new tab and registration).
Driving while awaiting replacements: Apply immediately if plates/tabs are lost or stolen, and keep your paperwork in the vehicle registered; Alaska law still requires a visible plate and valid tabs. If you must drive before the replacements arrive, obtain a $5 Trip Permit from the DMV office.
Transfers & Surrenders: Standard-issue plates are non-transferable. Personalized or specialty plates may be transferred between your vehicles; add a $5 transfer request (Form V1, last registration). Remove personal/specialty plates before selling the car; buyer gets a new set.

Alaska - Fees at a glance

Plate type/Action	One-time plate fee	Where to obtain	Form/official link
Standard passenger plates (new issue)	$0–$3 (style dependent)	Local DMV (included with initial registration)	DMV - License Plates
Vanity (personalized) plates	$30–$33 (initial)	Online or local DMV office	Order a Personalized Plate
Historic Vehicle (non-vanity)	$10 (initial plate)	Local DMV / Submit online	Historic & Collector Vehicle Plates
Specialty background plates	$30–$100 (initial; varies by cause)	Online or local DMV	DMV - License Plates (cause plates)
Replacement plates (regular)	$5 per plate	Local DMV	DMV - Replacement Registration/Plates
Temporary registration/Trip permit (non-commercial)	$5 (one-time)	Local DMV	DMV - Trip Permit

How Your Personal Information is Protected in Alaska

Federal Law:
The federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA regulations) is the primary law protecting personal information, such as your name and address, collected by the Alaska Department DMV.
Local Law: Alaska Statute AS 28.10.505:
further reinforces these protections, strictly limiting disclosure of personal information from motor vehicle records to authorized parties for legally permitted uses with legitimate reason (with narrow exceptions like safety, recalls, or with the subject's written consent).

EpicVIN complies with DPPA norms and Alaska's AS 28.10.505; we do not sell or disclose owner personal data. We provide vehicle-focused records only - no owner name, address, or contact details from public records.

Official Alaska Resources

Alaska DMV - License Plates - Overview of standard samples, personalized,
Order a Personalized Plate (Online) - Check availability and submit personalized or specialty orders with a user-friendly interface.
Replace Plates/Tabs - Applicable fees and steps for duplicate plates, tabs, and registration.
DMV Locations & Closures - Find nearby state offices and business partners, hours, and testing sites for DMV visits.

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Alaska Plate Lookup – FAQ

Double-check the license plate number entry (0 vs O, I vs 1) and make sure Alaska is selected. Very new or temporary tags may not be linked yet in the registration - try later or use the VIN. You can contact our support via chat or email. We update data regularly; very recent changes can take time to appear.

Temporary tags and freshly issued plates often aren't in statewide databases yet. Ask the seller for the VIN or retry in a few days.

Yes. We don't notify anyone about your lookup, and we don't display owner PII. Results focus on car information, not personal identity.

Some data, like recent registrations or title history updates, can take time to post. Try the VIN directly if the license plate number isn't returning much yet.

Yes, Alaska personalized plates resolve to a VIN once the vehicle registered. Enter letters/numbers only without spaces or symbols.

Yes. Choose the plate's issuing state in the selector; EpicVIN's database finder supports all U.S. states for out-of-state vehicles.

Re-enter the license plate number and verify the state. If it still mismatches, run the VIN; the VIN lookup is authoritative for car specs.

In Alaska, some plates stay tied to prior car owners. You may need a release before reassigning; confirm registration status with the DMV.

No. A license plate tracker for real-time location isn't available; live tracking and personal details are restricted by the DPPA. To report bad drivers with violations or reckless driving, contact law enforcement agencies directly.

Usually, after full registration, posts in the registration process. Until then, ask for the vehicle identification number on the car title/bill of sale and run a VIN check in Alaska.

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Learn everything there is to know about your next car.

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