Alaska bear license plate designs come in two generations: the 1976 bicentennial plate and the version that returned in 2015. Both show a standing grizzly, and both belong to the standard group rather than the specialty list. The older plate is a collector piece, and the newer one is an everyday option any passenger owner can request. Collectors value one, and commuters order the other. Both remain lawful to run today. The two share a subject and little else, and that gap is the heart of the story.
Alaska bear license plate history runs through a single animal and a long pause. The 1976 plate marked the national bicentennial, then left the lineup for decades. The 2015 return brought the design back as a standard option with the modern ABC 123 serial. The 1976 plate belongs to the bicentennial year, and the 2015 plate belongs to the modern standard group. Collectors chase the original, and daily drivers pick the newer one for the artwork on a current registration. A buyer can still order the newer one at any DMV office.
How to Get a Bear Plate
Getting a bear plate takes one form and one visit in most cases. See Alaska License Plates for more. The design is a standard option, so the process matches any other standard plate request. An owner can order it with a new registration or swap to it at renewal. The stages below cover both paths.
Official source: https://dmv.alaska.gov/vehicle-services/license-plates/
Form 803 at the Counter
Form 803 is the plate application for the bear design. Fill in the vehicle, the owner details and the design name, then file it with the registration paperwork. The counter checks the form and issues a receipt. A clerk can confirm the design name before the packet leaves the window, which saves a mailing cycle. The plate arrives by mail in most cases, and the registration card comes with it or ahead of it.
Swapping From Another Design
An owner can move from Standard Gold, Blue N Gold or a specialty design to the bear. File Form 803 and name the bear as the new design. A specialty plate leaving the vehicle goes back to the state or moves through the transfer process. A standard plate leaving the vehicle stays with the state.
Keeping It Through Renewal
The bear plate renews with the registration like any standard design. The renewal notice shows the plate and the amount due, with no separate design line. An owner who sells the vehicle cannot carry the plate to the next car, since standard plates do not transfer. The buyer registers the vehicle and picks a design of their own.
- File Form 803 with the registration paperwork
- Name the bear design on the form
- Mount the plate on the rear bumper
- Keep the registration card in the vehicle
At the Counter or by Mail
The state takes Form 803 at a DMV office and by mail. A mailed packet needs the registration paperwork attached and the owner’s signature in place. The counter route lets a clerk check the design name on the spot. Either path ends with the plate in the mail and the registration following the same address, so confirm the mailing address on the form.
The 1976 Bear Plate
The 1976 Bear Plate arrived in the year of the national bicentennial. Alaska joined the celebration with a design that put a standing grizzly at the center of the plate. The artwork broke from the plain plates of the period and gave the state a memorable image. Drivers who owned one kept it, and that habit built the collector market that exists today.
A Bicentennial Design
The plate came out of the bicentennial year, when states across the country issued commemorative designs. Alaska chose an animal rather than a historical figure or a flag. The choice fit a state where the bear already carried weight in public imagery. The design gave the plate a purpose beyond registration, and that purpose is why the plate is remembered.
The Standing Grizzly
The grizzly fills the center of the field. Alaska’s name and the serial share the space with the animal, and the layout keeps all three readable. The bear stands alone rather than in a scene, which keeps the drawing simple at plate size. That single figure is the detail most people recall when they describe the plate.
One Year on the Road
The 1976 plate served its year and then left the standard lineup. Alaska went back to plainer issues, and the bear stayed off new plates for decades. A 1976 original survives only on the cars that kept it or in collections. That short run is the root of its value today, and it describes why the original is harder to find than the 2015 version. A single year of issue leaves a small pool for anyone who wants one now.
Why the Design Stood Out
Most plates of the 1970s carried a simple field and a serial. The bear broke that pattern with a full figure at the center. Drivers noticed it on the road, and the difference made the plate easy to spot in a parking lot. That visibility is a large part of why the design outlived its year and why the state brought it back later.
The 2015 Return
The 2015 Return brought the bear back after a long absence. The state added it to the standard group, which meant any passenger owner could ask for it at the counter. The new plate kept the animal and rebuilt the artwork for modern press equipment. Drivers who missed the 1976 design could order the idea again, on a plate built for current roads.
Bringing the Bear Back
The return came as a standard option, not a specialty fundraiser. That detail matters: the bear sits beside Standard Gold and Blue N Gold on the form. The state did not tie the plate to a cause or a membership group. A buyer orders it the same way as any other standard design, with no extra proof and no group tie.
What Changed
The 2015 plate is a redraw rather than a reprint. Colors, line work and type changed to suit modern printing and reflectivity. The serial moved to the ABC 123 pattern used since January 2010. A collector with both plates in hand can sort them by feel as much as by sight. Collectors can tell the two generations apart in short once they know the format and the finish.
Where It Sits in the Lineup
The bear is one of three standard designs offered today, beside Standard Gold and Blue N Gold. It renews with the registration and follows the same rules as those designs. A buyer chooses it on the same form and waits the same short time for the plate to arrive. Owners pick it for the artwork and keep it through renewal like any standard issue.
The Modern Print Run
The 2015 plate came from current production. The state printed it with reflective sheeting and the flat finish used on other standard issues. Colors sit closer to the modern palette than to the 1976 inks. A side-by-side comparison shows the gap in tone and line weight right away. Print runs since then have stayed consistent, so a newer plate looks much like one from the first year back.
The First Year Back
The first year of the return put the bear on new cars after a long gap. Owners who ordered one in 2015 received a plate from the early print run. Those plates carry the ABC 123 format from the start. A 2015 example sits between the 1976 original and a plate made this year, and collectors treat it as the start of the modern line.
Design Details
Design details separate the two generations and give collectors something to study. See Alaska military plates for more. The 1976 plate and the 2015 plate share a subject, a state name and a serial, and they differ in color, line and finish. A close look at each element tells a buyer which generation sits in hand. The notes below cover the parts that matter most.
Color and Field
The field on both plates leaves room for the animal and the text. The 1976 version uses the palette of its period, with flat inks and a simple background. The 2015 version uses modern reflective sheeting and a cleaner separation between figure and field. A faded original can look muted next to a current plate, and that difference is normal for the age.
The Bear Itself
The grizzly carries the design on both plates. The older drawing uses heavier lines and less detail in the fur. The newer drawing sharpens the outline and adds depth to the body. Neither plate hides the animal behind the serial, which is why the bear reads from a distance on the road.
Text, Serial and Spacing
The state name and the serial share the field with the artwork. The 2015 plate prints an ABC 123 serial, and the 1976 original uses a format from before 2010. Spacing keeps the characters clear of the bear’s outline. A plate with a crowded serial or a clipped character has likely been bent or trimmed at some point.
Finish and Materials
The 1976 plate came from an older press process with paint over metal. The 2015 plate uses reflective sheeting and a modern print method. Sun and road salt age both, and the older plate shows it faster. A collector should expect some fading on a 1976 original and treat heavy wear as a sign of age rather than abuse.
- Field color and background tone
- Line weight in the fur and outline
- Serial pattern and character spacing
- Sheeting, reflectivity and surface wear
What the Back Shows
The back of a plate carries the marks a collector uses to judge it. Stamps, mounting holes and the remains of a sticker tell a story about the vehicle it served. A 1976 plate often shows more rust at the mounting points than a 2015 plate. Look at the back before you decide a plate is clean, since a fresh front can hide a repaired reverse.
Serial Ranges and Prefixes
Serial ranges and prefixes place a bear plate in time. The state moved to the ABC 123 pattern in January 2010, so any bear plate from 2015 forward uses it. The 1976 original predates that pattern by decades. A prefix tells an owner roughly when a plate was made within the current series.
ABC 123 on the Bear
Every 2015 bear plate carries the ABC 123 format. Three letters come first, then three numbers, and the block moves forward as plates are issued. A bear plate ordered today shows a prefix from the current block. The design does not reserve a special prefix, so the serial looks like any other passenger plate.
How Prefixes Move
Prefixes advance in blocks as a series runs out. BAA, DJY, ERU and FAB are examples of prefixes that have appeared on Alaska passenger plates. A bear plate can carry any prefix active at the time of issue. Collectors who chase a prefix should check the plate against the issue period rather than the artwork alone.
- ABC 123 since January 2010
- Prefix blocks advance as a series runs out
- BAA, DJY, ERU and FAB as sample prefixes
- No special prefix reserved for the bear
Reading a Bear Serial
Read the three letters as a block marker and the three numbers as the item within that block. A personalized combination replaces the random serial and follows the six-character limit. Letters and numbers are allowed, and symbols are not. The decency rule in 2 AAC 92.120 applies to a requested combination on any design.
Personalized Combinations
A personalized combination works on the bear design like any other standard plate. Six characters is the limit on most passenger designs. A combination becomes available after it has been off a vehicle or expired for more than 60 days. That rule matters to a collector who wants a specific set of letters on a bear plate.
Where to Check a Prefix
The prefix sits in the first three characters. Compare it with the issue period for the design, not with a list of famous plates. The state moves through blocks in order, so a prefix far ahead of the period suggests a later plate. A prefix far behind suggests a plate that sat in stock before it went on a car.
Collector Notes
Collector notes cover the parts a buyer picks up after the first purchase. See Alaska handicap plates for more. Condition, generation and paperwork decide what a plate is worth to another collector. The bear has a following beyond Alaska, and the 1976 plate sits at the center of it. A few habits keep a plate in good shape for the next owner. Most of that knowledge comes from handling plates rather than reading about them.
ALPCA Recognition
The bear design has a place in ALPCA plate-of-the-year history. The association tracks plate art across the states, and its record gives the design a wider audience than most state issues enjoy. A collector who mentions the bear to a dealer usually gets a nod. That standing helps a 1976 original move when a collection comes up for sale.
What Collectors Watch
Condition leads the list, then generation, then paperwork. A 1976 original with strong color and straight edges draws the most interest. A 2015 plate is usual, so collectors treat it as a display piece rather than a rare find. A matched pair from the same vehicle adds appeal to either generation. Two plates from the same car rarely stay together, so a pair is worth a mention.
- Straight edges and unbent corners
- Strong color with minimal fade
- Clear serial and intact state name
- Original backing or a clean display mount
Storage and Display
Store a plate flat, out of sunlight and away from damp. A paper sleeve or a felt pad protects the face from scratches. Do not polish an old plate with an abrasive, since the paint layer is thin. A wall display works well when the plate sits behind glass and away from direct sun.
Buying an Original
An original 1976 plate turns up at swap meets, estate sales and online auctions. Ask for a photo of the back and a photo of the face, since rust and repairs show on the reverse first. Compare the serial pattern against the period before you pay a premium. A plate sold as original with a modern serial is a red flag.
Trading a Plate
Trades happen at club meetings, swap meets and through collector forums. A bear plate moves well when the condition is strong and the story is clear. Sellers should photograph both sides and note the serial. Buyers should ask whether the plate has been repainted, since fresh paint kills collector value faster than a scratch.
Paperwork for a Collection
Keep a note with each plate that lists where it came from, which vehicle carried it and what you paid. A photo of the plate on the car adds context that a loose plate loses. Provenance matters more for a 1976 original than for a 2015 plate, since the older one has a longer story. A simple folder does the job and saves arguments later.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions cover the points owners ask about the bear design. Each answer is short, and the sections above hold the detail. A buyer who reads the serial section first usually has an easier time at the counter.
Is the bear plate still available?
Yes. The state returned the design to the standard group in 2015, and it remains an option today. Any passenger owner can request it on Form 803. The plate carries the current ABC 123 serial and the modern reflective finish. A 1976 original is a separate item and does not come from the same stock.
Does the bear design cost more than another standard plate?
No. It sits in the standard group beside Standard Gold and Blue N Gold and follows the same terms as those designs. Specialty plates sit in a separate group with their own rules, and the bear is not one of them. A buyer comparing designs should look at the standard group rather than the specialty table.
Can I put a personalized combination on a bear plate?
Yes. Six characters is the limit on most passenger designs, with letters and numbers only and no symbols. The state reviews the request under the decency rule in 2 AAC 92.120. A combination becomes available after it has been off a vehicle or expired for more than 60 days, which matters if the letters you want are already in use.
How can I tell a 1976 plate from a 2015 plate?
Start with the serial. A 2015 plate uses the ABC 123 pattern that arrived in January 2010, and the 1976 original uses an older layout. Then check the finish: the newer plate has reflective sheeting and sharper line work. Wear and fade point to the older plate, though a stored original can look bright after fifty years.
Can I move the bear plate to my next car?
No. Standard plates do not transfer from one vehicle to another, and the bear sits in the standard group. When the car sells, the plate stays with the state record for that vehicle. The next owner registers the vehicle and chooses a design, and the seller orders a fresh bear plate for the new car.