Utah Car Insurance

Rates, Facts, Free Quotes and Cheap Online Sources For Auto Ins. in UT.

Utah Car Insurance Questions & Answers

Q: Is auto insurance mandatory?

A: When Brigham Young once said “This is the place,” he may have been foretelling the future of where insurance shirkers would be shirking insurance, which happens often enough that Utah law requires motorists to carry proof of insurance and present it to any law enforcement officer upon request. In addition, although the mountains and canyons of Utah once served as ideal hiding places for Butch Cassidy and those of his ilk in the past, you can’t hide from the Utah authorities any longer. Utah compares motor vehicle registration file against a database of insurance policies written to Utah residents. When it’s discovered that a Utah-registered vehicle does not have a corresponding insurance policy, a notice is sent requiring these wannabe outlaws to provide proof of insurance.

Q: Is Utah a "no-fault" state?

A: You bet ‘cher boots. The no-fault system is intended to lower the cost of auto insurance by taking small claims out of the Utah courts. Each insurance company compensates its own policyholders for the cost of minor injuries regardless of who thought he was being pursued by a posse and hit the guy driving next to him.

Q: What type of insurance is required to purchase and maintain a Utah tag and registration?

A: Utah’s minimum coverage requirements are 25/50/15, which means coverage up to $50,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $25,000 for one individual, and $15,000 coverage for all the damage you did when, in your Butch Cassidy fantasy, you roared down the highway whooping, honking your horn, and firing off your popgun, and scared the wits out of the driver in front of you, causing a major pile-up even out in the middle of nowhere.

Although proof is not required at time of registration, the law requires motorists to carry proof of insurance and present it to any law enforcement officer upon request, which if you did the above, you can be sure as shootin’ it’s gonna happen.

Q: Can I maintain my current policy issued in my previous state of residence?

A: No. If your vehicle is registered in Utah then you must have an insurance policy that is issued through a Utah agent with an insurance company licensed to sell in Utah. If there is something unclear about this, please contact your agent.

Q: I am not a resident of Utah but I visit for several months during the year. Do I need Utah insurance?

A: As long as you’re not the kind who likes to play outlaw (or really are one), you can stay for 90 days. Then, time to pay up or saddle up.

Exceptions: Nonresident students who pay nonresident tuition, certain military personnel, temporary workers and individuals temporarily in Utah engaged in public or charitable service may be exempt from registering and insuring vehicles in Utah.

For vehicle registration and insurance purposes, a resident is anyone who engages in a trade, profession, occupation or gainful
employment in Utah for more than sixty days. Sorry – no outlaws allowed.

Q: What if I fail to keep insurance on my vehicle that I’ve registered in Utah?

A: If you’re convicted in a court or found through a Department of Public Safety (DPS) administrative hearing to have been operating a motor vehicle without insurance, the DMV may suspend your vehicle's registration and take away your popgun.

Failure to provide insurance or operator's security is a Class B misdemeanor, for which the fine may not be less than $400 for a first offense; and $1,000 for a second and subsequent offense within three years of a previous conviction or bail forfeiture.

Q: If my registration is suspended due to failure to provide proof of insurance, how do I get it reinstated?

A: To reinstate vehicle registration, the owner must:

-- Present the vehicle's title or registration card.

-- Present picture identification.

-- Present a current form SR-22, a current insurance policy, binder, or declaration.

-- Pay a $100 reinstatement fee.

-- Present your popgun for dismantling.

The law requires DPS to maintain proof of your owner's security for a three-year period and you must notify DPS if you fall off the wagon somehow and the policy is terminated. If you’ve been convicted under this law and terminate your insurance, you must surrender your driver license and the new popgun you’re using to DPS.

If you’ve canceled the certificate of insurance and apply for a driver’s license within three years from the date that the state originally required proof of owner's security, DPS is required to obtain proof of owner's security before reissuing your license. DPS must maintain the proof of the security for the remainder of the three-year period, and they will also hang onto your popgun.

 

Utah Car Insurance Facts

When it comes to buying auto insurance, it would be wise to first find out about the rules and regulations in the state of Utah. Once you become aware about the auto laws in your state,  you can search for the best insurance for your buck, and who doesn’t like to save a little money? 

In the state of Utah there are three types of insurance coverage that are required. Bodily Injury Liability is the first type, which covers you a minimum of $25,000 with a limit of $65,000 per accident. Property Damage Liability is also required with a limit of up to $15,000. These two types of coverage protect you in the case that you are found to be at fault for an auto accident, and there is injuries or damages that occurred to the other driver. Personal Injury Protection up to $3,000 is also required, and protects your own body regardless of who is found at fault for an accident. It is important to know that Utah follows a no fault system, meaning your insurance company will pay for your injuries, if you are found at fault, or not. 

The average national premium is $1,790, while residents of Utah will expect to pay an average of $1,783. This price is just $7 cheaper, but there even more ways to lower your premium. Living in a smaller city or town is a great way to keep your rates low. Since larger cities, like Salt Lake City, have more people, there is a likeliness that there will be more accidents. Driving a car that is not one of the most stolen vehicles in the state of Utah can be another way to lower your premium. A 1994 Nissan Sentra is on the list of top ten stolen vehicles, and therefore insuring this vehicle will cost you more. The easiest way to lower your premium is to just be a safe driver. Avoiding accidents, and traffic violations can prove to your insurance company you are a good driver. You can do this by not speeding, cutting off other cars, and paying attention without any other distractions. 

Many people pay too much for auto insurance, but it is easy to not be one of these people. As long as you are aware of the many ways to lower your premium, finding affordable car insurance does not need to be a problem.