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What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Utah?

How much car insurance do you need in Utah? Legally, you must carry a minimum amount of liability and PIP insurance to drive in Utah:

  • $25,000 per person for bodily injury
  • $65,000 per accident for bodily injury
  • $15,000 per accident for property damage
  • $3,000 per personal injury protection

You may see the liability limits written as 25/65/15 and personal injury protection referenced as PIP coverage or insurance. These coverage minimums can be increased as needed for greater financial protection for an additional cost.

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What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?

Liability insurance is required in most states, including Utah. Liability coverage pays for the other party’s injuries and property damage if you cause an accident. In Utah, liability limits are 25/65/15, which means you are required to carry a minimum of $25,000 per person for injuries and $65,000 per accident for all parties involved. Property damage liability pays for property, like another person’s car or home, you cause damage to. In Utah, you must carry at least $15,000 in property damage coverage.

PIP insurance, or personal injury protection, is coverage that pays for injuries you receive in a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. If you have PIP insurance, you are eligible to receive benefits up to the limits in your car insurance policy, no matter if you are the driver, passenger, a pedestrian or riding a bicycle. In Utah, PIP insurance provides coverage for:

  1. Medical and hospital expenses
  2. Lost wages
  3. Funeral expenses
  4. Heir compensation
  5. Loss of service

The minimum for medical expenses is $3,000 per person. Lost wages are covered for either 85% of gross income or $250 per week, whichever is less, up to a year. Funeral benefit maximums are $1,500 per person, and heirs can be compensated up to $3,000. If you are unable to perform basic tasks at home like childcare or housework due to injuries from the accident, up to $20 per day for a year can be paid for assistance.

How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in Utah?

The cost of car insurance in Utah can vary based on several factors, including your age, ZIP code, driving record, credit score, the type of car you drive and other criteria. The cost for different car insurance companies will also vary in Utah.

The cheapest car insurance in Utah is offered by USAA and costs roughly $356 annually. However, USAA policies are only available to military members and their families. GEICO is the second cheapest option, costing an average of $393 per year.

These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average Utah driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.

MoneyGeek compared car insurance rates at state minimum limits of 25/65/15 liability and $3,000 PIP insurance for a 40-year-old male Utah resident driving a 2010 Toyota Camry with a clean driving record and credit score.

MoneyGeek also ranked the best car insurance companies in Utah for those who want strong service and affordable rates.

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What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Utah While Leasing a Car?

While Utah mandates certain liability limit thresholds, a leasing company may have its own requirements if you lease your car. Most leasing companies require full coverage car insurance with minimum liability limits of 100/300/50. To find out the minimum coverage required to meet your leasing terms, contact your leasing company. Additionally, if you are shopping for a leased car, be sure you understand the terms of the agreement and the minimum car insurance requirements you will be required to meet to satisfy the lease agreement.

If you are unsure how much car insurance you should have in Utah, MoneyGeek recommends at least 50/100/50 liability limits and full coverage car insurance. While Utah has a low risk of uninsured motorists at 6.5% of drivers, you may not be covered for injuries or property damage if an uninsured or underinsured motorist hits you and you do not have full coverage car insurance.

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Utah

Drivers can face penalties if they drive without car insurance in Utah. You must carry proof of insurance and provide it if asked to be a law enforcement officer. This can be with a printed ID card or policy declaration page, or you can show electronic proof of insurance on your phone.

Utah also compares its motor vehicle registration database to a database of insurance policies to verify current insurance. If the registration system discovers there is not a corresponding insurance policy for the car, you may receive a notice requesting proof of insurance. Failure to provide current proof of insurance can result in a court appearance.

To reinstate your vehicle registration, you must have current car insurance and show proof of insurance. You may be required to carry SR-22 insurance and will have to pay a $100 reinstatement fee. Proof of insurance is required for three years from the date of suspension.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Utah

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about car insurance in Utah.

Yes, car insurance is required in Utah. Drivers must carry a minimum of 25/65/15 in liability insurance and at least $3,000 in PIP insurance. Failure to carry proof of current insurance can result in penalties and fines, including a license and vehicle registration suspension, which requires fees be paid prior to reinstatement.

Yes. To register a car in Utah, you must provide proof of valid insurance. Failure to provide proof of insurance with state minimum requirements will result in not being able to register the car. It is illegal to drive a car in Utah without current insurance.

Basic car insurance usually means state minimum requirements, which includes 25/65/15 liability coverage and $3,000 in PIP insurance in Utah. Drivers must have at least this amount of coverage to drive their car in Utah. Otherwise, they may face penalties, fines and a class B misdemeanor if convicted in court.

Depending on the coverage, insurance company and policy, insurance will follow either the car or driver in Utah. Most often, the car insurance follows the car insured, but in a few instances, the car insurance follows the driver. Medical payments coverage and PIP insurance are two coverages that follow the driver. If you use your car insurance to rent a car or use a loaner from a car dealership, it follows you as primary insurance for a temporary vehicle.

You can purchase a car without a driver’s license, and you can get insurance without a license as well. If you own a car, it must be insured in Utah. To get car insurance without a license in Utah, you must list someone with a valid driver’s license as a rated driver, which could be a co-owner or family member.

Utah is a no-fault state. That means that in Utah, drivers must make what’s called a “first-party” claim with their own insurance for injuries. To sue the other party, Utah drivers must incur at least $3,000 in medical expenses or have a dismemberment or permanent disability or impairment.

Yes, PIP is required in Utah. As a no-fault state, drivers in Utah purchase PIP insurance to provide financial protection if they are injured in a car accident. Utah drivers must carry at least $3,000 in PIP coverage, though they can increase this amount if desired. The maximum amount of coverage for PIP varies by insurance company.

You are not required to carry uninsured motorist insurance coverage in Utah. However, you can choose to purchase it to provide further protection from uninsured or underinsured motorists. If you do elect to purchase uninsured motorist insurance, you must buy at least 25/65/15 limits.

Yes, Utah allows diminished value compensation after an accident. In states where diminished value compensation is allowed, an insurer can request compensation for the difference in the lowered market value of their car from before and after a car accident.

Car insurance requirements do not change after a DUI in Utah. However, as a high-risk driver, you may not be eligible for car insurance with a standard insurance company or you may pay more for your premiums. If that is the case, you may have to purchase high-risk car insurance, like SR-22 insurance, which is more expensive than insurance with a clean driving record.

A CARCO inspection is a pre-insurance car photo inspection that documents the current condition of your car. It documents the mileage, physical condition, options and accessories included in the car. This inspection does not have a fee and takes about 15 minutes. Utah is not one of the five states requiring CARCO inspections.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick has analyzed the property and casualty insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. Currently, he leads P&C insurance content production at MoneyGeek. Fitzpatrick has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

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