Vehicle Insurance Requirements
General Information
Per Utah Code Ann. §31A-22-302, a current policy of insurance that includes No-Fault, bodily injury, and property damage liability coverage must be maintained on all vehicles throughout the vehicle’s registration period in the following circumstances:
- The owner/operator is a Utah resident.
- The owner/operator is a non-resident who operates a motor vehicle that has been physically present in Utah for 90 days during the preceding 365 days. Under such circumstances, a non-resident owner must maintain no-fault insurance while the vehicle remains in the state.
- The owner/operator of any street legal vehicle including passenger cars, trucks and ATVs that are operated on public roadways are required to maintain liability coverage. ATVs or off highway vehicles that are not operated on public roads are exempt from insurance requirements.
Insurance Verification
The law requires motorists to carry proof of insurance and present it to any law enforcement officer upon request. In addition, for several years, Utah has compared its motor vehicle registration file with a database of insurance policies written to Utah residents. When the computer program discovers a Utah-registered vehicle does not have a corresponding insurance policy, a letter is sent to the vehicle’s registered owner, requiring the owner to provide proof of insurance.
Penalties For Failing To Insure A Vehicle
If the owner of a motor vehicle fails to provide satisfactory proof of insurance after receipt of the insurance verification letter mentioned above, that information will be provided to the Motor Vehicle Division and state and local law enforcement.
If a person is 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 the uninsured vehicle’s registration.
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.
If a person is convicted for failure to insure a vehicle, the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) is required to suspend the person’s driver license. DPS may not renew or issue a driver license to the person until the person gives the agency proof of owner’s or operator’s security and pays a reinstatement fee. Upon receipt of such proof, DPS also will notify DMV.
Reinstating Registration
To reinstate vehicle registration, the owner must:
- Present evidence of ownership, such as the vehicle’s title or registration card;
- Present picture identification;
- Present one of the following as evidence of insurance coverage for the vehicle:
- a current form SR-22 obtained from a Utah licensed insurance company or agent that shows proof of insurance coverage for the vehicle;
- a current insurance policy; or a current insurance binder;
- a current insurance declaration; or
- a current insurance card; and
- Pay a $100 reinstatement fee.
Ongoing Supervision
The law requires DPS to maintain proof of the person’s owner’s or operator’s security for a three-year period and the insurer must notify DPS if the policy is terminated. If a person who has been convicted under this law terminates his or her insurance, the person must surrender his or her driver license to DPS.
If a person who has canceled the certificate of insurance applies for a driver license within three years from the date that the state originally required proof of owner’s or operator’s security, DPS is required to obtain proof of owner’s or operator’s security before reissuing the driver license. DPS must maintain the proof of the security for the remainder of the three-year period
Vehicle Insurance Requirements FAQ
Who is Insure-Rite?
Insure-Rite, Inc., is a company partnering with the DMV to help keep uninsured motorists off of Utah’s roads. This company is responsible for collecting insurance policy information from Utah’s insurance companies and comparing the information against the database of vehicles registered in Utah. When a registered vehicle is found to not have insurance, a letter is sent to the vehicle owner requesting information about the vehicle and why it is not insured. If the owner fails to provide the information or cannot provide proof of current insurance, Insure-Rite notifies the DMV that the vehicle is not insured, and the DMV revokes the registration and notifies the owner of the revocation in an attempt to keep the uninsured motorist off of the road.
I just got a letter about possibly not having insurance on one of my vehicles. What does this mean?
This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a canceled or modified policy or even a simple error in the recorded Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
On this letter, you are given a chance to indicate the status of the vehicle, whether it is in storage, sold, or is in-fact currently insured. Simply mark the correct box and, if necessary, include a copy of your current proof of insurance and mail the letter back to Insure-Rite.
My registration was revoked for no insurance. How do I reinstate it, and is there a fine?
After receiving no proper proof of insurance from you, Insure-Rite may notify the DMV that your registration must be revoked for no insurance. Alternatively, law enforcement may revoke your registration if you are operating the vehicle without current insurance.
Once this happens, you will need to visit your local DMV office to have your registration reinstated. Proof of current insurance will be required. A $100.00 reinstatement fee will be assessed, unless you can provide proof that the vehicle was insured on the date that the registration was revoked.