Car Insurance in Utah

Utah Car Insurance

Utah car insurance laws are written to ensure that you are financially covered in the unfortunate case of a car accident. Read more to learn about Utah auto insurance requirements, options, rates, and programs.

Car Insurance Requirements

In Utah, drivers are required to carry both no-fault and liability auto insurance to pay for medical costs or property damage after a car accident.

You must have insurance on your vehicle if you are:

• A Utah resident.
• A non-resident who has been in the state for at least 90 days.

No-Fault

In order to limit the number of lawsuits and claims between drivers, Utah requires that all drivers have no-fault car insurance or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage at a minimum limit of $3,000 per person.

After a car accident, your PIP will cover your household family members’ and your medical costs, regardless of who was found at fault for the accident.

Once your PIP benefits are exhausted, you may file a claim against an at-fault driver.

Liability

Utah car insurance laws also require you to have liability car insurance to help pay for injuries or property damage to victims of a car accident for which you are at-fault.

Your auto insurance policy must include liability coverage at the following minimums:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person, per accident.
• $65,000 for bodily injury total per accident.
• $15,000 for property damage per accident.
  OR
• $80,000 total for bodily injury and property damage.

A driver’s personal injury protection coverage will take effect first. If the driver’s PIP is exhausted, the driver may make a claim against your liability insurance.

Optional Car Insurance

When shopping for car insurance, consider purchasing additional coverage types to help protect you even further.

Most Utah car insurance companies offer the following types of coverage:

• Collision – This will help pay for accident-related damages to your car.
• Comprehensive – This will help pay for non-accident related damages to your car, such as those caused by vandalism.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist – This coverage will help cover costs incurred in a car accident with an uninsured driver or a driver who’s insurance is not sufficient to cover your costs.
• Rental car.
• Roadside assistance.

NOTE: If your car is being financed, most lenders will require you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage types as part of your finance agreement.

Car Insurance Monitoring

While car insurance is required in Utah, there are drivers who continue to drive uninsured.

Utah law enforcement continues to try to keep uninsured drivers off the road by:

• Requiring all drivers provide proof of insurance during traffic stops.
• Monitoring car insurance statuses electronically.

Electronic Monitoring

The Utah Division of Motor Vehicles works with Insure-Rite to electronically monitor the status of your car insurance.

Your insurance company is required to report the status of your car insurance to Insure-Rite. If your insurance is canceled or Insure-Rite’s records do not show that you hold an insurance policy, you will receive a letter in the mail from Insure-Rite.

Once you have been notified of your status by Insure-Rite, you can:

• Update them on the status of your car.
• Provide a copy of your insurance policy.

Proof of Insurance

If you are pulled over by a police officer for a traffic violation, you must provide proof of insurance.

Valid forms of proof of insurance include:

• Insurance card.
• Insurance binder.
• Insurance declaration.

Penalties for UT Insurance Violations

In Utah, driving without car insurance is a Class B misdemeanor, which can lead to the following penalties:

• Driver’s license suspension.
• Vehicle registration suspension.
• $400 minimum fine for your first offense.
• $1,000 minimum fine for subsequent offenses.

Driver’s License and Registration Reinstatement

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In addition to fines incurred from driving uninsured, you will also have to pay reinstatement fees for your suspended driver’s license and vehicle registration.

To reinstate your driver’s license, you must:

• Purchase car insurance.
• Provide proof of insurance to the DPS.
• Pay a $30 reinstatement fee.

To reinstate your car’s registration, you must:

• Provide evidence of vehicle ownership.
• Present a photo ID.
• Provide proof of insurance.
• Pay a $100 fee.

High-Risk Drivers

Utah car insurance companies have the right to deny you coverage if they feel you are a high-risk driver due to factors such as a poor driving record.

If you are unable to find a car insurance company willing to provide you coverage, you may apply for your auto insurance through the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plan (WAAIP).

Through WAAIP, insurance companies share the risk of insuring high-risk drivers. However, policies obtained through the program will typically come at a higher cost, so continue to shop around for options in the standard market.

You can apply to the plan through any UT car insurance agent.

Other Utah Car Insurance Issues

Because car insurance can be complex, the Utah Insurance Department offers services to assist consumers with issues that may arise.

The UID can assist you with insurance complaints and handling insurance fraud.

Complaint Assistance

If you have a complaint or issue that you cannot resolve with your car insurance carrier, you can contact the UID consumer services by calling:

• Within Salt Lake City:
  • (801) 538-3890.
• In-state (outside of Salt Lake City):
  • (800) 439-3805.

You can also file a complaint online by creating an account with the Utah Insurance Department.

Insurance Fraud

Car insurance companies lose a large amount of money due to insurance fraud. Those losses get translated to higher premium rates for you.

In order to fight insurance fraud, the Utah Insurance Department makes it easy for you to report any suspected fraud.

Common types of car insurance fraud involve:

• Staging car accidents.
• Falsifying damages and repairs to your vehicle.
• Falsifying or exaggerating the extent of accident-related injuries.

You can report suspected car insurance fraud in Utah by:

• Calling:
  • (801) 531-5380.
  • (877) 373-8315.
• Faxing a report to:
  • (801) 535-2878.
• Mailing a report to:
  
  230 S. 500 E. STE 170
  Salt Lake City, Utah 84102. 
• Filling out an online report at www.naic.org.

By being vigilant and reporting suspected fraud, you can help keep car insurance rates low.

Determining Your Insurance Premium

Utah car insurance companies use the following factors to determine your rates:

• Driving record.
• Credit score.
• Deductibles.
  • A deductible is your out-of-pocket expenses towards a claim.
  • The higher your deductible, the lower your rate will be.
• Your car’s:
  • Make.
  • Model.
  • Year.
  • Any applied discounts.

Insurance Discounts

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Discounts are a great way to obtain low-cost car insurance. When comparing car insurance quotes, consider what discounts may be available to you.

Most Utah auto insurance companies offer the following discounts:

• Good driver’s discount.
• Good student discount.
• Multi-car discount.
• Homeowner’s discount.

While discounts are a great way of getting low rates, one of the best ways to keep your Utah car insurance affordable is by maintaining a great driving record. Stay safe and obey traffic laws, and you’ll be well on your way to cheaper car insurance.

Most Stolen Cars in Utah

Owning a car that is a high target for theft could mean higher insurance rates.

The following is a list of Utah's most stolen cars in 2013, according to www.nicb.org:

1. Honda Accord.
2. Honda Civic.
3. Ford Pickup (Full Size).
4. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size).
5. Nissan Altima.
6. Subaru Legacy.
7. Acura Integra.
8. Toyota Camry.
9. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee.
10. Dodge Pickup (Full Size).