Utah car insurance requirements and laws

Minimum car insurance requirements

Utah raised its liability minimums for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 (Utah Code § 31A-22-304). The old limits were 25/65/15, or an $80,000 combined single limit. The new ones are 30/65/25, or a $90,000 combined single limit. Every policy must also include personal injury protection (PIP). Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are included unless you waive them in writing (§ 31A-22-302).

Utah's PIP pays at least $3,000 per person for medical, hospital, ambulance and rehabilitation costs. It also pays the lesser of $250 a week or 85% of lost income for up to 52 weeks, and up to $20 a day for household services you can't perform, for up to a year. Under § 31A-22-305, uninsured motorist coverage defaults to the lesser of your liability limits or the insurer's maximum. You can choose a lower amount or reject it on a signed form. If you buy it, it can't be lower than the state's bodily injury minimum.

What the minimums mean in practice: suppose you cause a crash in Salt Lake City and the other driver breaks an arm and runs up $40,000 in medical bills. Their own PIP pays the first $3,000. Because the injury includes a fracture, they can also sue you for the rest of their losses and for pain and suffering. Your bodily injury coverage pays up to $30,000 for that one person, which leaves you exposed for anything above that. A $25,000 property damage limit may not cover a newer car. The state car insurance requirements lookup and combined single limit vs split limits explain the options.

Fault system and what it means after a crash

Utah is a no-fault state. After a crash, each injured person's own PIP pays their medical bills and lost wages first, regardless of fault. Under § 31A-22-309, you can sue the at-fault driver for general damages such as pain and suffering only if the injury involves one of the following. Together these form Utah's tort threshold.

• Death
• Dismemberment
• Permanent disability or impairment based on objective findings
• Permanent disfigurement
• A bone fracture
• Medical expenses over $3,000

Vehicle damage claims are not limited and go against the at-fault driver's property damage liability. When fault is shared, Utah's comparative negligence statute (§ 78B-5-818) lets you recover only from defendants whose combined fault exceeds yours. At 50/50 you recover nothing. See no-fault vs at-fault states and comparative vs contributory negligence.

Optional coverage worth considering here

• Keep UM/UIM at your liability limits. Uninsured drivers are relatively rare in Utah, but underinsured drivers carrying the 30/65 minimum are common (underinsured motorist coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage explained).
• More PIP. $3,000 is used up quickly by one emergency room visit. Insurers sell higher PIP limits (Personal injury protection (PIP) explained).
• Collision and comprehensive for winter crashes in the canyons, hail and wildlife strikes.
• Higher liability limits if you own a home or have savings.

What drives rates in Utah

The NAIC's average expenditure in Utah was $1,169 in 2023, below the national $1,281.60, though rates have risen as the Wasatch Front grows. Mandatory PIP and the 2025 increase in minimum limits add cost to the cheapest policies. Congestion along Interstate 15, winter storms and canyon roads, and a young driver population all affect claims. On the other side, the Insurance Research Council estimated only 6.2% of Utah drivers were uninsured in 2023, one of the lowest rates in the country. Utah's Uninsured Motorist Identification Database lets officers confirm coverage electronically.

Penalties for driving uninsured

Under Utah Code § 41-12a-302, operating a vehicle without owner's or operator's security is a class C misdemeanor. The court must impose a fine of at least $400. Up to $300 can be waived if the owner shows insurance was bought after the violation, before sentencing. A second offense within three years brings a minimum fine of $1,000. You can show proof on paper or on a phone, and records in the state's insurance database showing you are insured also count as proof. See penalties for driving without insurance and state insurance verification systems.

SR-22 and high-risk drivers

Drivers whose licenses are suspended or revoked, for example after a DUI or an uninsured crash, may need to file proof of future financial responsibility with the Driver License Division, usually as an SR-22. Ask the division how long your filing must last. Then compare standard and nonstandard auto insurance carriers (SR-22 insurance explained, Car insurance after a DUI).

Insurers with a strong presence in Utah

Bear River Mutual, based in Murray, is a Utah mutual known for selective underwriting. Farm Bureau Financial Services serves Utah Farm Bureau members (Farm Bureau insurance: membership, eligibility and how it works). National carriers State Farm, Progressive, Allstate, GEICO and Farmers Insurance write large shares of the market. USAA serves military families, including those at Hill Air Force Base.

Where to get help

The Utah Insurance Department in-state toll-free line is 800-439-3805. The main line is 801-957-9200, and the property and casualty consumer service line is 801-957-9305. The department is at 4315 S. 2700 W., Suite 2300, Taylorsville, UT 84129, and online at insurance.utah.gov. Staff can explain PIP and claim rules and take complaints (how to file a complaint against a car insurance company). License and registration actions are handled by the Driver License Division and the DMV. Utah allows four years to sue for injuries and for vehicle damage from a crash (§ 78B-2-307; see statutes of limitations for car accident claims). Ask a licensed attorney about your claim.