Car insurance allows drivers to take on the road with peace of mind, knowing that if an accident were to happen, it doesn’t have to be a detrimental financial hit. Most states have specific minimum requirements for car insurance and every state is different.
The state of Utah is one of the many states that mandates certain types of insurance in order to be a legal driver. So whether you are moving to the Beehive State sometime in the near future, or you are just looking to switch up your car insurance company, here are the basics about car insurance in Utah.
What Are The Car Insurance Laws In Utah?
Just like in many other states, Utah has its own set of standards for car insurance. You are required to have car insurance on your vehicle if you are:
- A resident of Utah.
- Not a resident of Utah, but you have been living in the state for at least 90 days.
There are two types of insurance that all Utah drivers are required to have in order to abide by the state’s laws:
- No-fault insurance: The state of Utah is a no-fault state, in an effort to minimize the amount of lawsuits and claims between fellow drivers. This means that every driver must have no-fault car insurance or personal injury protection (PIP) on their insurance policy. All drivers in Utah must have a minimum of $3,000 in PIP coverage to cover yours or your family members medical costs, no matter who was at fault for the car accident. If you have used all of your PIP coverage and still need more, you may then file a claim against the driver who caused the accident.
- Liability insurance: This type of insurance is required to cover the costs of damages and injuries that you may have caused to another driver and/or their vehicle in an accident that you were at-fault for. The state of Utah requires you to have the following minimums on your auto insurance policy:
- Bodily injury liability insurance: $25,000 per person, per accident.
- Total bodily injury liability insurance: $80,000 per accident if multiple people were injured.
- Property damage liability insurance: $15,000 per accident or $80,000 for both bodily injury and property damage.
When an accident happens in Utah, your PIP coverage will be the first thing to kick in. If you are still in need of coverage after your PIP coverage takes effect, you may then file a claim against the other driver’s liability insurance.
What Are My Other Options For Car Insurance In Utah?
Some drivers in Utah might choose to get by with the bare minimum requirements for car insurance, but that doesn’t mean you have to. If you would like extra insurance coverage in order to feel safe, you have many different options to explore. Here are some of the most common types of insurance add-ons in Utah:
- Collision insurance: This type of insurance will help you cover the costs of any accident-related damages to your vehicle.
- Comprehensive insurance: This will help you pay for the costs of damages caused by any non-accident-related event such as bad weather, theft or vandalism.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance: If you are ever involved in an accident with another driver who is at-fault, but not sufficiently insured, this type of insurance will make sure that you are not left on your own to cover the costs of the damages.
- Rental car reimbursement insurance: If your car ends up in the shop getting repaired for an extended period of time, this type of insurance will assist you in getting a rental car for the time being.
- Roadside assistance: This type of coverage is there to help you out if your car ever breaks down on the side of the road and you are in need of quick, emergency assistance.
Keep in mind that while the above insurance coverages are considered optional, you will most likely be required to carry comprehensive and collision coverages if you are leasing or financing your car.
How Can I Get Car Insurance If I Have A Poor Driving Record?
Shopping for car insurance is hard enough as it is, but it can be even more difficult if you have a bad driving record. Drivers who have gotten in a lot of car accidents or have a lot of traffic violations on their record are viewed as being high-risk by most car insurance companies. This can make it hard to find coverage the traditional way.
If you haven’t had any luck, the state of Utah has a program called the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plans (WAAIP). Through this program, drivers with a poor driving record can apply and be assigned to an insurance company. You may apply for WAAIP through the insurance company of your choice or through any licensed insurance agent in the state.
While this program is there to assist those who need it, it tends to be more expensive than going the traditional route, so use this option as a last resort.
What Are The Penalties For Insurance Violations In Utah?
The state of Utah requires you to be able to prove that you have insurance if you are ever stopped by law enforcement or involved in an accident. In an effort to crack down on car insurance laws, the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles has joined forces with Insure-Rite to electronically monitor the status of your car insurance.
All car insurance companies in Utah must report their policyholders’ insurance status to Insure-Rite to keep tabs on who is insured and who is not. If Insure-Rite’s records show that you are not properly insured, you will receive a notice in the mail. If this happens, you must either update them on your situation or provide them with a copy of your insurance policy.
Driving without car insurance in Utah is a Class B misdemeanor and can lead to the following consequences:
- Your license being suspended.
- Your vehicle registration being suspended.
- A fine of at least $400 for your first offense.
- A fine of at least $1,000 for your next offense.
In Utah, being caught driving without insurance is a serious offense that should not be taken lightly. Do the right thing and make sure that you are insured properly so that you can avoid being penalized.