In Utah, car insurance laws are designed to protect both drivers and passengers, ensuring that all necessary coverage is in place. Below are some of the most important Utah car insurance statutes you should be aware of:
Quick guide: what each coverage does
| Coverage | What it generally helps with | Utah law |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Injuries or property damage you cause to others, up to your policy limits | § 31A-22-303, § 31A-22-304 |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Certain medical costs, lost income, and household services after a covered crash, regardless of fault | §§ 31A-22-306–309 |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Certain injury claims involving an uninsured driver, subject to the policy and statute | § 31A-22-305 |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Certain injury claims when the at-fault driver's coverage is insufficient, subject to the policy and statute | § 31A-22-305.3 |
| Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) | Limited damage to your insured vehicle caused by an uninsured vehicle when statutory conditions are met | § 31A-22-305.5 |
These are different parts of an auto policy, and one coverage does not automatically replace another. Check your declarations page and policy wording for your own limits, exclusions, and deductibles. This guide is general information, not a coverage determination.
Check liability limits on your policy
Utah's minimum liability limits changed for policies issued or renewed beginning January 1, 2025. Use this quick check to compare the split limits on a declarations page with the usual statutory minimums for the policy period. Certain self-insured private rental fleets have a different minimum.
Utah auto insurance statutes, explained
1. Utah Code § 31A-22-302: Required policy components
Utah policies generally must include motor vehicle liability coverage, PIP, UM, and UIM coverage. UM and UIM may be declined through written waivers. PIP is generally required for consumer auto policies; the statute has exceptions for motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, and trailers, though coverage may be offered for them.
The specific benefits and limits are addressed in the statutes below. Read the declarations page and any signed waiver to see what applies to your policy.
2. Utah Code § 31A-22-302.5: Named driver exclusions
A policy may exclude a named person from coverage when the statutory requirements are met. If a household member is listed as an excluded driver, do not assume the policy will cover them while driving the insured vehicle. Review the written exclusion with your insurer.
3. Utah Code § 31A-22-303: Motor vehicle liability coverage
This section covers the liability insurance a vehicle owner or operator must maintain. It also addresses circumstances that can affect coverage, including an insured driver's intoxication and an unforeseeable medical condition that causes a crash. Utah law also provides a process for certain injury claims between covered family members.
4. Utah Code § 31A-22-304: Liability policy minimum limits
Liability limits are often shown as three numbers: bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident, and property damage per accident. The first two numbers are separate caps: an injured person's available limit cannot exceed the per-person amount, and the total for all injured people cannot exceed the per-accident amount.
| Policy issued or renewed | Bodily injury per person | Bodily injury per accident | Property damage per accident | Combined single limit option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On or before December 31, 2024 | $25,000 | $65,000 | $15,000 | $80,000 |
| On or after January 1, 2025 | $30,000 | $65,000 | $25,000 | $90,000 |
The law sets minimum policy limits; it does not guarantee that available insurance will cover all losses. The newer amounts generally apply when a policy is issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025. See Utah Code § 31A-22-304 for the statutory language and rental-fleet exception.
5. Utah Code § 31A-22-305: Uninsured motorist coverage
UM coverage can apply to certain bodily injury claims when the responsible driver has no applicable liability insurance. The statute also addresses hit-and-run situations, who qualifies as a covered person, and procedures for resolving claims. A hit-and-run claim may have specific proof and notice requirements, so report the crash promptly and preserve available evidence.
The statute includes an undisputed-tender process in qualifying UM claims. Whether and how it applies depends on the claim, the insurer's position, and the policy.
6. Utah Code § 31A-22-305.3: Underinsured motorist coverage
UIM coverage may apply when an at-fault driver's liability coverage is not enough to compensate a covered person's damages. Eligibility, available limits, required steps, offsets, and timing depend on the statute and policy. In some situations, the liability insurer's limits must be tendered and accepted before pursuing UIM benefits.
Utah law also provides an undisputed-tender process for certain UIM claims. Review the statute and the policy before accepting a payment or signing a release.
7. Utah Code § 31A-22-305.5: Uninsured motorist property damage
UMPD is a separate, limited option for damage to the vehicle described in the policy when an uninsured vehicle is involved. The statute sets conditions, a coverage cap, and a deductible; it generally requires physical contact, identification of the uninsured vehicle or its owner/operator, and a prompt report. It is not the same as UM bodily injury coverage, collision coverage, or general coverage for any hit-and-run damage. See § 31A-22-305.5 for the details.
8. Utah Code §§ 31A-22-306 through 309: Personal injury protection (PIP)
PIP is first-party coverage that can pay certain covered expenses after a crash, without waiting for fault to be decided. Utah's statutory minimum benefits include:
- Up to $3,000 per person for reasonable and necessary medical expenses.
- Up to $250 per week or 85% of lost gross income or earning capacity, whichever is less, for up to 52 consecutive weeks.
- Up to $20 per day for qualifying household services, for up to 365 days.
- Certain funeral expenses and death benefits, subject to statutory limits.
For wage-loss and household-service benefits, the statute generally allows a three-day waiting period. That wait does not apply if the disability or inability to perform the household services continues for more than two consecutive weeks. The exact benefit depends on the facts and policy.
Utah's PIP threshold limits when an injured person who has or is required to have PIP may pursue general (non-economic) damages. The threshold can be met by death, dismemberment, permanent disability or impairment supported by objective findings, permanent disfigurement, a bone fracture, or medical expenses in excess of $3,000. The threshold does not apply to a person making a UM claim. See § 31A-22-307 for benefits and § 31A-22-309 for the threshold and conditions.
9. Utah Code § 31A-22-312: Rental-car collision damage
This provision addresses liability for collision damage to a rented vehicle and certain circumstances that can affect it, including willful misconduct, intoxication, or other illegal activity. Rental agreements and any coverage or waiver you purchased also matter. Ask the rental company and your insurer which policy applies before assuming a particular loss is covered.
10. Utah Code § 31A-22-314: Rental-car liability coverage
Rental companies must provide the liability coverage required by Utah law when the renter does not have applicable coverage, subject to the statute. This is about liability coverage for others; it does not necessarily pay to repair the rental car itself.
11. Utah Code § 31A-22-321: Arbitration in third-party motor vehicle claims
Utah law provides an arbitration procedure for some third-party motor vehicle claims. The statute addresses the arbitration panel, limits on an award, and the option to request a trial de novo in district court. A trial de novo is a new court proceeding, not simply an appeal of the arbitrator's decision. The statute sets out the conditions and deadlines, including a new discovery period; see § 31A-22-321 before relying on the procedure.
Questions about Utah auto insurance statutes
Does Utah require uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?
Utah policies generally include both UM and UIM coverage, but the named insured may reject them in a written waiver. Check your policy declarations and any waiver to confirm what you selected.
Do the 2025 liability minimums apply to every policy on January 1, 2025?
The statute generally applies the increased limits to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025. The effective date is tied to the policy issue or renewal, not simply the date a crash occurs. There is a separate rule for certain self-insured private rental fleets.
Does PIP mean I cannot bring a claim against the other driver?
No. PIP pays specified first-party benefits. The PIP threshold concerns when general damages may be pursued by a person who has or is required to have PIP. Liability, fault, damages, and available coverage are separate questions.
Does minimum insurance guarantee that my losses will be paid in full?
No. A policy limit is a cap on the insurer's payment under that coverage, and minimum limits can be much lower than a person's total losses. Coverage also depends on the policy, facts, and applicable law.
Contact Jake Gunter for Your Utah Car Accident Case
If you are involved in a car accident or need help navigating your Utah car insurance, call or text Utah Car Accident Attorney Jake Gunter at (801) 373-6345 for a free consultation.
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