Driving Without Insurance
Utah Code 41-12a-302 — a fine of at least $400, and at least $1,000 the second time inside three years
Every resident owner of a motor vehicle keeps owner's or operator's security in effect at any time the vehicle is operated on a highway, or on a quasi public road or parking area, within Utah.
Who handles this in Utah: Utah Insurance Department; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Utah directory.
- A nonresident owner whose vehicle has been in Utah 90 or fewer days in the preceding 365 keeps the security the owner's home state requires; after more than 90 days, the owner keeps Utah's.
- Security is not required for an electric assisted bicycle, a motor assisted scooter, or an electric personal assistive mobility device.
An owner commits operating without security by driving the vehicle on a Utah highway, or letting it be driven there, without security in effect, and so does a driver who knows the owner has none. It is a class C misdemeanor.
| Conviction | What the court orders |
|---|---|
| ConvictionA first conviction | What the court ordersA fine of not less than $400, of which up to $300 may be waived for an owner who shows before sentencing that security was obtained after the violation |
| ConvictionA second or later conviction within three years of an earlier one | What the court ordersA fine of not less than $1,000 |
It is an affirmative defense to a charge of not displaying evidence of security that the driver had security in effect for the vehicle at the time of the citation or arrest. A written statement from an insurance producer or company verifying the coverage on that date is one of the forms of proof the section lists.
Sources for this section (2)
- Utah Code 41-12a-301 — Definitions -- Requirement of owner's or operator's security -- Exceptions
- Utah Code 41-12a-302 — Operating motor vehicle without owner's or operator's security -- Penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Utah attorney.