- Utah law mandates that all drivers carry at least bodily injury and property damage insurance, otherwise known as liability insurance, on any vehicle they operate. Utah law also requires motorists to carry some type of personal injury protection on their vehicles. Drivers are required to carry proof of insurance in the vehicle at all times. You are required to provide that proof at the scene of an accident or anytime you are stopped by an officer for a traffic violation.
- Failure to carry insurance on your vehicle, or failure to provide proof of insurance at the scene of an accident or when requested by law enforcement is a crime in the state of Utah. Both offenses are class B misdemeanors, punishable by at least a $400 fine. Being convicted of driving without insurance for a second time in a three-year period ups the penalty to a $1,000 fine. As the offenses are misdemeanors, offenders may find themselves facing jail time as well. A class B misdemeanor carries the potential punishment of up to six months in jail in Utah, though violators will more likely be sentenced to five or 10 days.
- If you are convicted of driving with no insurance, or you are convicted of other high risk driving offenses, like DUI or reckless driving, you will be required to prove proof of insurance to the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This is done with a form know as the SR-22 form. You will be required to repeatedly submit this form to the DMV in order to continue driving. Failure to provide proof of insurance through an SR-22 form will result in the suspension of your driver's license and the revocation of your vehicle's registration. You will have to provide the SR-22 and pay reinstatement fees before you will be allowed to drive again. If your insurance lapses or you cancel your policy, your insurance provider is required to notify the DMV and your license will once again be suspended.
- Utah, like most states, requires that drivers who must submit the SR-22 form do so for three years. Once the three-year period is up, you will no longer have to provide proof of insurance to the DMV to maintain your driving privilege, however you will still be required to carry insurance on any vehicle you operate.
- Drivers required to have SR-22 proof of insurance typically face much higher insurance fees than driver's who don't need it. Several insurance companies in Utah will not even insure a driver who is required to carry SR-22 insurance, as you are deemed a high risk driver. In any case, expect to pay significantly more for your insurance if you are required to provide an SR-22.
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