Utah is a no-fault auto state. Every owner's policy must include PIP, and lawsuits for general damages are limited by a tort threshold. These rules sit on top of the standard Personal Auto Policy covered in the national guide. The sources are Utah Code 31A-22-302 to 31A-22-320 (auto insurance) and 41-12a (owner's security).

Owner's security and minimum limits

• Every resident owner must keep owner's security whenever the vehicle is driven on a highway or quasi-public road or parking area (41-12a-301).

  • A nonresident who is in Utah more than 90 days in a year needs Utah security.

• Required parts of the policy (31A-22-302):

  • liability
  • PIP
  • UM and UIM, unless affirmatively waived

  PIP isn't required on motorcycles, off-highway vehicles or trailers.

• Minimum liability limits (31A-22-304):

• Example: three people are hurt, with $20,000, $25,000 and $40,000 in damages. The policy pays $20,000 + $25,000 + $30,000 = $75,000 under the per-person caps. The $65,000 per-accident limit then caps the total at $65,000.
• Proof (41-12a-302): an insurer card, policy, binder or declarations page, which may be shown on a phone. The card may not show the owner's address (31A-22-302).
• Driving uninsured (41-12a-302): a class C misdemeanor.
  • The fine is at least $400.
  • It's at least $1,000 for a repeat within 3 years.
• Proof of future security: the insurer's certificate is filed in the form of an SR-22 (41-12a-402). It's kept for 3 years (41-12a-411).
• Insurers report in-force policies to the state database twice a month (31A-22-315).
• The assigned risk plan places drivers who can't get coverage. All insurers writing the required coverage participate (31A-22-310).

PIP (31A-22-307 to 31A-22-309)

Benefits

Rules

• No deductibles on required PIP.
• The named insured and spouse may waive only the lost-income benefit, by stating in writing that neither has earned income.
• Who is covered: the named insured, anywhere in the U.S., its territories or Canada. Also pedestrians hurt in Utah by the insured vehicle.
• Exclusions are limited to:
  • injury while committing a felony
  • intentional self-injury
  • use as a residence
  • war and nuclear hazards
• PIP is reduced by workers compensation benefits.
• The policy on the vehicle in use is primary.
• Overdue after 30 days. Overdue benefits earn 1.5% per month plus attorney fees.
• Disputes over reimbursement between insurers go to mandatory binding arbitration.
• A PIP lawsuit must be brought within 4 years.

Tort threshold (31A-22-309)

• You may sue for general damages only for:
  • death
  • dismemberment
  • permanent disability or impairment
  • permanent disfigurement
  • a bone fracture
  • medical expenses over $3,000
• The threshold doesn't apply to UM claims.

UM and UIM (31A-22-305, 31A-22-305.3)

Uninsured motorist

• UM limits equal the liability limits. The named insured can reject UM or buy less only by signing an acknowledgment form.
  • A rejection lasts until the insured asks for UM in writing.
  • UM can't be sold below the minimum BI limits.
• Uninsured vehicles include:
  • a hit-and-run vehicle
  • a vehicle whose insurer disputes coverage over 60 days
  • a vehicle whose insurer is insolvent, to the extent the guaranty fund doesn't pay
• The claimant may choose binding arbitration or litigation.

Underinsured motorist

• UIM applies when the at-fault driver's limits are too low.
• UIM stacks on top of the at-fault driver's liability. It isn't reduced by it.
• Vehicles owned by the named insured, the spouse or a dependent aren't underinsured vehicles.

Named driver exclusion (31A-22-302.5)

• Requires written consent from a named insured and the excluded driver.
• The excluded person needs their own owner's security, unless their license is suspended or revoked.
• The exclusion doesn't apply when that person is a passenger or pedestrian.
• If the excluded driver is 50% or more at fault, they and the named insureds lose UM, UIM, PIP and medical benefits.

Required coverage features (31A-22-303)

• Permissive users are covered, within the U.S. and Canada.
• Resident relatives are covered to the same extent as the named insured.
• A driver struck by a sudden, unforeseeable medical emergency is covered.

Rating and claims

• Credit information may be used only for initial underwriting, along with other factors, or to give a discount. It can't be used for renewal or nonrenewal (31A-22-320).
• Total loss: may be valued by the cost of at least two comparable cars sold locally within 90 days (R590-190-11).
• The insurer pays rental or transportation costs while the car is being repaired.
• The deductible is reimbursed first from any subrogation recovery.
• An insurer may not:
  • refuse to settle just because police did or didn't issue a citation
  • refuse to disclose policy limits to a claimant
  • push a third party onto their own policy to avoid paying a clear claim

Negligence rule (78B-5-818)

• A claimant recovers only from defendants whose combined fault exceeds the claimant's own. At 50/50, there's no recovery.
• Each defendant pays only its own share of fault.

Cancellation and nonrenewal

The general rules in 31A-21-303 apply. See the Utah Property and Casualty Basics guide. For auto:

• License suspension or revocation of the named insured or a customary driver is a ground to cancel.
• An insurer can't nonrenew solely for one not-at-fault claim in 36 months by a driver 21 or older.
• It can't nonrenew for one speeding ticket of 10 mph or less.
• Lienholders get notice of cancellation for nonpayment and of nonrenewal.

Common exam traps

• Limits are 30/65/25, or $90,000 single limit, for policies from 1/1/2025. Earlier policies were 25/65/15.
• PIP is at least $3,000 in medical, with no deductible.
• Tort threshold: $3,000 in medical or a listed serious injury, such as a fracture.
• UM/UIM equal the liability limits unless rejected in writing. UIM stacks on the at-fault limits.
• Driving uninsured: $400 minimum fine. Repeat: $1,000.