Minimum car insurance in Utah
Utah requires two forms of auto insurance: Liability insurance and personal injury protection (known as PIP). There are also other insurance types that could be valuable if you're in an accident. Let's look at what's available in Utah so you can make a good insurance decision.
Minimum liability insurance in Utah:
Car owners in Utah must buy liability insurance. It pays for damage you cause others, including injuries. Some people buy only the amounts required to legally drive, shown below. But you can be sued if your insurance isn't enough to cover the accident bills. That's why it's smart to consider higher limits, especially if you have assets such as savings that would be at risk in a lawsuit. In Utah you must have:
- $25,000 bodily injury per person
- $65,000 bodily injury per accident
- $15,000 property damage per accident
- Or a combined single liability limit of $80,000
This is often written as 25/65/10.
Minimum PIP in Utah:
Utah has a no-fault insurance system. No-fault means you make small injury claims on your own policy, no matter who was at fault. Personal injury protection (PIP) pays these claims and is required in Utah.
- Utah drivers must have at least $3,000 in PIP insurance. That means PIP will pay up to $3,000 per person for small injuries. This can include bills for an ambulance, hospital, X-rays, surgery and dentists.
- PIP can also cover a certain amount for lost wages if you can't work and services for tasks you can't do, such as house cleaning.
- PIP can also cover funeral expenses and a benefit to survivors.
Other auto insurance in Utah
Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage:
Utah does not require UM or UIM, but insurance companies have to offer them. UM and UIM cover you if you're hit by a driver with no auto insurance or not enough to cover the accident bills of others that they're responsible for. If you do buy them, minimums can be a little tricky to understand in Utah. Let's work through the choices:
- If you buy UM coverage in Utah you must have limits of at least $25,000 per person/$65,000 per accident (25/60) for injuries.
- If you buy UIM you must have limits of at least $10,000 per person/$20,000 per accident (10/20) for injuries.
- There's also a form of uninsured motorist coverage called uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD). This pays for damage -- like your dented fender -- rather than injuries. Utah says it's mandatory if you do not have collision coverage.
- The minimum UMPD coverage is $3,500 or the value of the vehicle, whichever is less. So if your vehicle is valued at $5,000, you need at least $3,500 in UMPD in Utah if you don't have collision coverage.
Collision coverage: For damage to your car caused by hitting another vehicle or an object, like a tree. If you have a car loan or lease you are probably required to have collision coverage by the lender or leasing company.
Comprehensive coverage: For theft of your car or damage caused by hitting an animal, hail, flood, fire, vandalism, falling objects and explosions. If you have a car loan or lease you are probably required to have comprehensive coverage by the lender or leasing company.
Rental reimbursement: For a rental car if your vehicle is being repaired after a car accident. This is not the same as "rental car insurance," which covers a car you rent for vacation, for example.
You must show an insurance ID card (or other proof of financial responsibility) in Utah when:
- Law enforcement requests it.
Penalties for not having Utah auto insurance
- First offense: fine of not less than $400.
- Subsequent offense within three years: fine of not less than $1,000 and a driver's license suspension until you file proof of financial responsibility.
- If your vehicle appears on the Uninsured Motor Vehicle Database, your registration can be revoked until proof of financial responsibility is filed.
Source: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America
Consumer complaints against auto insurance companies
The Utah department of insurance handles complaints against insurance companies that operate in the state. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners uses data from states to create a national "complaint ratio." This number is meant to show complaints relative to an insurer's size of business. Here are complaint ratios for the biggest auto insurance companies in Utah.
Updated Aug. 15, 2018
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