What car insurance costs in Utah

Utah's bill against the national average

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) gathers what insurers collected in each state. For 2023, the latest year it has published by state, the average Utah expenditure was $1,169 per insured car, 14% more than the $1,024 of 2022. That number averages liability-only cars with fully covered ones; a car carrying liability, collision and comprehensive had a combined premium of $1,285.

The split is unusual. Liability, at $746, is about level with the U.S. figure. The coverages that repair your own car are well below it: collision is about 19% lower and comprehensive about a third lower. So the state's discount against the national average comes from physical damage, not from the liability side of the bill. Your own premium still depends on your car, record and ZIP code; see how location sets a price.

What every Utah policy must include

For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, Utah's minimum liability limits are $30,000 for one injured person, $65,000 for two or more and $25,000 for property damage, or a $90,000 single limit. Before 2025 the floor was 25/65/15.

• Personal injury protection (PIP) is required. It must pay at least $3,000 per person in medical expenses, plus limited lost-income, funeral and survivor benefits.
• Utah limits injury lawsuits. You can sue the at-fault driver for general damages, such as pain and suffering, only after a death, dismemberment, a bone fracture, permanent disability or disfigurement, or more than $3,000 in medical expenses.
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are included by default at your liability limits. You can reject them or buy less, but only by signing the insurer's acknowledgment form or rejecting in writing.

At an estimated 6.2% in 2023, Utah had one of the lowest shares of uninsured drivers in the country, according to the Insurance Research Council. That doesn't make underinsured motorist coverage pointless: many insured drivers carry only the minimum. Our page on limits and deductibles helps you size it.

How Utah regulates rates and credit

Utah uses a use-and-file system: insurers must file rates and changes with the Insurance Department within 30 days after they take effect, rather than waiting for approval first.

Credit is tightly limited. Under Utah Code § 31A-22-320, an insurer writing auto coverage may not use credit information to decide renewal, nonrenewal, termination, eligibility or rating. It may use credit only in initial underwriting alongside other risk factors, or to give you a lower rate or a discount. More on credit-based insurance scores.

If you can't find a Utah insurer

Drivers turned down in the regular market can be placed through Utah's automobile insurance plan, one of the state plans run through AIPSO. An agent handles the application, and prices are usually higher, so plan to move back to a standard insurer as your record improves. The guide to assigned risk plans covers the details.

Ways to lower a Utah premium

1. 1 Start with the state's comparison tables. The Utah Insurance Department's annual tables list sample six-month premiums from the top 20 auto insurers in several ZIP codes, plus each company's complaint ratio. They use a standard profile, so treat them as a baseline before you get your own quotes.
2. 2 Ask about the discounts the department lists: multiple vehicles, driver education, good student, safety and anti-theft devices, low mileage, good driver, and auto-and-home packages. Each company sets its own amounts.
3. 3 Ask about a credit-based discount. In Utah, credit may earn you a lower rate but may not otherwise be used to rate your policy, so ask each company whether it offers such a reduction.
4. 4 Complain if something is wrong. The department's online complaint portal is the fastest route; call 801-957-9200 or 1-800-439-3805 in Utah, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Questions drivers ask