Utah Auto Insurance Laws
Auto Insurance Laws and Trends in UT
The state of Utah has implemented many strict laws that are related to auto insurance and traffic safety. Some of these laws include:
- Children under the age of five must be properly secured in an approved child safety seat.
- Children and adults over the age of 15 must be properly secured by a seat belt.
- There are currently no laws in place regarding the use of handheld cell phones while driving (except for teenagers)
- Anyone driving a motorcycle must wear an approved and properly fitted helmet.
Traffic laws and penalties in Utah
Perhaps the strictest traffic laws that Utah has in place are the laws relating to motorists who drive while impaired. Even the first offense carries hefty fines.
1st Offense |
Random alcohol screening $4,000 |
Mandatory alcohol counseling $2,000 |
Driving privilege re-instatement fees of $250 |
Vehicle storage and impound fees of $300 |
Monetary fines of $2,500 plus |
In addition to the monetary fines, drivers risk losing their driving privileges for 90 days to a year and face a minimum of 2 days in jail. A DUI will stay on a driving record for 10 years. Repeat offenses will result in larger fines and longer jail time. Of course, if any injuries or fatalities occur, the driver will face even harsher penalties.
Average cost of auto insurance in Utah
Utah's average cost for an insurance policy is fairly close to the national average. It has been increasing steadily over the past few years, largely due to increased cell phone use and other driver distractions. These distractions are a leading cause of accidents on the road, especially among teenagers. In Utah, a teenager is involved in a fatal vehicle collision every 35 minutes. This represents three times more fatalities than any other age group in the state. Because of this fact Utah as implemented several rules to help keep teens safe behind the wheel.
Teenagers are not allowed to use cell phones while driving unless they use a hands free device. There is also a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drinking and driving.