Moving to Utah: plates, insurance, deadlines

A human driver may not drive a motor vehicle or an autocycle on a highway in this state unless the human driver is: (a) granted the privilege to operate a motor vehicle by being licensed as a driver by the division under this chapter; (b) driving an official United States Government class D motor vehicle with a valid United States Government driver permit or license for that type of vehicle; (c) driving a road roller, road machinery, or farm tractor or implement of husbandry temporarily drawn, moved, or propelled on the highways, in conjunction with a construction or agricultural activity; (d) a nonresident who is at least 16 years old and younger than 18 years old, or (e) a nonresident who is at least 18 years old, who has in the nonresident's immediate possession a valid license certificate issued to the nonresident in the nonresident's home state or country, driving in the class or classes identified on the home state license certificate, except those persons referred to in Part 6, Drivers' License Compact, of this chapter; (f) driving under a learner permit in accordance with Section 53-3-210.5; (g) driving with a temporary license certificate issued in accordance with Section 53-3-207; or (h) exempt under Title 41, Chapter 22, Off-highway Vehicles.

Utah Code 53-3-202(1)(b)-(c), effective 5/6/2026

(b) driving an official United States Government class D motor vehicle with a valid United States Government driver permit or license for that type of vehicle; (c) (i) driving a road roller, road machinery, or farm tractor or implement of husbandry temporarily drawn, moved, or propelled on the highways; and (ii) driving the vehicle described in Subsection (1)(c)(i) in conjunction with a construction or agricultural activity;

Utah Code 53-3-202(1)(d), effective 5/6/2026

(d) a nonresident who is at least 16 years old and younger than 18 years old who has in the nonresident's immediate possession a valid license certificate issued to the nonresident in the nonresident's home state or country and is driving in the class or classes identified on the home state license certificate, except those persons referred to in Part 6, Drivers' License Compact , of this chapter;

Utah Code 53-3-202(1)(f)-(h), effective 5/6/2026

(f) driving under a learner permit in accordance with Section 53-3-210.5 ; (g) driving with a temporary license certificate issued in accordance with Section 53-3-207 ; or (h) exempt under Title 41, Chapter 22, Off-highway Vehicles .

Utah Code 53-3-202(1)(e), effective 5/6/2026

a nonresident who is at least 18 years old and who has in the nonresident's immediate possession a valid license certificate issued to the nonresident in the nonresident's home state or country if driving in the class or classes identified on the home state license certificate, except those persons referred to in Part 6, Drivers' License Compact , of this chapter

Utah Code 53-3-102(44)(b)(i)-(ii), effective 1/1/2026

"Resident" does not include any of the following: (i) a member of the military, temporarily stationed in this state; (ii) an out-of-state student, as classified by an institution of higher education, regardless of whether the student engages in any type of employment in this state;

Utah Code 53-3-102(44)(b)(iii)-(iv), effective 1/1/2026

(iii) a person domiciled in another state or country, who is temporarily assigned in this state, assigned by or representing an employer, religious or private organization, or a governmental entity; or (iv) an immediate family member who resides with or a household member of a person listed in Subsections (44)(b)(i) through (iii)

A person who has been a resident of this state for 30 consecutive days may not drive a commercial motor vehicle under the authority of a commercial driver license issued by another jurisdiction. When applying to transfer a CDL from one State of domicile to a new State of domicile, an applicant must apply for a CDL from the new State of domicile within no more than 30 days after establishing his/her new domicile.

Unless otherwise exempted under Subsection (2), registration under this chapter is required within 60 days of the owner establishing residency in this state. The application for a certificate of title shall include the signature of a person to be recorded on the certificate as owner. Except as provided in Subsections (1)(c), (d), and (e), the division upon registering a vehicle shall issue to the owner one license plate for a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer, one registration decal for a park model recreational vehicle or a camper in lieu of a license plate, and one license plate for every other vehicle.

Unless otherwise exempted under Subsection (2), registration under this chapter is required for the vehicle within 60 days of the owner establishing residency in this state.

Except as provided in Subsection (5), every resident owner of a motor vehicle shall maintain owner's or operator's security in effect at any time that the motor vehicle is operated on a highway or on a quasi-public road or parking area within the state. Subject to Subsection (3), a policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, containing motor vehicle liability coverage may not limit the insurer's liability under that coverage below $30,000 because of liability for bodily injury to or death of one person, $65,000, subject to the limit for one person, because of liability for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons, and $25,000 because of liability for injury to, or destruction of, property of others, in any one accident, or $90,000 in any one accident. Owner's or operator's security is not required for off-highway vehicles registered under Section 41-22-3 when operated on a highway designated as open for off-highway vehicle use or in the manner prescribed by Subsections 41-22-10.3(1) through (3), off-highway implements of husbandry operated in the manner prescribed by Subsections 41-22-5.5(3) through (5), electric assisted bicycles, motor assisted scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, or an LEA, for a school bus that the LEA authorizes a state entity or political subdivision of the state to use.

Every resident owner of a motor vehicle shall maintain owner's or operator's security in effect at any time that the motor vehicle is operated on a highway or on a quasi-public road or parking area within the state.

Utah Code 41-12a-301(5)(a)-(b), effective 5/6/2026

Owner's or operator's security is not required for any of the following: (a) off-highway vehicles registered under Section 41-22-3 when operated either: (i) on a highway designated as open for off-highway vehicle use; or (ii) in the manner prescribed by Subsections 41-22-10.3(1) through (3) ; (b) off-highway implements of husbandry operated in the manner prescribed by Subsections 41-22-5.5(3) through (5) ;

Utah Code 41-12a-301(5)(c)-(f), effective 5/6/2026

(c) electric assisted bicycles ... (d) motor assisted scooters ... (e) electric personal assistive mobility devices ... or (f) an LEA, for a school bus that the LEA authorizes a state entity or political subdivision of the state to use.

An application for first registration in this state of any vehicle may not be accepted by the division unless the identification number of that vehicle has been inspected by a qualified identification number inspector

Utah Code 41-1a-204(2), effective 1/1/2015

A park model recreational vehicle is exempt from this section.

A tax is imposed on the state taxable income of a resident individual. An individual who is domiciled in this state for any period of time during the taxable year is a resident individual, but only for the duration of the period during which the individual is domiciled in this state.

A tax is imposed on the state taxable income of a resident individual, for the duration of the period during which the individual is domiciled in this state.

Subject to Subsections (4) through (6) and Section 59-2-103.5, part-year residential property located within the state is allowed the residential exemption if the part-year residential property is used as residential property for 183 or more consecutive calendar days during the calendar year for which the owner seeks to obtain the residential exemption. Before a county may apply a residential exemption to the value of part-year residential property, an owner of the property shall, subject to Subsection (6), file the application described in Subsection (2)(a) with the county board of equalization and include as part of the application a statement that certifies the date the part-year residential property became residential property, that the part-year residential property will be used as residential property for 183 or more consecutive calendar days during the calendar year, and that the owner, or a member of the owner's household, may not claim a residential exemption for any property for the calendar year other than the part-year residential property, or as allowed under Section 59-2-103 with respect to the primary residence or household furnishings, furniture, and equipment of the owner's tenant; if an owner files the application on or after May 1 of the calendar year, the county board of equalization may require an application fee not to exceed $50. No more than one acre of land per residential unit may qualify, and, except as provided in Subsections (6)(b)(ii) and (iii), the residential exemption is limited to one primary residence per household. After an ownership interest in residential property changes, the county assessor shall notify the owner that the owner is required to submit a written declaration within 90 days after the day on which the county assessor mails the notice.

Before a county may apply a residential exemption to the value of part-year residential property, an owner of the property shall, subject to Subsection (6), file the application described in Subsection (2)(a) with the county board of equalization.

Utah Code 59-2-103(5)-(6)(a), effective 7/1/2025

No more than one acre of land per residential unit may qualify for the residential exemption described in Subsection (3). (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsections (6)(b)(ii) and (iii), a residential exemption described in Subsection (3) is limited to one primary residence per household.

A person may not operate or place, and an owner may not give another person permission to operate or place, an off-highway vehicle on any public land, trail, street, or highway in this state unless the off-highway vehicle is registered under this chapter for the current year

Utah Code 41-22-9(1)(c)-(d)

The following off-highway vehicles are exempt from the registration requirements of this chapter: ... (c) off-highway vehicles that are owned by a nonresident and that are displaying a current annual off-highway vehicle user decal in accordance with Section 41-22-35 ; (d) off-highway vehicles sold by a dealer to a person who is not a resident of this state

Utah Code 41-22-9(1)(a)-(b)

(a) vehicles that are currently registered for highway use, have a valid motor vehicle safety inspection sticker or certificate, and on which the required safety equipment has not been subsequently modified; (b) except as provided in Subsection (2) , a street-legal all-terrain vehicle registered in accordance with Section 41-6a-1509 ;

Utah Code 41-22-9(1)(e)-(f)

(e) off-highway implements of husbandry operated in the manner prescribed by Subsections 41-22-5.5(3) through (5) ; and (f) new off-highway vehicles being transported to an off-highway vehicle dealership by the dealer, employee of the dealership, or agent for the dealership.

Unless exempted, each owner of a motor vehicle, vessel, outboard motor, trailer, semitrailer, manufactured home, mobile home, off-highway vehicle, or roadable aircraft shall apply to the division for a certificate of title on forms furnished by the division as evidence of ownership.

Except as provided in Section 41-1a-301 relating to a vehicle with apportioned registration, the owner or operator of a vehicle shall ensure that the license plate is attached to the rear of the vehicle as described in this section.

An income tax return with respect to the tax imposed by this chapter shall be filed by every resident individual required to file a federal income tax return for the taxable year.

Except as provided by Section 73-18-9, the owner of each motorboat and sailboat on the waters of this state shall register it with the division as provided in this chapter.

Utah Code 73-18-9(1)

Registration under this chapter is not required for any of the following: (1) a motorboat or sailboat that: (a) is already covered by a valid registration issued by its nonresident owner's resident state; and (b) has not been within this state in excess of 60 days for the calendar year

Utah Code 73-18-9(2)-(4)

Registration under this chapter is not required for any of the following: ... (2) a motorboat or sailboat from a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of this state; (3) a motorboat or sailboat whose owner is the United States, a state or subdivision thereof; (4) a ship's lifeboat

Utah Code 73-18-9(5)

(5) a motorboat or sailboat belonging to a class of vessels which is exempted from registration by the division after the division finds: (a) that the registration of motorboats or sailboats of this class will not materially aid in their identification; and (b) that the United States Coast Guard has a numbering system applicable to the class ... and the motorboat or sailboat would also be exempt from numbering if it were subject to federal law

Utah Code 73-18-7(6), effective 1/1/2026

The nonresident owner of any motorboat or sailboat already covered by a valid number that has been assigned to it according to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of the owner's resident state is exempt from registration while operating the motorboat or sailboat on the waters of this state unless the owner is operating in excess of the reciprocity period provided for in Subsection 73-18-9(1)