Utah · Uninsured driver · Updated Oct 2026

Hit by an uninsured driver in Utah: coverage, penalties and what to do

Your coverage, the penalties and how to claim your losses.

Short answer

Driving without insurance is a crime with a minimum fine of $400 for a first conviction ($300 may be waived if you get insurance before sentencing) and at least $1,000 for a later conviction within 3 years (Utah Code § 41-12a-302). Uninsured motorist coverage is included in every policy, equal to the lower of your liability limits or the highest uninsured motorist limits your insurer offers, unless you sign a form rejecting it or choosing lower limits (Utah Code § 31A-22-305(4)).

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage
Included unless you reject it
Minimum liability
30/65/25
Insurance system
No-fault
PIP required
$3,000

Uninsured motorist coverage in Utah

Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured motorist coverage is included in every policy, equal to the lower of your liability limits or the highest uninsured motorist limits your insurer offers, unless you sign a form rejecting it or choosing lower limits (Utah Code § 31A-22-305(4)).
Liability minimum
30/65/25 (policies issued or renewed since Jan. 1, 2025; or a $90,000 single limit)
Official text
Read the official text

Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

If the other driver has no insurance in Utah

  • If the other driver has no insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage (included unless you rejected it) can pay; the PIP lawsuit limits do not apply to an uninsured motorist claim.

Penalties for driving uninsured in Utah

  • Driving without insurance is a crime with a minimum fine of $400 for a first conviction ($300 may be waived if you get insurance before sentencing) and at least $1,000 for a later conviction within 3 years (Utah Code § 41-12a-302).

No-fault benefits in Utah

Utah is a no-fault state for injuries: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays your first medical bills and lost income, whoever caused the crash. You can sue the other driver for injuries only in some cases, described below. No-fault for injuries: every policy must include personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $3,000 per person for medical costs, plus partial lost income. You can sue for general damages (like pain and suffering) only for death, dismemberment, permanent disability or impairment, permanent disfigurement, a bone fracture, or medical expenses over $3,000.

Recent changes in Utah

  • Sections 31A-22-305 (UM), 31A-22-309 (PIP limits) and 41-12a-302 (no-insurance penalty) have versions effective May 6, 2026; the current text still has the $3,000 tort threshold and the $400/$1,000 fines described here.

How fast an insurer must handle a claim in Utah

  • PIP: benefits are paid monthly as expenses are incurred and are overdue if not paid within 30 days after the insurer receives reasonable proof; overdue amounts bear interest of 1.5% per month (Utah Code § 31A-22-309(5)).
  • Utah Code § 31A-26-303 lists unfair claim settlement practices (for example, misrepresenting policy terms, or failing to acknowledge and act promptly on claim communications as a general practice).

Claiming from the uninsured driver in Utah

Small claims limit for car damage in Utah: $20,000 (since Jan. 1, 2025; set to rise to $25,000 on Jan. 1, 2030). Utah small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Step by step if an uninsured driver hits you in Utah

  1. Report the crash to the police. Call the nearest law enforcement agency right away if anyone is hurt or killed, or if property damage looks like $2,500 or more. Reporting a crash in Utah and getting the police report
  2. Write down the other car's plate and get witness names.
  3. Claim under your uninsured motorist coverage; in Utah it is included unless you reject it.
  4. File your PIP claim on time; Utah's no-fault benefits don't depend on who caused the crash.
  5. If your coverage doesn't pay everything, sue the driver before the deadline: 4 years for both property damage and injury. Deadlines to sue in Utah, with the calculator

Free help in Utah

Questions about uninsured drivers in Utah

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Utah?

Uninsured motorist coverage is included in every policy, equal to the lower of your liability limits or the highest uninsured motorist limits your insurer offers, unless you sign a form rejecting it or choosing lower limits (Utah Code § 31A-22-305(4)).

What happens if you drive without insurance in Utah?

Driving without insurance is a crime with a minimum fine of $400 for a first conviction ($300 may be waived if you get insurance before sentencing) and at least $1,000 for a later conviction within 3 years (Utah Code § 41-12a-302).

What can I do if an uninsured driver hits me in Utah?

If the other driver has no insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage (included unless you rejected it) can pay; the PIP lawsuit limits do not apply to an uninsured motorist claim.

What is the minimum car insurance in Utah?

30/65/25 (policies issued or renewed since Jan. 1, 2025; or a $90,000 single limit)

How long do I have to sue an uninsured driver in Utah?

4 years for property damage and 4 years for injury.

How fast must an insurer handle a car insurance claim in Utah?

PIP: benefits are paid monthly as expenses are incurred and are overdue if not paid within 30 days after the insurer receives reasonable proof; overdue amounts bear interest of 1.5% per month (Utah Code § 31A-22-309(5)). Utah Code § 31A-26-303 lists unfair claim settlement practices (for example, misrepresenting policy terms, or failing to acknowledge and act promptly on claim communications as a general practice).

More for Utah drivers

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Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.