Utah Car Insurance: Requirements for Residents

The process of purchasing car insurance can be a difficult one due to the drastic variation in requirements when one is traveling from state to state. There are a few basic guidelines that are recommended for all those who are seeking to buy car insurance in Utah.

1. Utah is a no fault state. This means that if two residents are involved in an auto accident each would be covered by their own insurance policy, regardless of which one was responsible. Because of this policy all drivers are required to purchase PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, insurance, which will provide aid with healthcare costs, lost wages and, if necessary, funeral expenses following an accident. Those with a good comprehensive health insurance policy may choose to purchase only a minimum PIP policy.
2. There are many exceptions to the no fault policy which will result in a driver being held liable for the expenses of the other driver involved in the accident. For this reason it is essential (and legally mandated) that all drivers carry at least the minimum in liability insurance. Liability minimums in Utah are twenty five thousand dollars for injuries suffered by a single driver, fifty thousand dollars for the combined medical expenses of all of the vehicle’s occupants and fifteen thousand dollars for any resultant property damages, including but not limited to damage to public property and damages suffered by the victim’s vehicle.
3. If a UT driver is found to be liable for the other driver’s expenses and they exceed the amounts set forth by their liability policy the insured will be held personally responsible. With the rapidly rising costs of healthcare and auto repair it can be very easy for damages to exceed these thresholds; as a result it is recommended that when purchasing a liability policy drivers select one with more than the minimum requirements.
4. While it is not required all drivers are urged to carry comprehensive and collision insurance as well. Comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to the vehicle of the insured following an accident for which they are responsible and an accident caused by factors over which they have no control, such as inclement weather or run-ins with the local wildlife.
5. Also not required but strongly recommended is uninsured car insurance. Not all states require that their motorists carry a liability policy; should these drivers be responsible for an accident odds are that their victims would end up footing the bill and spending months or even years attempting to recoup their losses in court. Uninsured motorist insurance provides some aid for these people, as well as for those who have found themselves the victim of a hit and run.
6. More information regarding Utah car insurance may be obtained from the UT Insurance Department by visiting their website at http://www.insurance.utah.gov/