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When you register your vehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles in Utah, you will receive a standard issued plate.
You can apply for specialty plates with custom emblems or designs. People with disabilities can apply for special plates and placards. Also, most plates in the state of Utah can be personalized with a custom plate number.
Renewals and replacements can all be made in person, by mail, or online.
Sample Utah License Plate
Applying for License Plates in Utah
Vehicles in the state of Utah must be registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
If you are a new resident, you must register your out-of-state vehicle within 60 days. Utah residents who purchase a new vehicle must also register their vehicle promptly.
If you purchase your vehicle from a dealership, they may provide you with temporary license plates to allow you time to complete your registration. If you purchase a vehicle from a private seller, you will need to obtain temporary license plates in advance from an authorized provider.
Temporary license plates allow your vehicle to operate legally on Utah roads for up to 15 days.
You can register your vehicle in person at a DMV office in your county.
Types of License Plates in Utah
In addition to the standard license plate issued by the DMV in Utah, you can also apply for the following types of license plates:
Specialty License Plates
Disability License Plates
Personalized License Plates
These license plates entail additional fees over and above the standard registration fees.
Specialty License Plates in Utah
Specialty plates in the state of Utah can be registered for an additional fee. Some of these plates may require additional documentation for proof of eligibility. The following are some of the plates available:
Military License Plates: Honorary license plates for U.S. military personnel. Requires proof of enlistment or discharge papers. Examples:
Ex-POW Plates
Bronze Star Plates
Occupational License Plates: Special plates with designs and emblems for occupations. Requires proof of employment. Examples:
EMT Plates
Firefighter Plates
Vintage License Plates: For vehicles 30 years and older. Examples:
Antique Vehicles Plates
Street Rod Plates
Collegiate License Plates: Supports universities, colleges, sororities, and fraternities. Examples:
Utah State University Plates
Salt Lake City Community College Plates
Special Causes License Plates: Supports charities, non-profits, and special causes. Examples:
Cancer Research Plates
Shriners Society Plates
Specialty license plate fees vary by type and are in addition to regular registration fees. For a complete list of specialty license plates available in Utah, contact a DMV office.
Disability License Plates in Utah
If you have a disability and medical documentation, it is possible to obtain disability license plates or placards from the DMV.
People with permanent and temporary disabilities can be issued a placard for free. People with permanent disabilities and veterans with disabilities can obtain these plates for $16.
Personalized License Plates in Utah
If you want to personalize your license plate with custom plate numbers, you must follow the DMV’s guidelines. Personalized license plates in Utah must:
Use up to 7 characters (standard plates)
Not contain profanity
Not contain misleading suggestions (e.g., E M T)
Be available to register
You can look up available license plate numbers online.
The fees for specialty license plates are:
$60 to register
$10 to renew
Note: Registration fees, service fees, and taxes are not included in the above fees.
Transferring License Plates in Utah
If you sell or trade your vehicle, you must keep your license plates. When you register a new vehicle, you may be eligible to transfer your previous plates.
Surrendering License Plates in Utah
You must surrender your license plates to a DMV office if you:
Move out of state
Cancel your vehicle’s insurance
No longer need them
Apply for replacement of damaged plates
If you are unable to surrender your plates, you may be required to destroy them.
Contact your local DMV office for more information for surrendering your license plates in Utah.
Replacement License Plates in Utah
If your license plates are damaged, stolen, or lost, you can apply for replacements with the DMV in person, by mail, or online.
You will be required to submit the following in order to receive replacement plates:
Proof of registration card or license plate number
Application for replacement plates
Payment of replacement fees
Renewing License Plates in Utah
The decal stickers on the rear plate indicate when your vehicle’s registration is about to expire. You should renew your vehicle’s registration in advance to avoid late fees.
Plate renewals can be made either in person, online, or by mail.
When renewing license plates online or by mail, you may have to wait 1 to 3 weeks for the new decal stickers to arrive. Your new decals can be placed directly over the old ones.
Paying for License Plates in Utah
It is possible to make payments for license plates in Utah with:
Credit card
Money order or check
Cash
You are not permitted to send cash in the mail (instead you should use money orders or checks made out to the DMV).
Summary of Fees for Utah License Plates
Vehicles in Utah will be charged a fee based strictly on their age. The following fees are required for passenger vehicles:
Less than 3 years old: $150
3 to 6 years old: $110
6 to 9 years old: $80
9 to 12 years old: $50
More than 12 years old: $10
Other fees include:
Replacement:
License Plate Fee: $11
Decals: $5
Temporary License Plates: $6
Personalized License Plates:
Register: $60
Renew: $10
Additional registration costs may include fee-in-lieu of property tax (for trucks and commercial trailers)
If you are required to submit an emissions test, the maximum fee is $20.
Looking up License Plates in Utah
Looking up license plates in Utah can be done easily and accurately with the search bar above. Simply add the plate number you want to find, and select “Utah” as the state.
Car Ownership in Utah
Utah had the fourth highest increase in vehicle registrations (up by nearly 20%) between 2017 and 2021. The states that saw an even greater increase in vehicle registrations during this time period were Delaware (49%), Maine (28%), and Arkansas (25%).
Utah ranks 3rd on the list of states with the highest car ownership rates. Idaho and Wyoming are at the top of the list. Montana and New Hampshire are also in the top 5.
96.10% of households in Utah have at least one vehicle. In Idaho and Wyoming (the states with the highest car ownership rates), 96.20% of households have at least one vehicle. In the District of Columbia, the state with the lowest vehicle ownership rate, only 64.30% have at least one vehicle.
Utah ranks 2nd on the list of states with the most vehicles per household. Approximately 32% of households own three or more vehicles. Wyoming tops the table with over 33% of households owning three or more vehicles. Also in the top 5 are Idaho (32%), Montana (31%) and South Dakota (30%).
Utah ranks 10th (tied with Vermont) on the list of states with the most electric vehicles. Approximately 0.57% of all registered vehicles in Utah are electric vehicles. California (1.61%) and Hawaii (1.32%) are at the top of the list. Mississippi and North Dakota (0.05%) are at the bottom.
The Provo-Orem and Logan metro areas in Utah are among the top 5 metro areas with the highest vehicle ownership rates at 97.48% and 96.83%. They are in second and third position behind the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metro area in Alabama (97.56%).
The Provo-Orem metropolitan area is also among the top 5 metro areas with the most vehicles per household (35.94% of households here have three or more vehicles). This is second only to the Idaho Falls metro area in Idaho (35.99%).
Utah is ranked 13 on the list of most expensive states to own a car in the US. California and Nevada are the most expensive and Ohio is the least expensive state to own a car in the US.
The average cost of annual full coverage car insurance in Utah is $1,955. New York has the most expensive full coverage annual car insurance at $4,769 on average. Ohio is the most economical in terms of full coverage car insurance with it being $1,112 annually on average.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in Utah is $401. This is slightly lower than Connecticut, the most expensive state for vehicle repairs, where a similar repair costs $418 on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Utah require 2 license plates?
Yes, Utah requires all passenger vehicles (cars, trucks, vans) registered in the state to display one license plate on the front and one on the rear of the vehicle. The exception is motorcycles, trailers, and semi-trailers which only require a single rear plate.
What does Utah’s license plate say?
Standard issue license plates in Utah carry four different slogans: Life Elevated Arches, Life Elevated Skier, In God We Trust, and Off-Highway Vehicle. Older plates that are no longer issued by still valid carry the slogans Olympic, Ski Utah, Utah Centennial, and Utah.
How much is the vehicle registration fee in Utah?
The vehicle registration fee in Utah is age-based. For a new passenger vehicle that is less than 3 years old, the fee is $150.
Does Utah require vehicle inspections?
Starting January 1, 2018, Utah removed the requirement for safety inspections for most vehicles registered in the state. However, there are some exceptions. Contact the DMV to find out if your vehicle needs an inspection. The fee, if an inspection is required, is $30 for light trucks and passenger cars.