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What is liability car insurance?
Auto liability coverage offers financial protection if you cause a car accident. In particular, it pays for bodily injuries and property damage sustained by other drivers and their passengers, pedestrians, and property owners.
The state of Utah requires residents to buy liability insurance to ensure that people harmed in a crash won’t have to pay medical bills and property repair costs when they weren’t the at-fault driver.
Liability-only insurance only protects other people you may harm in an accident. If you also want protection for your vehicle, you’ll need full-coverage car insurance, which includes liability coverage plus collision coverage and comprehensive insurance.
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Liability policies average $92/mo.
Cheapest liability car insurance in Utah
The average cost of liability-only car insurance in Utah is $92 per month, according to Insurify data. In contrast, full coverage averages $146 per month. But what you pay will depend on several factors, such as your age, ZIP code, driving history, and credit history.[1]
Here’s a look at some cheap liability insurance companies in Utah, based on Insurify data:
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| USAA | $50 |
| Auto-Owners | $60 |
| Progressive | $60 |
| National General | $65 |
| State Farm | $67 |
| GEICO | $74 |
| The General | $76 |
| Sun Coast | $79 |
| Allstate | $82 |
| American Family | $84 |
| Direct Auto | $91 |
| Mile Auto | $91 |
| Clearcover | $95 |
| Freedom National | $95 |
| Root | $101 |
| Safeco | $106 |
| Bristol West | $111 |
| Dairyland | $112 |
| GAINSCO | $115 |
| Farmers | $117 |
| Liberty Mutual | $148 |
| State Auto | $155 |
Minimum liability car insurance requirements in Utah
Utah car insurance requirements include three types of coverage: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and personal injury protection (PIP).
Here’s a look at Utah’s minimum car insurance requirements and what each type of insurance covers:[2] [3]
Type of Coverage | Minimum Required | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $30,000 per person/$65,000 per accident | Medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs for people you injure |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident | Repairs to other people’s cars and property, such as a mailbox or fence |
| Personal injury protection | $3,000 per person | Medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of who’s at fault |
Your insurer will also include uninsured motorist coverage unless you reject it in writing.[4]
For example, say you run a red light in Sandy and hit a car with two people inside. Minimum bodily injury liability coverage can pay up to $30,000 for each person’s injuries, and your property damage liability coverage can pay up to $25,000 to repair their car. The minimum car insurance in Utah won’t pay to repair your vehicle.
Is minimum liability coverage enough in Utah?
For most drivers in the Beehive State, the minimum liability coverage isn’t enough. While you can legally drive with it, the cost of a severe accident could surpass the basic limits required by law.
For example, if you injure someone and their medical costs are $50,000, the $30,000 state-required coverage won’t cover it all. In this case, the person you injured or their insurance company could sue you for the remaining $20,000.
Minimum coverage also won’t pay for your vehicle if it gets damaged in a collision or due to severe weather, or even if someone steals it. In general, consider buying more than just liability coverage in the following situations:
You leased or financed the car. Leasing companies and lenders often require full coverage.
Your car is new or valuable. Collision and comprehensive coverage can prevent costly repairs.
You can’t afford to replace your car. Even if your car is paid off, collision and comprehensive insurance can help you avoid having to borrow money to replace your vehicle.
Penalties for driving without liability insurance in Utah
Driving without insurance coverage in Utah is a class C misdemeanor. If it’s your first offense, you may face a fine of $400 or more — though the court may waive up to $300 if you obtain coverage after the violation but before sentencing.[5]
For your second and subsequent violations within three years of the first, the fine is at least $1,000.
If you’re convicted, the Utah Department of Motor Vehicles will suspend your driver’s license. To get it back, you’ll need to provide proof of insurance and keep it on file with the state for three years. If you cancel the policy without notice during that time, your license will be suspended for the remainder of the three-year period unless you get coverage again.
Also, if you get in a crash without coverage, you lose the immunity provided in Utah’s no-fault insurance law. In this case, you’re personally responsible for paying the PIP benefits a standard Utah policy provides.[6]
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How to find cheap liability car insurance in Utah
These steps can help you find cheaper rates for liability insurance in Utah:
Compare rates every six months. Insurance companies use different processes for setting rates, and the cheapest rate for you right now might not be the cheapest option a year from now. Shop around and compare quotes from Utah car insurance companies every six months to ensure you’re always getting the best possible rates.
Bundle home and auto insurance. About 70% of Utah homes are owner-occupied, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, and many insurers offer car insurance discounts if you bundle your homeowners insurance and auto coverage. If you’re a renter, you could also bundle renters and auto insurance to save.
Ask about student discounts. If you or a driver on your policy attends the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, or any other college or university, you may qualify for a discount if they maintain good grades or live far enough away.
Keep your record clean. Utah has a low rate of motor vehicle crash deaths compared to other states, according to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety data, but it’s still crucial to practice defensive driving and follow traffic laws.
Liability car insurance in Utah FAQs
Here are some common questions and answers about Utah liability car insurance.
How much is liability car insurance in Utah?
Liability-only car insurance in Utah costs an average of $92 per month, according to Insurify data. Your rate depends on various factors, such as your age, driving record, ZIP code, and coverage limits.
Which company offers the cheapest liability car insurance in Utah?
USAA offers the cheapest liability car insurance in Utah, with an average rate of $50 per month. But because insurers also base your rates on your personal driver profile and vehicle, the cheapest insurer for you may be a different one.
What are the minimum liability car insurance requirements in Utah?
Minimum car insurance in Utah includes $30,000 per person and $65,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage and $25,000 in property damage liability coverage. Additionally, every policy needs at least $3,000 in PIP coverage, and your insurer will include uninsured motorist coverage with at least the same limits as your policy’s liability coverage unless you reject it.
Does a liability-only car insurance policy in Utah have to include personal injury protection?
Yes. As a no-fault state, Utah requires every driver to maintain an auto insurance policy with at least $3,000 in PIP.[7]
Sources
- Utah Insurance Department. "10 Things To Know About Buying Auto Insurance."
- Utah State Legislature. "31A-22-304. Motor vehicle liability policy minimum limits."
- Utah State Legislature. "31A-22-307. Personal injury protection coverages and benefits."
- Utah State Legislature. "31A-22-305 Uninsured motorist coverage."
- Utah State Legislature. "41-12a-301 Definitions -- Requirement of owner's or operator's security -- Exceptions."
- Utah State Legislature. "31A-22-309. Limitations, exclusions, and conditions to personal injury protection."
- Utah Motor Vehicle Division. "Vehicle Insurance Requirements."
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
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