Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Utah
Reader’s Question:
My teenage brother was cited for driving without car insurance in Salt Lake City, Utah. What penalty should he expecting?
Mark
Salt Lake City, UT
In Utah, the law requires drivers to carry proof of insurance and present it to any police officer upon request. In addition to that, for many years, Utah has compared its car registration file with a database of insurance policies written to Utah residents. When the computer program finds out a Utah-registered vehicle does not have a corresponding insurance policy, a letter will be sent to the car’s registered owner, requiring the owner to provide proof of insurance.
If the owner of the car fails to provide satisfactory proof of insurance after receipt of the letter, that information will be provided to the Tax Commission’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and state and local law enforcement.
If an individual is convicted for failure to insure a car, the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) is required to suspend the person’s driver license. DPS may not issue or renew a driver license to the individual until the person gives the agency operator’s security or proof of owner’s and pays a reinstatement fee.DPS also will notify DMV upon receipt of such proof.
