Eligibility for Utah License Plates
In Utah, one rear license plate is issued for each registered vehicle. New residents have 60 days from arrival to title and register their vehicle. Utah Code Ann. § 41-1a-202 establishes the registration requirement for all vehicles operated on public roads.
- Residency: Anyone establishing a permanent home, gaining employment, or enrolling a child in school triggers the 60-day period. The Utah DMV page for nonresidents and new residents details each qualifying condition.
- Vehicle: All motor vehicles, trailers, and off-road vehicles used on public roads must be titled and registered. Vehicles subject to rebuild and restoration require a state inspection before license plates are issued.
- Each applicant must provide existing title (or current out-of-state registration if the title is held by a lienholder) and proof of insurance. A VIN inspection on form TC-661 is required for each vehicle being titled in Utah for the first time.
- License Plate Categories: Utah offers over 70 special group license plates under Utah Code Ann. § 41-1a-418. Military categories include disabled veterans, Purple Heart, former POWs, Pearl Harbor survivors, Medal of Honor, Gold Star, and National Guard, each requiring DD-214 or equivalent documentation. Collegiate, wildlife, and organizational plates are available to all residents through the Utah DMV license plates page.
How to Get a License Plate in Utah?
Any DMV office statewide can process your transaction, regardless of your county of residence. Larger offices in Ogden, Farmington, Taylorsville, Draper, Provo, and Hurricane recommend making an appointment.
- Bring your out-of-state title (or registration plus lienholder information), proof of insurance, and completed VIN inspection (form TC-661). A DMV employee can perform the VIN inspection during registration.
- Emissions testing is required in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Cache, and Weber counties. Frequency depends on the vehicle’s model year; vehicles less than six years old are tested every two years. Utah eliminated routine safety inspections on January 1, 2018.
- Pay the title fee, registration fee, age-based uniform fee, applicable county fees, and sales tax at the counter. All license plates are mailed to you; you leave the office with a temporary permit and registration card.
- Registration is renewed annually. The DMV sends a postcard or email reminder before your expiration month. Renewals can be completed online, by mail, at a DMV office, or at On The Spot inspection stations that process renewals during emissions testing.
How Much Does a License Plate Cost in Utah?
The registration fee itself is straightforward; the age-based uniform fee and county add-ons are where the total increases.
- Registration: $44 annually for passenger vehicles and light trucks up to 12,000 pounds; $46 for motorcycles. Utah Code Ann. § 41-1a-1206 sets these rates. The age-based uniform fee adds $150 (up to 3 years), $110 (3 to 6), $80 (6 to 9), $50 (9 to 12), or $10 (12 and older) according to the Utah DMV uniform fee schedule.
- A corridor fee of $10 applies in 11 counties (Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber, Summit, Wasatch, Iron, Box Elder, Washington, Tooele, Morgan). Air pollution control fees from $2 to 3appliesinthefiveemissions - testingcounties.Drivereducation(2.50) and uninsured driver fees ($1) are statewide.
- Electric vehicles pay an annual flat fee of $143.25 (or register in the road usage charge program at a per-mile rate capped at $143.25). Sales tax on the purchase price varies by location according to Utah sales and use tax rates.
- Title transfer costs $6. Personalized plates cost $16 for a standard plate or $21 for a special group plate. Special group plates have an annual contribution that varies by organization, typically from $5 to $25.
Can I Get a License Plate Online in Utah?
Initial titles and transfers from other states require an in-person visit to the DMV. Online service covers renewals, personalized plate orders, duplicate registrations, and address changes.
Renewal Express processes annual renewals using your license plate and VIN. The Motor Vehicle Portal provides fee estimates, renewal information, automatic renewal registration, and personalized plate requests. Both portals accept credit and debit cards. Plates and stickers are mailed after processing; personalized plates take up to eight weeks.
Mail renewals are sent to the Division of Motor Vehicles, P.O. Box 30412, Salt Lake City, UT 84130, with your renewal notice, any required emissions certificate, and a check made payable to the Utah State Tax Commission.
If Utah can renew your registration online via Renewal Express, it’s the fastest route; the DMV office is intended for titling and initial registrations that the portal cannot process.