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After a move to Utah, you have 60 days after becoming a resident to register your vehicle here [1]. What you’ll need before you register depends on where you live: five Wasatch Front and northern Utah counties require emissions tests, and the rest of the state doesn’t [2].
At a glance
- Register your vehicle
- Within 60 days of becoming a resident [1][3]
- Emissions test counties
- Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber [2]
- Safety inspection
- Not required for most vehicles since January 1, 2018 [2]
- Minimum car insurance
- $30,000 / $65,000 / $25,000, plus $3,000 PIP [6]
- Voter registration
- Must be received 11 days before the election, or register in person with two IDs [7]
| Task | Rule | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle registration | Within 60 days of becoming a resident | Utah DMV |
| Emissions test | Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties, depending on the vehicle | Certified emissions station |
| VIN inspection | When a vehicle is titled in Utah for the first time | Utah DMV |
| Driver license | Surrender your out-of-state license; written test | Utah Driver License Division |
| Car insurance | 30/65/25 liability plus $3,000 personal injury protection | Your insurer |
| Voter registration | Received by the county clerk 11 days before the election | vote.utah.gov or your county clerk |
Your vehicle
The 60-day deadline
Utah’s legislative staff describe the rule plainly: once you establish residency, you must register your vehicle in Utah within 60 days [1]. The DMV words it from the license side: if you get a Utah driver license, Utah law requires you to register your vehicle here within 60 days [3].
Safety inspection: mostly gone
Utah removed the safety inspection as a requirement for registering most vehicles on January 1, 2018 [2]. Commercial vehicles still need an annual safety inspection [2].
Emissions: depends on your county
If you live in Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah or Weber county, your vehicle may need an emissions inspection before you register it [2][4]. Whether yours does depends on its model year and fuel, and newer vehicles are tested less often [2]. Utah County also tests many diesel vehicles [2]. An emissions inspection can be done no more than two months before a registration renewal, and the DMV has to receive the certificate electronically before it can register the vehicle [2]. Vehicles in counties that don’t require emissions testing aren’t inspected for emissions [2].
VIN inspection for out-of-state titles
A VIN inspection is needed when a vehicle is titled in Utah for the first time, unless it’s a new vehicle bought from an in-state dealer or manufacturer [2]. Plan on one for a car you bring from another state.
Your driver license
The Utah Driver License Division treats a license from another state as proof of your driving privilege, and you surrender that license when you apply [5]. Bring proof of identity, your Social Security number and proof of your Utah address, along with your current license [5].
If you were licensed before, you’ll take a 25-question, open-book knowledge test [5]. Applicants who have never been licensed take a 50-question closed-book test [5].
Car insurance
For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, Utah’s minimum liability limits are [6]:
- $30,000 bodily injury per person,
- $65,000 bodily injury per accident (two or more people),
- $25,000 property damage.
That’s usually written as 30/65/25 [6]. Utah policies also include personal injury protection (PIP): the first $3,000 of medical expenses for each injured person is covered by your own policy [6].
Registering to vote
To vote in Utah you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 on or before Election Day, and a Utah resident for at least 30 days before the election [7].
You can register online (you’ll need a Utah driver license or state ID card), by mailing or emailing the form to your county clerk, or in person at the clerk’s office [7]. Your registration has to be received by the county clerk by the deadline. For the June 23, 2026 primary, that was 5 p.m. on Friday, June 12, eleven days before [7].
Missed it? You can still register in person at an early voting location or on Election Day, with two forms of identification [7].
Sources
- Utah Legislature, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel: Vehicle Registration briefing paper (2026 interim)
- Utah DMV, Inspections
- Utah DMV, Nonresidents, Students, Military and Other
- Utah DMV, Moved From Out-of-State
- Utah Driver License Division, Original: Out-of-State/Country
- Utah Insurance Department, Filing an Auto Claim (minimum coverage)
- Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office, vote.utah.gov: Register to Vote
Next steps
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Get a moving quote →Common questions
How long do I have to register my car after moving to Utah?
60 days. Utah's legislative staff summarize the rule this way: after establishing Utah residency, you must register your vehicle in the state within 60 days. The Utah DMV also says you must register within 60 days once you get a Utah driver license.
Does Utah require a safety inspection or emissions test?
Utah dropped the safety inspection for most vehicles on January 1, 2018; commercial vehicles still need one every year. Emissions tests depend on the county: Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties require them for many vehicles.
What are Utah's minimum car insurance requirements?
For policies issued or renewed since January 1, 2025: $30,000 per person and $65,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 for property damage, plus at least $3,000 in personal injury protection per person.
When do I need to register to vote in Utah?
For the June 23, 2026 primary, the county clerk had to receive registrations by 5 p.m. on June 12, 11 days before. You can also register in person at an early voting location or on Election Day with two forms of ID.