Written by Brad DeBry, J.D. — 30+ Years Experience
Utah Auto Insurance:
Every Coverage Explained
After 30 years of fighting insurance companies, I've seen every mistake people make with their coverage. Here's what you actually need to know — with the Utah Code citations to back it up.
Quick Answer
Utah requires minimum auto insurance of $30,000/$65,000/$25,000(bodily injury/per accident/property damage) plus PIP coverage of at least $3,000 in medical expenses. But minimums are dangerously low. “Full coverage” is not a real insurance product — it's a marketing term that leaves critical gaps. Below is every coverage type explained, with Utah Code citations and my recommendations.
Liability Coverage
Utah Code §31A-22-304→What It Is
Pays for the OTHER person's injuries and property damage when YOU cause an accident. This is the coverage that protects your assets from a lawsuit.
Utah Minimum
$30,000 per person / $65,000 per accident (bodily injury) + $25,000 property damage
Brad's Take: “These minimums are a joke. $30,000 doesn't cover a broken leg with surgery. If you cause a serious accident and only carry minimums, you're personally on the hook for everything above that. I tell everyone: carry at least $100K/$300K. The price difference is $20-30 a month. That's nothing compared to losing your house.”
Common Mistakes
- Carrying only Utah minimums ($30K/$65K/$25K)
- Not understanding this only covers the OTHER person
- Thinking liability = 'full coverage'
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Utah Code §31A-22-307→What It Is
Pays YOUR medical bills and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. This is Utah's no-fault coverage. It kicks in immediately — no need to prove fault.
Utah Minimum
$3,000 medical expenses + $250/week lost wages (up to 52 weeks) + $20/day household services
Brad's Take: “PIP is your first line of defense. It pays your bills from day one while we figure out who's at fault. But here's the critical part: once your medical bills exceed $3,000, you can step outside the no-fault system and go after the at-fault driver for EVERYTHING — medical bills, lost wages, AND pain and suffering. That $3,000 threshold is your ticket to a full lawsuit.”
Common Mistakes
- Not knowing PIP covers you regardless of fault
- Not knowing the $3,000 threshold to file a liability claim
- Declining PIP to save money (it's required in Utah)
Uninsured Motorist (UM)
Utah Code §31A-22-305→What It Is
Covers YOUR injuries when the at-fault driver has NO insurance or flees the scene (hit-and-run). This is YOUR policy protecting YOU from uninsured drivers.
Utah Minimum
Required unless you sign a written waiver. Minimum matches your liability limits ($30K/$65K).
Brad's Take: “Never waive UM coverage. Never. About 8% of Utah drivers are uninsured, and hit-and-run drivers obviously have no coverage for you to claim against. Without UM, you're completely on your own. I've had clients with $200,000 in injuries from a hit-and-run who recovered every penny from their own UM policy. This coverage saves lives.”
Common Mistakes
- Signing the waiver to save $10/month
- Not knowing it covers hit-and-run accidents
- Carrying less UM than your liability limits
Underinsured Motorist (UIM)
Utah Code §31A-22-305.3→What It Is
Fills the gap when the at-fault driver's insurance ISN'T ENOUGH to cover your injuries. If they have $30K in liability and your injuries cost $150K, UIM covers the difference.
Utah Minimum
Required unless you sign a written waiver. Matches your liability limits by default.
Brad's Take: “This is the most underappreciated coverage on your policy. Think about it: you get hit by someone with the bare minimum $30K. Your injuries cost $200K. Their insurance pays $30K, and UIM fills the $170K gap. Without it? You'd have to sue the at-fault driver personally — and if they're carrying minimums, they probably don't have assets worth chasing. Carry as much UIM as you can afford.”
Common Mistakes
- Waiving UIM to save money
- Not understanding the 'gap' concept
- Having UIM limits lower than your liability limits
Medical Payments (MedPay)
What It Is
Additional medical coverage that pays YOUR medical bills regardless of fault — on top of PIP. Unlike PIP, MedPay has no deductible and no threshold requirements.
Utah Minimum
Optional — not required. Typical limits: $5,000–$25,000.
Brad's Take: “MedPay stacks on top of PIP. So if you have $3,000 PIP and $10,000 MedPay, that's $13,000 in immediate medical coverage before you ever file a liability claim. It also covers you as a passenger in someone else's car, which PIP doesn't always do. It's cheap — usually $3-5/month. Add it.”
Common Mistakes
- Not knowing MedPay exists
- Not knowing it stacks with PIP
- Thinking it's redundant (it's not)
"Full Coverage" — The Term That Doesn't Exist
What It Is
There is no insurance product called 'full coverage.' This is a marketing term. When people say 'full coverage,' they usually mean liability + collision + comprehensive. But that STILL doesn't include UM, UIM, MedPay, rental reimbursement, or gap insurance.
Utah Minimum
Not a real coverage type. Ask your agent what you ACTUALLY have.
Brad's Take: “This is the biggest misconception in auto insurance. I can't tell you how many clients sit in my office and say 'but I have full coverage!' — then we look at their declarations page and they have no UM, no UIM, no MedPay, and collision with a $2,500 deductible. 'Full coverage' is a lie the insurance industry uses to make you feel protected when you're not. Pull out your actual policy and READ the declarations page.”
Common Mistakes
- Believing 'full coverage' means you're fully protected
- Not reading your actual declarations page
- Not asking your agent what specific coverages you have
Collision Coverage
What It Is
Pays to repair or replace YOUR vehicle after a crash — regardless of who's at fault. This is what pays when YOU hit someone or a pole, or when the other driver is at fault and you want your car fixed fast without waiting for their insurance.
Utah Minimum
Optional. You choose your deductible ($250–$2,500). Lower deductible = higher premium.
Brad's Take: “If your car is worth less than $5,000, collision coverage might not be worth it — you're paying premiums that could exceed the payout. But if you have a newer car or a loan, you need it. Also: your collision coverage pays you first if someone else hits you, then YOUR insurance company goes after THEIR insurance to get reimbursed. This means faster repairs.”
Common Mistakes
- Not having collision on a financed vehicle
- Setting the deductible too high to save money
- Not knowing collision pays regardless of fault
Comprehensive Coverage
What It Is
Covers damage to your car from NON-collision events: theft, vandalism, hail, flooding, fire, falling objects, hitting a deer. Think of it as 'everything except another vehicle hitting you.'
Utah Minimum
Optional. Separate deductible from collision.
Brad's Take: “Utah gets hammered with hail storms. Every spring I get calls from people who didn't have comprehensive and are looking at $8,000 in hail damage out of pocket. If you live anywhere along the Wasatch Front, comprehensive is not optional — it's essential.”
Common Mistakes
- Dropping comprehensive to save money
- Not filing a claim after hail damage
- Not knowing it covers animal strikes (very common in rural Utah)
Rental Reimbursement
What It Is
Pays for a rental car while YOUR vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim. Typically $30-$50/day with a maximum total (like $900-$1,500).
Utah Minimum
Optional. Typical: $30/day, 30-day max.
Brad's Take: “If the OTHER driver hit you, their liability insurance owes you a rental for EVERY day you're without your car — there's no daily limit on that. But what about when YOU'RE at fault? Without rental reimbursement on your own policy, you're paying for a rental out of pocket while your car is in the shop. Add it. It's $2-3/month.”
Common Mistakes
- Not knowing the at-fault driver owes unlimited rental days
- Not having rental coverage on your OWN policy for when you're at fault
- Not knowing about loss-of-use compensation even if you don't rent
Gap Insurance
What It Is
Covers the difference between what your car is WORTH and what you still OWE on your loan. If your car is totaled and worth $18,000 but you owe $24,000, gap insurance covers the $6,000 difference.
Utah Minimum
Optional. Available through your insurer or dealer.
Brad's Take: “If you're upside-down on your loan — meaning you owe more than the car is worth — gap insurance is non-negotiable. New cars depreciate 20-30% in the first year. Get into an accident 6 months after buying, and insurance pays the depreciated value, not what you paid. Without gap, you're still making payments on a car that's sitting in a junkyard.”
Common Mistakes
- Not having gap on a new car purchase
- Not knowing you're upside-down on your loan
- Paying dealer markup for gap (buy from your insurer instead — it's cheaper)
Brad's Recommended Policy
What I tell my own family to carry.
Liability
UT minimum: $30K/$65K/$25K
PIP
UT minimum: $3,000
UM/UIM
UT minimum: $30K/$65K (or waived)
MedPay
UT minimum: Not required
Collision
UT minimum: Not required
Comprehensive
UT minimum: Not required
Rental Reimbursement
UT minimum: Not required
Gap Insurance
UT minimum: Not required
This costs roughly $150–$250/month for most Utah drivers. Compare that to losing everything in a lawsuit.
Utah Auto Insurance FAQs
Nothing — it's not a real insurance term. People typically mean liability + collision + comprehensive, but that still doesn't include PIP, UM, UIM, MedPay, rental, or gap insurance. Ask your agent for your specific coverages.
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