Utah’s Teen Driving Laws, Insurance Requirements, and Driver’s Licenses

In Utah, drivers who are younger than 21 can legally drive but are subject to certain requirements and restrictions. Before obtaining a full, unrestricted driver's license, Utah requires teen drivers to first get a learner permit, followed by a provisional license.

What Is Utah's Graduated License Program?

Drivers between 15 and 20 are eligible to participate in Utah's graduated license program. This program is similar to other graduated license programs across the United States. It helps limit high-risk driving situations for teen drivers while increasing parental involvement and supervision.

Utah's graduated driver's license program has three steps:

• Step one: Learner permit
• Step two: Provisional license
• Step three: Full driver's license

Learner Permit in Utah

A learner permit is the first step for a minor to obtain a license. During the learner permit phase, teen drivers must drive under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian. Before teens can get a provisional license, the parents or guardians must certify that their children have driven for at least 40 hours, 10 of which must have occurred at night. (Utah Code § 53-3-210.5 (2024).)

How Do You Get a Learner Permit in Utah?

At age 15, a person can obtain a learner permit. The minor must visit the driver license division, fill out an application, get a photo taken onsite, pass a written test and an eye exam, and pay a small fee. The minor also must be a resident of Utah and provide proof of identity. An applicant who's younger than 17 must have a parent sign the application and certify that the minor has insurance coverage. (Utah Code §§ 53-3-210.5, 53-3-211 (2024).)

What Are the Driving Restrictions for a Learner Permit?

A minor between 15 and 17 who obtains a learner permit may only drive if a driving instructor or the minor's parent or legal guardian is seated next to the driver. Under these conditions, the minor also can have other passengers in the car. The minor also must always carry the learner permit while driving. (Utah Code § 53-3-210.5 (2024).)

Provisional License in Utah

The provisional license allows a young motorist to drive alone with certain restrictions. At age 16—and after you've carried your learner permit for six months—you might be eligible to apply for a provisional license. If you're 18 or older, you don't need to obtain a learner permit before obtaining a provisional license. (Utah Code §§ 53-3-204, 53-3-209 (2024).)

How Do You Get a Provisional License in Utah?

The applicant must complete a driver's education course, an online exam, and pass a driving skills test. The teen must also visit the driver's license office to pay a fee, complete an application, have a photo taken, pass an eye exam, and turn in the learner permit. A parent or legal guardian must also certify that a minor applicant has completed 40 hours of driving practice and is covered by insurance. (Utah Code §§ 53-3-210.5, 53-3-211 (2024).)

An applicant who's 19 or older doesn't need to complete a driver's education course–provided they have held a learner permit for three months and completed 40 hours of driving, including 10 hours at night. (Utah Code § 53-3-210.5 (2024).)

What Are the Driving Restrictions for a Provisional License?

Generally, minors with provisional licenses can't drive a car between midnight and 5:00 a.m. until the minor reaches 17 years of age. This restriction doesn't apply when:

• the driver is accompanied by a person at least 21 years of age who's sitting in the front passenger seat
• the driver is driving to or from work and home
• the driver is driving directly home after a school activity
• the driver is engaged in an agricultural operation at the direction of a farmer or rancher, or
• the driver is driving during an emergency.

(Utah Code § 41-8-2 (2024).)

Also, a teen who's younger than 18 can't have passengers in the car for the first six months after getting a provisional license. But this rule doesn't apply if:

• there's a licensed driver at least 21 years of age in the front seat
• the driver is engaged in an agricultural operation at the direction of a farmer or rancher, or
• the driver is traveling in an emergency.

(Utah Code § 41-8-3 (2024).)

How Do You Get a Full Driver's License in Utah?

After completing each step of Utah's graduated license program, a teen may obtain a full license. Drivers who are 21 or older can't get a provisional license before applying for a full license. (Utah Code § 53-3-209 (2024).)

If you are 19 or older and applying for a license for the first time, you have two options for obtaining a license:

• Obtain a learner permit, complete a driver education course, complete 40 hours of practice driving (including 10 hours at night), and pass a driving skills test.
• Obtain a learner permit, drive for 3 months with the permit, and complete 40 hours of practice driving (including 10 hours at night).

(Utah Code § 53-3-210.5 (2024).)

Teens and Cell Phone Use While Driving in Utah

Utah's distracted driving law restricts all drivers from texting, browsing the internet, or putting information in their phones while driving. (Utah Code § 41-6a-1716 (2024).)

Minors face further restrictions. Utah law prohibits anyone younger than 18 from using a cell phone to communicate with another person while driving. This rule doesn't apply if the minor was using the phone during a medical emergency, to report a safety hazard or criminal activity, or to talk to a parent or legal guardian. (Utah Code § 41-8-4 (2024).)

Do Permit Drivers Need Insurance in Utah?

In Utah, all drivers must be covered under liability insurance. This is why a teen's parent or guardian must certify that the teen is covered under insurance before a learner permit or license is issued. All liability policies must have at least the following:

• Liability coverage. Must include at least $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $65,000 for bodily injury to two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage per accident. Or $80,000 total for death or injury to a person and damage to personal property per accident.
• Personal injury protection. Must include at least $3,000 for medical expenses.

(Utah Code §§ 31A-22-302, 31A-22-303, 31A-22-304, 31A-22-307 (2024).)

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the above liability coverages are increasing. A driver must have at least $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $65,000 for bodily injury to two or more people per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Or the driver may have $90,000 total coverage for death or injury to people and damage to personal property per accident. (Utah Code § 31A-22-304 (2024).)

Failure to provide and display valid insurance is an infraction that can result in at least a $400 fine for a first offense. A second or subsequent offense within 3 years is a class C misdemeanor and can result in up to 90 days in jail and at least a $1,000 fine. (Utah Code § 41-12a-303.2 (2024).)