who are waiting on their title and/or registration for a purchased car will need a temporary permit issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). With your temporary permit, there’s no need for a temporary

Utah license plate

A dealership that sells a car to a Utah resident may issue a temporary permit while the dealer obtains registration and license plates from the DMV.
Unlike other states that require temporary plates on the outside of your vehicle, Utah only requires a temporary registration permit that you must keep on hand in case you are pulled over by law enforcement.
If you buy a car from a private seller, you’ll need to visit the DMV to get your temporary permit.
The temporary permit will allow you to drive your vehicle legally while your car purchase paperwork finishes up.

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Temporary permits in Utah

While some states offer literal temporary license plates to attach to the outside of your vehicle, Utah only issues temporary permits.

If you purchase a new vehicle in Utah from a dealer: The dealer may issue a temporary permit while you wait for them to

complete the title transfer

and

vehicle registration

process

If you buy a car from a local seller and are waiting on the title and registration: You will need a temporary permit from the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to legally drive the car

You can only obtain Utah’s temporary permits from a licensed dealer or the DMV: You will need to show proof of (pending) registration—and possibly

proof of insurance

—to receive a temporary permit.

The permits range from 96 hours to 60 days, and the cost can vary depending on the permit’s duration.

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How to get a temporary license plate in Utah

Drivers in Utah who are waiting on their title or registration for their newly purchased car can request a temporary permit from their local DMV office.

If you purchased your vehicle directly from its previous owner, you can complete the title transfer process and apply for a temporary permit via the Utah Motor Vehicle Portal (MVP).

In most cases, you’ll need to provide either the original vehicle title or a bill of sale.

Once you have your temporary permit, you can continue squaring away the other ownership documents you need for your new vehicle.

No need for a temporary license plate or temp tags: As long as you have a temporary permit and drive within the stipulations of the permit, you’re good to go! Make sure you always keep it on hand while you drive in case you get pulled over by law enforcement.

And remember: Temporary permits are temporary! Driving after your temporary permit is no longer valid is illegal and a driving infraction in Utah.

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Can I drive a car without plates if I just bought it in Utah?

As long as you have a temporary permit issued by the DMV or a licensed dealer, you can drive your newly purchased vehicle in Utah. Just be mindful of the expiration date.

MORE:

How to get car insurance before buying a car

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