Utah License Plates

You can get personalized Utah license plates, plates promoting your favorite cause, or plain old plates that just get the job done with this guide from Jerry.
Written by Mary Alice Morris
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Utah
has lots of design options for drivers needing new license plates. You can go with one of the standard three designs, or opt for a special interest plate to show off your favorite pastime or charity. Utah also has a personalized plate program for cars and motorcycles. 
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What are Utah license plates and why do I need them?

License plates are there to indicate that your car has been
properly registered with the state of Utah
—meaning you’ve paid any applicable fees and taxes, and your vehicle has met the state’s criteria to stay on the road. That’s why vehicle registration has to be renewed annually in Utah. It’s a way to make sure the car’s owner is maintaining a safe vehicle, the
minimum insurance requirements
, and financial responsibility for property taxes. 
License plates are also a way to connect an owner to a vehicle. It’s like a special identification number that can be used to verify that a car is in good, legal, working order—and that it hasn’t been stolen. 
State law requires drivers in Utah to display a front license plate as well as a back license plate. That includes cars, trucks, and motorcycles. 

What license plates does Utah have?

If you do a Utah license plate lookup on the state’s
Division of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) website, you’ll see there are three categories of plates:
  • Standard issue plates
    come in three options: a 5-character “In God We Trust” plate, the 6-character “Life Elevated Skier” plate, and the 6-character “Life Elevated Arches” plate.
  • Special group plates
    come in dozens of options, including occupational affiliations, U.S. Armed Forces branches, non-profit organizations, and environmental causes.
  • Exempt plates
    are set aside for Utah State Highway Patrol vehicles or any other vehicle owned or leased by a state government agency. 

Standard issue license plates

  • In God We Trust: This plate design features a white background with blue characters. On the left side of the plate is an American flag design with the national motto, “In God We Trust.” The words, “Utah” and “United States of America” are in red.
  • Life Elevated Skier: Bearing Utah’s branding slogan of “Life Elevated,” these plates feature a graphic design of a skier descending a mountain pass with the phrase, “Greatest Snow on Earth.”
  • Life Elevated Arches: These plates display a sunset-hued illustration of Utah’s Arches National Park, with the “Life Elevated” slogan on the bottom. 
  • No longer issued: Several of Utah’s standard-issue plates are still valid and used by many vehicles, but replacements of these designs are not available. These include the Ski Utah, 2002 Olympics, Utah Centennial, and regular standard plates which feature black characters on a plain cream background.

Special group plates

  • Collegiate: You can show support for your alma mater or your kid’s college with these collegiate series plates, and they generate revenue for each respective university or college! Collegiate plate options, featuring the school’s name and logo, are available for: Brigham Young University, College of Eastern Utah, Dixie State University, LDS Business College, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College, Southern Utah University, University of Utah, Utah State University, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Western Governors University, and Westminster College
  • Military: Several special group plate options honor military veterans or armed services branches, and some—though not all—benefit the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs. Special group plates in this category include Civil Air Patrol, Disabled Veteran, Former Prisoner of War, Gold Star, National Guard, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Purple Heart/Combat Wounded, American Legion, Combat Action Theater medal and badge plates, and special Veterans plates for service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
  • Environment and conservation: Plates benefiting and advocating for environmental causes in Utah include the “I Support Wildlife” series, which comes in several art designs featuring trout, mule deer, kestrel, elk, or eagles. There are also plates benefiting Zion National Park, Soil Conservation, and Clean Fuel-Clean Air. 
  • Occupations and interests: Utah has several plate designs to identify and recognize various careers and special interests. Among these are Amateur Radio, Emergency Medical Technician, Firefighter, Snowmobiler, Utah Housing Opportunity Realtor, Utah Jazz, National Men’s Soccer-Real Salt Lake, Farm Vehicle, and Special Interest Vehicle plates.
  • Government and law enforcement: Special plates are available to Utah drivers elected to U.S. Congress or the state legislature, as well as anyone who has served as Honorary Consul. There are also plates for Search and Rescue Teams, U.S. Law Enforcement Memorial, and the Honoring Heroes Foundation. 
  • Other causes and nonprofits: Another extensive series of plates are available in Utah to generate awareness and revenue for the following organizations: Autism Awareness, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Invest in Children, National Rotary/Humanitarian Service, Martin Luther King Jr., No More Homeless Pets, Prostate Cancer Awareness, Public Education Support, Share the Road, and Women’s Suffrage. 

Other Utah plates

  • Disabled Persons: If you have a disability, you can order these plates which include the International Symbol of Access over your choice of three backgrounds: plain white, Life Elevated Arches, or Life Elevated Skier. Disabled Veterans plates are also available but do not entitle the driver to reserved disabled parking. You must display a
    placard
    to park in those spaces with a Disabled Veterans license plate set. 
  • Publicly Owned Vehicles: Vehicles owned or leased by a Utah government agency will include a stacked EX on the right-hand side, which stands for exempt. 
  • Utah State Highway Patrol: You can identify vehicles owned and operated by the state’s highway patrol by these plates, which feature a beehive design in the center with the words, “Utah Highway Patrol.”
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How do I get a Utah license plate?

If you’re new to Utah, you have 60 days to get your vehicle registered. When a car is registered for the first time in Utah, it needs to have a
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inspection
. This can be done by a peace officer or contractor, or—and this is probably the easiest route to go—a Utah DMV employee. A DMV worker can do this inspection at the time of registration. 
You’ll also have to show your title and most recent registration, and
depending on the vehicle
, you may have to provide emissions test results. New residents will likely want to visit a DMV office in person to apply for vehicle registration and plates.
Utah drivers who want to renew registration, replace their plates, or order personalized plates can use the DMV drive-through service option or visit the state’s online
motor vehicle portal
. This is also where you can go to easily order personalized license plates.

How to customize your car insurance for savings in Utah

Once you’ve got the perfect plates picked out, you should find the perfect
car insurance
, too! And finding the best policy for you is easy with
Jerry
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And the best part? The average Jerry user saves more than $800 a year on their insurance!
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FAQs

If you do a license plate lookup on the Utah DMV site, you’ll find more than 70 variations of the state’s license plates! A few are no longer in production but are still acceptable for continued use as long as the registration has been renewed. Most of the options, though, are still available for purchase and customization.
Yes. Utah state vehicle code requires all cars to display a front and rear license plate. If your vehicle does not have anywhere to put a front or rear plate, you can see your car dealer or an automotive shop for a mounting kit.
Vanity license plates, also called personalized license plates, can cost anywhere from $21 to $106, depending on the type of plate you select. To find out about allowable characters, and whether or not your selected characters are available, visit the Utah DMV’s
personalized plate FAQ page
.
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